Treasure Coast Museums
Art museums and galleries and more in Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Stuart and Jensen Beach.
Mel Fisher’s Treasures in Sebastian
Mel Fisher’s Treasure museum houses exhibits on archaeology and the 1715 Spanish treasure fleet. Taffi Fisher, Mel Fisher’s daughter, opened the museum in December 1992 in an old abandoned fire station after renovating the building. The museum included a working conservation laboratory used to preserve artifacts recovered from underwater with an observation window for viewing conservation work from inside the museum. Today when visitors enter Mel Fisher's Treasure Museum they join the millions who have witnessed the most spectacular collection of Spanish artifacts and treasure ever assembled. Visitors can also watch as the treasure, still being uncovered from the 1715 Fleet, the Atocha, and Santa Margarita grows in quantity and spectacle in their recent recovery display. Feel the weight of a solid gold bar recovered from the ocean depths. A visit to Mel Fisher's Treasure Museum affords the distinct opportunity to own a piece of history, unique gold escudos or silver reales in fine jewelry settings, museum quality reproductions as well as other nautical gifts from the Gift Shop.
1322 US Highway 1, Sebastian, FL 3295 • (772) 589-0432
Vero Heritage Center
The building is a registered national landmark facility that was built in 1935. Its Main Hall is a popular rental venue for community and business events, family celebrations and weddings. The north wing of the building features the Indian River Citrus museum with collections of photos and artifacts depicting and explaining how citrus seeds made their way to Florida and the story of how pioneers established the most distinguished citrus fruit in the world. There is also a quaint gift shop offering citrus products, books by local authors, artwork by local artists and even original and vintage citrus crate labels.
2140 14th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32960 • (772) 770-2263
Vero Beach Museum of Art
The Museum is the principal visual arts facility on Florida’s Treasure coast, and serves a three-county area. Its neoclassical structure commands a premiere position in Riverside Park, along the scenic Indian River and serves more than 75,000 residents and visitors annually. Through its exhibitions, collections, gallery tours, studio art and humanities classes for youth and adults, educational programs, school programs, outreach programs, film studies program, community events, lectures, seminars, concerts, special youth events and cultural celebrations, it is applauded as the cultural heart of the community.
3001 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963 • (772) 231-0707
First Friday Gallery Stroll in Vero Beach
Explore Historic Downtown Vero Beach’s growing arts district! Galleries and businesses in historic downtown Vero Beach participate in the First Friday Gallery Stroll held from 5 to 8 p.m. on the first Friday of every month. The stroll is based along 14th Avenue from 19th Street to 23rd Street and the surrounding area. Both galleries and select businesses exhibit new artwork each month in a lively gallery reception atmosphere. Participating Galleries Include:
Gallery 14 • Artists Guild • Florida Highwaymen, Roy A. McLendon, Jr. • Gallery of Hope • The Other Half Gallery • Diossy Gallery • Raw Space • Tiger Lily • Flametree Clay Art Gallery • MSVB
14th Avenue & 19th Street, Historic Downtown Vero Beach, FL 32960
Navy Seal Museum in Fort Pierce
Dive into the secret world of Naval Special Warfare at The National Navy SEAL Museum and Memorial. Here you can explore the history of these legendary maritime special operations warriors. Get up close and hands-on with the specialized equipment used by Navy SEAL Teams—from the first operations of their legacy units during World War II to today’s high tech, high stakes missions. You will also find rare and unusual artifacts from some of the SEALs’ most renowned and dangerous missions. At the heart of the Museum we honor and support the SEALs and their predecessors for their contribution to our national security. The Museum is situated in proximity of the historic beaches where the first volunteers for Naval Combat Demolition Units and Underwater Demolition Teams, the forefathers of today’s SEALs, trained to assault the beaches of Normandy and Southern France in Europe and numerous islands throughout the Pacific; including preparations for the invasion of Japan.
3300 N. Highway A1A, Fort Pierce, FL 34949 • (772) 595-5845
A.E. Backus Museum and Gallery in Fort Pierce
Discover a vanishing landscape through the artwork of Florida’s preeminent painter and Fort Pierce native, A.E. “Bean” Backus. Travel through time in a stunning museum exhibit of Backus originals and discover where Florida Art Began. Browse Backus and Florida Highwaymen paintings for sale. Changing fine art exhibits are featured in the exhibition gallery.
500 N. Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34950 • (772) 465-0630
Hallstrom Planetarium in Fort Pierce
Explore space at the state-of-the-art Hallstrom Planetarium through lectures, shows and multimedia presentations.
3209 Virginia Avenue Fort Pierce, FL 34981 • 772-462-4772
Elliott Museum in Stuart
The Elliott Museum enriches the community through its wide variety of exhibits, collections, classes and lectures, all designed to serve the interests of the people who live in and visit the Treasure Coast. There is something for everyone. Visitors will find a significant collection of classic cars, trucks, bicycles and boats; baseball memorabilia; local history; Americana; a variety of art; a tribute to actress Frances Langford; and even a Foucault pendulum. From lectures, special programs, featured exhibits, summer camps and more the Elliott Museum is one of the Treasure Coast’s greatest treasures.
825 NE Ocean Blvd, Stuart, FL 34996 • (772) 225-1961
The House of Refuge Museum in Stuart
Discover Martin County’s oldest structure and find out more about how Houses of Refuge served as havens for shipwrecked sailors and travelers. House of Refuge Museum at Gilbert’s Bar was one of ten along Florida’s east coast and the only remaining. Plus, if adventure is what you seek, snorkel or dive to explore the wreck of Georges Valentine, only 100 feet from shore.
301 Southeast MacArthur Boulevard, Stuart, FL 34996 • (772) 225-1961
Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center in Stuart
The Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center, on Hutchinson Island, is an outdoor nature center dedicated to marine life. Features include nature trails, a game fish lagoon, sea turtle pavilion, a touch tank, and more, along with an array of programs including nature and beach walks.
890 Northeast Ocean Blvd, Stuart, FL 34996 • (772) 225-0505
The Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast in Jensen Beach
The Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast, located in Indian Riverside Park in Jensen Beach, offers kids and families hands-on activities to explore, play and learn. A life-size pirate ship with lots of interactive exhibits is just one of the museum’s many offerings designed to feed curious, active minds. Kids learn through play and the Children’s Museum offers plenty of activities to entertain, spark curiosity, and learn.
1707 NE Indian River Drive, Jensen Beach FL 34957 • (772) 225-7575