Our visit to the Navy Seal Museum could not have been anything less than five stars. Wanting to…read moretake a break from the beach and pool, we decided to check out this museum. We were pretty much blown away the moment we arrived. The exhibits include films and virtually everything a Seal member uses to fulfill the mission they may be assigned. The museum was laid out in "reverse historical order" beginning with a 9/11 film recounting the tragedy. Truthfully I had hoped never again to see the planes crash into the World Trade Center but never forgetting is really part of the recovery. There was a mock up of Bin Laden's compound and a fascinating film of how he was killed. There were all types of weapons of the era, various Seal transport vehicles, helicopters on display-many allowing you to go inside. One display outlined the training regimen for Seals. (pictured below) Captioned, "The Only Easy Day was Yesterday" seems pretty accurate. There is a pretty substantial drop out rate as the trading is so difficult. When a prospective Seal drops out of training, he had to ring a bell three times. When one graduates, they ring the bell once. The exhibits continue with Viet Nam, Korea and World War II era history, weapons and things like Viet Nam patrol boats, high speed assault craft, Seal delivery vehicles, etc. Naval Seals were formed by President Kennedy in 1962 but they functioned as "wartime commando units" as far back as World War II. Once you visit all the indoor exhibits, there is quite a bit to see outside as well like the obstacle course used in training, a captured Iranian gun boat and other marine type vehicles that add to what you've already seen inside the museum. After a fascinating several hours, it was time for the beach!

Amazing museum and highly recommended. It has so much information, and the exhibition is…read moreincredible. There is a large collection of artifacts. Very educational information about the different operations, wars, missions, weapons, equipment, Navy Seals, Iran hostage crisis, 9/11, Korean War, operation Eagle Claw, Urgent Fury, NASA space program, the crisis in Cuba, Vietnam War, the attack on Pearl Harbor... just to name a few! A great way to learn and recognize the sacrifices made by our soldiers and understand the impact of their service.

This gallery is named for A. E. Backus (1906-1990). He was a self taught artist who was well known…read morefor his Florida landscape paintings. Later on he went on to teach art and a student of his and 25 other African American male artists and one woman influenced by his style became known as the highwaymen. They were a group of artists around the Fort Pierce area who quickly created Florida folk art featuring landscapes from oil paints on Uppson board used as roof sheeting. From 1950-1980 they would anonymously sell the art out of the trunks of their cars on A1A and US 1 from Daytona to Miami. The museum and gallery was established by Backus in 1960. In addition to housing the art of A.E. Backus the gallery contains the only permanent multi media exhibition of Highwaymen art. Art by Backus and the Highwaymen are available for purchase in the gallery. The museum also has four wings that display charging artist exhibits. During the year the museum hosts many events like lectures, brunch, and bingo. The outside of the building is covered in murals inspired by the Highway Men landscapes. Behind the the museum are sculptures in the park that runs along the Indian River Lagoon. Admission is $5. Students and service members with ID are free, and the first Sunday of the month is family day and it's free. A Highwaymen painting in 1950 sold for $25, now they are in demand by collectors and can command $5,000. If you can't afford to purchase one coming here to view the museums collection is the next best thing.

A small museum with some beautiful artwork and an interesting story…read more While visiting Fort Pierce, we decided to stop at the A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery and found it to be a very nice museum with an interesting story behind the artist. Admission was only $5 per person during our visit, and there is a parking lot directly in front of the museum, so parking and getting inside were both easy. The museum is all on one floor and is not particularly large, but there is quite a bit to see. The staff was very friendly and took the time to explain the layout of the museum, the different areas depicting parts of A.E. Backus's life and career, the artwork that was for sale, and the gift shop. There are numerous signs inside stating that photography is not allowed, so keep that in mind during your visit. One thing I would definitely recommend is watching the approximately 20-minute movie about Backus. It does a very good job of explaining his life, his attitude toward art, his work, and particularly his willingness to encourage and help other artists. I especially enjoyed learning about his relationship with and support of the group of African American artists who became known as the Florida Highwaymen. Backus was an excellent Florida landscape artist, but I found the story of how he helped and encouraged others to be just as interesting as his artwork. We enjoyed looking at the paintings and learning more about both him and Florida art history. Before you leave, make sure you also take a walk around the outside of the building because there is additional artwork there that would be easy to miss. Overall, this is a very nice small museum, reasonably priced, and well worth a visit while you are in Fort Pierce. Enjoy!

