It would be rare to find a museum so close to the ocean, but the new refurbished Elliot Museum is a jewel for South Florida, the Treasure Coast and Martin County. It is a slice of Americana and a treat to see. The museum is attributed to the late 19th and early 20th century inventor and manufacturer, Sterling Elliot.
The museum is divided on two main floors. Exhibits change and so there is something always new. At this time on the bottom floor is an interactive display of human genome. My wife loved this section.
The museum is famous for its antique vehicles. About 95 vehicles are in the museum with a computerized storage display, unique only to this museum. The technology has been around for garages, but this is the first time ever used in a museum.
The guide, or “ducant,” will key your request in a computer and within one to three minutes a vehicle can be viewed. It is neat watching a car go from a third floor down in front of you. I enjoyed seeing the 1954 Corvette and learning the history from the guide.
The most priceless vehicle is the 1920 Hudson Touring Limousine that was once owned by a Metropolitan Opera Tenor, Enrico Caruso.
Upstairs is filled with “Americana.” A section is devoted to the famous actress Francis Langford and her husband, Ralph Evinrude, i.e. Evinrude Boat Motors.
I particularly liked the baseball section with the cards, balls and bats used by the great players of the game. I regret losing all those valuable baseball cards I had growing up.
There is a display devoted to President Grover Cleveland who loved this area. There is a reason why Martin County is called, “The Sail Fishing Capital of the World.”
One of my favorite all time collections is the “Miniature Circus.” I remember seeing this collection back in the 1960’s.
If any improvements could be made, I believe elaboration could be made on describing what Martin County went through during WW II with Camp Murphy down by Jonathan Dickinson State Park and the Nazi U-Boat attacks off the coast.
If you have any interest in history, this museum is for you. Across the street is the new Florida Oceanographic Center, a great place for kids. And, traveling through Indian River Plantation on the road to Sailfish Point, is a small museum known as the House of Refuge, the only remaining building of its kind. Don’t forget to see the ocean which is just a short walk away.
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