There is so much history in this section of Melbourne. Just down the street from Ryckham Park I…read morediscovered this historical marker in front of the Community Chapel of Melbourne Beach overflow parking. The Myrtle Cottage marker is part of the Florida Historical Marker Program, one of the Division of Historical Resources' most popular and valued public history programs. The markers raise awareness of Florida's cultural history while enhancing the enjoyment of historic sites for residents and tourists. The blue historic markers tell the stories of the people and places that were important to Florida's history and they can be found in front of schools, forts, roads, archaeological sites, battlefields, cemeteries, churches. and former historic buildings like the one that once stood here. Historic marker F-688 was installed in 2010 by Brevard County Historical Commission, Brevard County Tourism Development Council, and the Florida Department of State. This church is a Florida Heritage Site. Myrtle Cottage was the first house in what is now Melbourne Beach. It was built on this site in 1888 by Mrs. Hannah Cummings and her daughter Grace. Building a house back then was no easy task since there were no roads or docks. While the house was being built, the ladies camped out at the beach in front of the House of Refuge, a shipwreck lifesaving station. After their home was finished they took in boarders who were instrumental in founding Melbourne Beach. Church services and Sunday school classes were held in Myrtle Cottage until 1892. In later years the house took in students attending the Florida Institute of Technology. Sadly this historic home burned down in 1982.

I was heading to nearby Ais Trail Park to hike when I spotted this charming church. As a fan of…read morehistoric churches and architecture I made a detour to check it out. In front of the church is a marker that is part of the Florida Historical Marker Program, one of the Division of Historical Resources' most popular and valued public history programs. The markers raise awareness of Florida's cultural history while enhancing the enjoyment of historic sites for residents and tourists. The blue historic markers tell the stories of the people and places that were important to Florida's history and they can be found in front of schools, forts, roads, archaeological sites, battlefields, cemeteries, historic buildings, and churches like this one. Historic marker F-1037 was installed in 2018 by Brevard County Historical Commission, Brevard County Tourism Development Council, and the Florida Department of State. This church is a Florida Heritage Site. The first Roman Catholic Church in Brevard County, Florida, was St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Palm Bay, dedicated in 1914. One hundred Catholic families of Germanic and Slavonic heritage from the Midwest, settled in the area previously known as Tillman, Florida, around 1912. They were drawn to this area by the North Dakota-based Florida Indian River Catholic Colony corporation which advertised to them that they were starting a Catholic community in central Florida. In the beginning, the congregation was administered to by traveling clergy. When the corporation failed on its promise to build a church, the pioneers took it upon themselves to build the church on their own. The church was dedicated in 1914 by Bishop Michael J. Curley. In 1923, a rectory was built and the church's first resident priest arrived in 1924. For many years the church ministered to families who traveled here by wagon and boats from Melbourne and Eau Gallie. On December 3, 1987 the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This church is now surrounded by St. Joseph's Cemetery and continues to be used for special services.

One of the few bridges around with a running/walking area the entire span. Going for a run at…read moresunrise allowed to appreciate the stunning views. Dog walkers, moms with strollers and seniors out for a stroll all enjoying in harmony.

Great views of the Indian River. Traffic is not a problem. Plenty of places to pull over by the…read moreshoreline.

**INITIAL REVIEW**…read more Despite the Space Coast (Brevard County) being synonymous with surf and, well, space, there is plenty of other historic locations and museums to enjoy. One I like to really push is the Liberty Bell Memorial Museum (which I will shorthand simply to LB Museum for the remainder of this review). For a historical museum with free admission, there is a lot to see and a fair amount of activities to do in the LB Museum. I wish I can do this museum justice in this review in hopes you'd check it out. For starters, the LB Museum is located on Oak St. which is right next to Wells Park, the one right next to the Melbourne Auditorium with the double-round lake. There is a military brancy and history memorial infinity walk right next to the museum, too. Ergo, if you like to read your history of some of the wars America has been in or know more about our military branches, definitely check it out. As for the LB Museum, I first and foremost must stress the museum is manned by volunteers and open to the public only on two days, Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. If you are able to get here on one of those two days, you definitely have more than enough time to truly enjoy all the museum has on display and offer, starting with the introduction video with a brief history of the liberty bell followed by the volunteer explaining the liberty bell on display in the middle of the museum. You may even join the "Ding Dong" club and get a chance to strike the bell with a rubber mallet. The museum is three rooms, two of them consisting of artifacts and lore throughout American government, diplomatic, and military history. From artifacts used in each war to personal artifacts owned by elected officials, there is much to see. To add another layer of entertainment, especially for the children, there is a scavenger hunt they can partake in. Find all the items listed on the scavenger hunt, you get a free sticker. Ultimately, the LB Museum is one of the better locales of historical learning you can partake in along the Space Coast. Given the fact it is free, there should be no naysay on attedance unless Wednesday and Saturday just happen to be a bad time to go. I will give the LB Museum, four-out-of-five stars for this review. Definitely a higher rating for all they have for free, but the limited time to visit is definitely a major hindrance for this museum.