A nice place to learn about manatees along the Fort Pierce waterfront…read more While visiting Fort Pierce, we decided to stop at the Manatee Observation and Education Center located near the A.E. Backus Museum and found it to be a very nice little attraction. Admission was only $3 per person, making it an inexpensive place to spend some time and learn about Florida's manatees and other local wildlife. The center is a stand-alone building with two main rooms and an observation area overlooking the water. Inside there are three tanks, including two with fish and another with starfish and anemones. There are a lot of interesting displays and activities that seem especially geared toward children, although we enjoyed looking through them as adults as well. One of the more unusual things I enjoyed was a small robotics display that I thought was very cool. The staff was wonderful and took the time to explain the different parts of the center and answer our questions. Outside, there is a covered walkway along the water with informational signs explaining the area and its wildlife. Across the water is a very nice mural painted along the seawall that adds some color to the view. Behind the center there is also a fun mural and photo opportunity where you can see how you "size up" compared with a manatee. Make sure you go up to the observation deck above the walkway, which gives you a nice view of the water and surrounding area and, if you're lucky, perhaps a chance to spot a manatee. Overall, this is a very nice and inexpensive stop in the Fort Pierce area. Between the displays, tanks, friendly staff, waterfront setting, and observation deck, it is a good place to learn a little more about manatees and the local environment. Enjoy!

We stopped in with our niece for some education and a break from the sun. We were pleasantly…read moresurprised by how knowledgeable and friendly the staff were. We learned so much! The scavenger hunt was an added bonus.

I did not know what it expect from this local history museum. I was so wonderfully surprised. The…read moreexhibits in the main building tell the history of the region from early Spanish shipwrecks, to the people (Seminole, cow catchers, etc), a walk through the old shops, and introductions to many of the families in the community. There is also the neighboring house the shows how people lived in the early 20th century and the barn filled with agricultural material. Give yourself the time to wander the grounds, see the placards, and the mosaic bench. The staff was very welcoming.

The museum is located next to the Indian River in Museum Pointe Park. The St. Lucie Aquarium is…read morelocated next door. The St. Lucie County Regional History Center was formerly known as the St. Lucie County Historical Museum and it opened in 1968. The Museum is currently owned by St. Lucie County and run by the volunteers of the St. Lucie Historical Society. There is an admission fee. The museum provides a nice overview of the history of St Lucie County, including the days of the Seminole Indians. The museum includes a lot of artifacts, displays of historic significance and some recreations. The ladies working in the museum would very knowledgeable and very willing to answer any questions. This is NOT a large museum but it includes a LOT of history and historical artifacts. Well worth a visit - allow 1-2 hours minimum.

Katie, Lauren, and Dave were amazing. they gave good recommendations to some questions asked and…read moreoverall made the boat ride not just educational but also fun

The tour was amazing!!! Captain Lauren was the BEST! So interesting to see and hear under water.read more

Must visit historic building. Very interesting museum upstairs. It's free and worth a visit…read more Oldest continuously operated commercial building on the east coast.

The Budd Adams-Cobb Cultural Center is in the upstairs of the historic P. P. Cobb building located…read morein downtown Ft. Pierce. The P. P. Cobb building was a trading post opened in 1896 by Peter Cobb. He operated it until 1931. The stores motto was Everything to Eat, Wear, and Use. A general store is still operated on the first floor. The cultural center is in a corner of the second floor. Bud Adams is Mr. Alto Adams, also known as Bud who made a financial contribution to preserve the P. P. Cobb building. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 91. He was a rancher and an environmentalist. The center has maps, vintage photos,drawing of archeological discoveries, and other materials. Jean Ellen Wilson is the centers administrator and it is staffed by volunteers. There is no admission to enter. I enjoyed my visit to the historic P. P. Cobb building. I especially loved the wall of vintage mail slots. If you are interested in old buildings and Treasure Coast history then you will definitely want to visit this link to the past.