Fort Pierce & Vero Beach
Central Atlantic Coast of Florida

More commonly known as the treasure coast, not only for the sunken Spanish plate fleet that sank off the coast in the 18th century, but because this area is one of the few places which has remained unspoiled by commercialism and has retained its small town charm.

FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO ECONOMIC HUB...
Fort Pierce’s history began in 1838 during the time of the second Seminole War, when Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Kendrick Pierce, the brother of future President Franklin Pierce, established a base of operations in the area. The army abandoned the fort four years later at the end of the war and it was then that a settler named Dr. Weedon took up residence, using the buildings as temporary accommodation for the newly arrived settlers. It was not until the turn of the century that the fledgling town was incorporated and Fort Pierce was born. In the early years the area derived its income from fishing and fish canning and with the advent of the railway Fort Pierce developed into the economic commercial hub of the Treasure Coast.

AN INSIGHT INTO ONE OF THE WORLD'S ELITE FIGHTING UNITS...
Fort Pierce is home to the Navy SEAL Museum - 'birthplace of the Navy Frogman' - which celebrates the creation of this legendary military unit. As plans for the cross-channel invasion of Europe were being drawn up, the allies realized that they had to deal with the extensive underwater objects that the Germans had placed on the beach approaches. The task of training the Naval Combat Demolition Units fell to LCDR Draper L. Kauffman - 'The Father of Naval Combat Demolition' - and on 6th June 1943, he established a base at Fort Pierce. His men proved themselves, despite heavy casualties, at Omaha Beach where they managed to clear eight complete gaps and two partial gaps in the German defenses. At Utah Beach the casualties were lighter, with the Demolition Units clearing 700 yards of beach in just two hours. The museum gives visitors a fascinating insight into the history, training, equipment and sacrifice of one of the world’s elite fighting units.

OLD STYLE FLORIDA ...
Located 12 miles north of Fort Pierce is Vero Beach, a charming example of old style Florida, with a flourishing artistic community. Situated in Riverside Park, the Vero Beach Museum of Art is a unique museum and educational facility that was extensively renovated in 1999. The 55,412 square feet facility features five art galleries, a sculpture garden, seven studio classrooms, an art library, a 250 seat auditorium and a large outdoor studio and foundry. The museum houses an important collection of American art with an emphasis on Florida artists and conducts a full program of lectures and seminars in topics ranging from the preservation and presentation of art works to workshops in cinema, musical and dramatic arts.

THE STORY OF THE EARLY FRUIT GROWING PIONEERS...
The area is a prime location with a long history of citrus fruit growing dating back to the 1800s. This fact is celebrated at the Indian River Citrus Museum, located in the heart of downtown Vero Beach,where the story of the early pioneers who struggled to establish Florida citrus fruits as some of the best in the world is unfolded.

SURFERS' PARADISE AND SUNKEN TREASURE...
Just to the north of Vero Beach is Sebastian, a surfer’s paradise where huge waves pound the beach, drawing in surfers from far and wide. In 1715, eleven Spanish treasure galleons sank off the coast of Sebastian with the loss of over seven hundred lives. Mel Fisher’s Treasure Museum houses a collection of artifacts and Spanish gold retrieved from the wreck of the treasure ship Atocha and her sister ship. The amateur treasure hunter instinct in you will be roused when you see the treasure on display and find out that it is only a fraction of what still lies below the sea.

SEE SOME OF THE BEST BALL PLAYERS...
In March each year, both Vero Beach and Port St. Lucie play host to the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets respectively. It is a fantastic opportunity to see some of the best ball players in your back yard as the biggest teams make the sunshine state their home for spring training.

THE NATION'S FIRST WILDLIFE REFUGE...
For those wanting a quieter life, why not take a trip around Pelican Island, the nation’s first wildlife refuge, established by Teddy Roosevelt at the turn of the 20th century. Although access to the island is restricted, there are a number of boat tours available for wildlife spotting, enabling you to get up close to the dolphins and manatees that call this area home. Away from the tourist track this area is a must, with quiet beaches, a vast array of wildlife and a homely feel to the communities you pass through - you will find it hard to leave and go back to the real world!

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