A fun and informative look back on the history of Stuart and Jenson Beach. I particularly loved the photos and books on Trapper Nelson. Enthusiastic tour guides greet you and lead you through the exhibits. There are photos, maps, and realia that explore local history. There is a free coffee every week for seniors. read more

This is a very interesting free museum all about the city and the area. Although it is free to visit, donations are greatly appreciated, and we made sure to contribute. There is parking right out front. Housed in a historic building -- one of the oldest in town -- there are several rooms filled to the brim with artifacts, articles, books, pictures, and antiques. It's a self-guided visit, but they are happy to answer any questions should you have them. Frankly, there was so much "stuff" that it was a bit overwhelming. We definitely didn't see everything. Nor at times did we know where to look first. The items are organized by age and by category. You'll see some of the info regarding the area receiving telephones and actual time cards of the gals who worked for the telephone exchange. A typical kitchen of the age. A room with all the government employees. Lists of mayors and other politicians along with their pictures from the time of the city's/county's founding. There's a grouping about the Sherriff's and the local police force with lists of all the police chiefs, a group about the school, and the businesses in the area, etc. etc... All have photos and memorabilia. There's a brief video in one corner that I recommend seeing. It's on a loop so it's easy and short to watch. If you have time, do stop by. This is the kind of place that locals should definitely see, but that visitors would enjoy as well. And a place you could return to over and over again and not absorb all of the details. My only wish is that we'd had a tour guide to give us a bit more context and information. read more

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Regardless if you're a Stuart resident or are driving through the city, this is an excellent museum to visit! Every inch of this little museum (the oldest building in Stuart!) is loaded with fascinating memorabilia. From early 1900's police gear to school children's toys to trinkets everyday citizens used to get by. Every item has a well-informed tag detailing it's history. Admission is free with donations appreciated. You can buy t-shirts commemorating the museum / town, as well as other souvenir goodies. The woman who runs the museum chatted with us for a bit, she was very kind and passionate about every aspect of the museum and Stuart as a whole. WELL WORTH the visit for anyone with an interest in Stuart / Old America history ! It's a 100% must visit! read more

We just had the best tour of the Stuart Heritage Museum. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and interesting. I would highly recommend a visit to this museum. read more

I love this place and to learn about our beautiful town! Downtown stuart has so much to offer to residents and visitors, my kids enjoyed their time here and loved the idea of learning where they are being raised, the owners are welcoming and friendly and very nice people, there is so much historical sites and things to learn. read more

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This museum is located in an historic feed store built in 1901 in downtown Stuart. It is the oldest commercial building in Martin County. The building was originally the George W. Parks General Merchandise Store. George W. Parks and his family lived upstairs and the store occupied the first floor. In 1924 George sold the store and in 1946 it was purchased by the Truman Fertilizer Company and named the Stuart Feed Store. The City of Stuart purchased the building in 1988 and formed the Stuart Heritage, Inc to preserve and protect historic buildings in the town and artifacts from the city of Stuart. The museum opened in 1992. It's free to visit the museum and parking is free too. I stopped by on a recent trip to Stuart. I didn't have too long before closing and there was a lot to look at. The museum has over 10,000 from the 1880's through the 1950's. The city of Stuart took root when the Florida East Coast Railroad came through in 1894. You can find pictures of the railroad in the museum. The museum also has an exhibit dedicated to the Seminoles who were the native people in this area. They lived on the banks of Poppolton Creek and used to come in to the store on Saturdays to trade. Some of the displays are dedicated to the local legends like Trapper Nelson who died from a gun shot that may have been self inflicted or maybe not and the Ashley Gang who like Robin Hood would steal from the rich to give to the poor in the 1910's through the 20's. A final shoot out with police in 1924 killed John Ashley and every member of his gang. Another part of the museum is set up like a general store with ceramic chickens that are a nod to the chickens that used to run around inside the building. Items in the museum are in chronological order starting with the Seminoles, the pioneers, the 1920's through the 1950's. Some of the items are things you might have seen in your grandparents home like antique sewing machines and vintage refrigerators, A favorite display was a recreated ice cream parlor from the 1950's. The executive director of the museum is Mary Jones whose own family makes more than one appearance in the museum. Her family moved to Stuart in 1907 and her father was the town fire chief and her grandfather was the contractor for the Lyric Theater. While the emphasis is on Stuart and Martin County the museum also tells the story of Florida. You could spend a short time here or hours looking through all of the fascinating items. The museum also has a small gift shop with handmade crafts from some of the pioneer families in the community and a selection of interesting history books relevant to the area. It is definitely going to take me another visit to finish going through all of the photographs and treasures. If you are a fan of history like I am you will want to pay this quaint museum a visit. read more

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This is a local museum located right in downtown Stuart. The museum highlights the history of the region and has some really interesting displays. The museum is housed in an old feed store and is one of the oldest buildings in Stuart. The place is chockfull of "old stuff" that is very loosely organized. There is no specific timeline that you follow but you sort of "explore and discover" the treasures of the museum. There is also a lower level with lots of tools and equipment on display. We spent about 90 minutes here but you could easily spend the afternoon or a whole day "exploring and discovering". read more

A real land mark for Stuart being the first general store built in 1901. Unfortunately on line it said it was open but when we arrived it was closed so maybe next time we can visit .Museum is free and has free oarking read more

I absolutely loved the museum! Each room and exhibit highlighted another fascinating layer to our rich, local history. Judy was my docent and did an amazing job. She was such a wealth of knowledge and had an unparalleled passion for our area. I walked away with a deeper pride for our community and an appreciation for the diverse group of people that have collectively come together through the years to add to its overall story. read more

This is a True historical and cultural Museum which has a wonderful collection of exhibits, photos, artifacts -- all in a 1901 building -- one of the oldest in Stuart. It is open 7 days a week from 10 am to 3 pm. Located in lovely Downtown Stuart. Well worth a visit. No entrance fee -- only donations. Web site: http://stuartheritagemuseum.com/ read more

Stuart Heritage Museum - The 1901 Stuart Feed Store- right along the St. Lucie River - Home of the Stuart Heritage Museum in Stuart, FL - Museums Near Me - Stuart, Florida

This was a most pleasant surprise. A fascinating building loaded to the rafters with loads of 'stuff' and records relating to Stuart and staffed by the nicest volunteers you will even encounter. One could spend hours, if not days, there reviewing everything. read more