A very nice museum with a LOT of history! This museum is…read morelocated at right off Babcock St, with plenty of free parking in two large lots flanking the site. There are about 100 spots total. It is across the street from a park and two lakes and walkways. The building is a distinctive round structure that packs in displays for every American war, military service branch, and historical era, making it a comprehensive tribute to veterans and U.S. history. Admission is free, though donations are welcomed to support the volunteer-run operation. On our visit, we entered the main round room where a full-size Liberty Bell replica greets you front and center, surrounded by artifacts and exhibits lining the walls. To the left is an area with a repeating film that explains the museum's mission and honors veterans, plus displays of war-era items. The right side features a conference room and library for educational programs, briefs, or events. Outside, on the flagpole-lined grassy area between the parking lots, they were hosting live music, food vendors, and a craft fair, adding to the lively atmosphere. The space is well organized and clean. I think you could sense the passion that the volunteers pour into preserving and sharing American history for current and future generations. The staff was very friendly. Overall, it's a hidden gem (allow 30-60 minutes). I would definitely recommend it to families, history buffs, or anyone in the area wanting to learn about and honor our heritage. Enjoy!

The McLarty Treasure Museum is located in Sebastian Inlet State Park. A late July hurricane in 1715…read moresank a Spanish treasure fleet near here as they were sailing from Havana, Cuba to Spain. Eleven of the twelve ships filled with gold, silver, jewels, and other goods from the New World sank off the coast between present day Melbourne Beach and Vero Beach. 1,000 lives were lost and the cargo was scattered over a 40 mile area. Approximately 1,500 men, women, and children who survived the disaster reached the shore and made a camp along the barrier island near the place where the fleet's flagship had sunk. The treasure was mainly salvaged by Spain over the next four years and taken back to Havana Cuba. In the early 1940's, amateur archaeologist Charles Higgs discovered evidence of the salvage camps in the dunes near the Sebastian Inlet. A hurricane in 1955 washed away some dunes around the camps, revealing many artifacts and silver coins. The wreck was eventually rediscovered by treasure hunters in the 1960's. Salvage efforts by local builder Kip Wagner and his Real 8 Company recovered thousands of coins, pieces of jewelry, and several cannons. These discovery led to the establishment of a State Park and the McLarty Treasure Museum. The McLarty Treasure Museum was created by Mr. Robert McLarty, a retired attorney from Atlanta who lived in Vero Beach and donated the land. The museum has a large exhibit room with displays on Ais history, the ancient first inhabitants of this area and the history of the 1715 Spanish treasure fleet including artifacts, displays, and a 45 minute movie by A&E, The Queen's Jewels and the 1715 Fleet. Not to be missed is the display of Kangxi porcelain, a delicate Chinese blue-and-white pattern that was packed in mud for protection during the journey. There is also a gift shop. Behind the museum is an observation deck modeled to look like a pirate ship that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean where the ships are believed to have sunk. During storms, the treasure has been known to wash ashore to this day. Admission to the museum is $2 and while small it is engaging and worth a visit. Especially when combined with a visit to nearby Sebastian Inlet State Park and Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.

What fun! A very small but interesting museum covering the 1715 treasure fleet located on what used…read moreto be the survivors' and salvagers' camp. It's part of the Sebastian Inlet State Park and there's a nominal admission fee. There's a short movie which was interesting enough, observation deck (without beach access, though there's plenty nearby), and enough interesting things to see in about an hour if you run through it and don't watch the movie. I think my favorite exhibit was the scrap book of articles, letters, and testimonies of treasure hunters who've actually found treasure on the beaches here. Really makes you want to start hitting the beaches hunting for bobby dazzlers! lol. We also thought we'd hop across the Indian River and also visit the Mel Fisher museum but this was enough treasure fever for one day. Another time. Super friendly helpful staff rounds out the experience.

This year was the 28th annual Pelican Island Wildlife Festival. The festival is held from 10:00 AM…read more- 4:00 PM in Riverview Park in Sebastian to commemorate the birthday of the refuge on March 14, 1903. Pelican National Wildlife refuge was created by one man's determination to protect the birds he loved. Paul Kroegel was a German immigrant and Sebastian resident and conservationist. He arrived in Sebastian in 1881 and homesteaded on the west bank of the Indian River across from Pelican Island. As he watched the birds on the island he fell in love with them and became increasingly disturbed by the hunters killing them. He took to protecting the birds by guarding them with his shotgun during a time when they had no lawful protection. Paul enlisted the help of the American Ornithologists Union and the Florida Audubon Society to help protect the birds. They joined together to pass legislation for protection of non-game birds. The Florida Audubon Society hired Paul Kroegel along with three other wardens to protect the birds from plume hunters and the sports hunters who would shoot at the birds while passing by on boats. During the time Paul served, two of the other wardens were murdered. Naturalist Frank Chapman and his fellow advocate, William Dutcher went to Theodore Roosevelts New York home to plead their case for the protection of the birds. In response President Roosevelt made Pelican Island the first National Wildlife Refuge in 1903. Paul Kroegel was hired as the first national wildlife refuge manager. He passed away in 1948. Since then the land was threatened in the 1960's developers attempted to buy the surrounding wetlands but local citizens stopped them. The Indian River Area Preservation League made up of local citrus growers, commercial fishermen, and sportsmen, joined with the Florida Audubon Society to convince the State to include the islands as a part of the refuge. In 1963, Pelican Island was designated as a National Historic Landmark by the Secretary of the Interior. Since then the refuge has gained over 500 more acres to help protect it from encroachment by development. There is a large parking lot with free parking adjacent to the park. Entrance to the festival is free. The event has live wildlife shows, food, environmental exhibitors, arts & crafts, a rehabilitated pelican release, raffle, amateur photography contest, native plant sale, educational presentations, historical reenactments with President Theodore Rossevelt, and for a fee boat tours to Pelican Island. I specially loved seeing all of the birds brought by the Treasure Coat Wildlife Center. Sadly because of their injuries, these birds can't be released into the wild and I was happy to donate to them. President Roosevelt is the Master of Ceremonies and is portrayed by Theodore Roosevelt interpreter, Joe Wiegand. He gave a wonderful presentation that taught about the history of Pelican Island and his efforts to protect its birds as well as other events in the life of President Roosevelt. The 2020 Pelican Island Wildlife Festival celebrated the 117th anniversary of the Pelican Island National Wildlife Reserve. The event is hosted by the Pelican Island Preservation Society and the City of Sebastian. It is a fantastic way to bring awareness to the refuge. Even though the festival is only held one day a year, you can visit the refuge 365 days a year.

One of my favorite lazy fishing cities in Florida along the Indian River, where I take a break from…read morehustle and traffic in South Florida. Recently, we were searching for a vacation home in the area but after some topography research, the possibility of mass flooding from the Indian River scratched that dream. Only a quick two hour drive straight shot from Fort Lauderdale, my wife and I enjoy coming to Sebastian and staying at the Capt Hirams Resort and relax under the tiki hut while listening to live rock n' roll bands with view of the Indian River. Along US1 the mom & pop antique shops and local pubs add a distinct charming vibe to Sebastian.

Founded in 1882 Sebastian is a historic city in Indian River county which is called the Treasure…read moreCoast. In 1715 the Spanish Plate Fleet left Havana loaded in treasure. The fleet encountered a hurricane and several ships sank off the coast. The value of their cargo is estimated to be at 500 million dollars and only a portion of it has been found. The town of Sebastian lies between the St. Sebastian River and a lagoon which made it perfect for the people who lived here. The earliest people were the native Ais people who died out around the time the Spanish first arrived in Florida. The first settlers to the area arrived in the 1880's when 40 pioneers arrived in a village south of the St. Sebastian River. Once Henry Flagler's railroad arrived fishing became the main economic support for the area. In 1903, President Teddy Roosevelt created America's first National Wildlife Refuge System to protect pelicans and other birds in a sanctuary known as Pelican Island. Sebastian was incorporated as a city in 1923. It was named for the St. Sebastian river although the town opted to drop the saint. Today the town of Sebastian has maintained the quaint charm of an old Florida town. There is a lovely historic district with unique shops and restaurants. Mel Fisher's Treasure Museum tells the story of the Spanish fleet and displays some of the items recovered. The fishing industry is still alive and well today and it's proximity to the water makes it the perfect place to enjoy water sports like boating. I love Sebastian for it's inviting atmosphere, miles of beaches, and abundance of wildlife.

The Greater Palm Chamber of Commerce in Brevard County, Florida, is an exceptional organization…read morethat truly embodies the spirit of community and business growth. The Chamber's dedication to fostering a thriving business environment is evident in its comprehensive programs, networking opportunities and unwavering support for local businesses. A standout member of the Chamber's team is Partner Relations Coordinator, Dawn Bittar. Dawn's commitment to her role is unparalleled. Her energy, enthusiasm, and ability to connect with members and understand their needs is truly commendable. She is cthe onsummate professional ! Nancy Peltonen, President and CEO, provides leadership with an inspiring vision for the future of the Chamber and the Palm Bay community. Carolina Rohas, Marketing & Communications Director, is another key team member at the Chamber. Carolina is responsible for innovation marketing strategies . Her communication skills enhance community awareness and involvement. Carolina's dedication to promoting Chamber members is evident in every project that she undertakes. The Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce is an invaluasble resource for business in the Greater Palm Bay area. It is more than just a business organization. It is the hub of a community of dedicated professionals committed to fostering growth and prosperity in Brevard County, Florida. The stellar team also includes Pat Lucky, Chief Operating Officer, and Cindy Hunt, Director of Membership. Previously, I have belonged to two other Chambers. My experience with The Chamber of Greater Palm Bay has been the best by far!