Community Impact

Why We Exist

Since 1983, the Indian River County Historical Society has contributed to the historical and environmental resources of Indian River County, the Indian River Lagoon area, and the State of Florida.

From advocacy leadership to countywide programs, the Society continues good stewardship and sound educational practices. Some of our most successful projects are:

• Saved Jungle Trail, a 7.5-mile state designated greenway along the eastern shore of the Indian River. In August 2003, the Trail was placed on the National Register – a difficult task as very few roads are on the list.
• Established the countywide historic marker program and provided documentation for the placement of new historic markers on many county historic properties now on the Florida Historical Marker Program list.
• In 1999, when the City of Vero Beach wanted to tear down the Vero Beach diesel plant in order to sell the old Chicago bricks, the Historical Society worked to have the structure placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Initiated historical property surveys for Vero Beach, Indian River County, and Fellsmere, and launched the first countywide archaeological survey for Indian River County.
• Listed historic sites on the National Register of Historic Places including: Vero Beach Community Center (Heritage Center), January 1993; Maher Building, October 1994; Vero Beach Woman’s Club, February 1995; and the Vero Beach Diesel Plant, February 1999. The Society consulted on other applications of old downtown buildings such as Courthouse, Vero Theatre, and Pueblo Arcade.
• Published numerous articles, brochures, and the book “A History of Indian River County, a sense of place."
• Introduced the Main Street Program to downtown Vero Beach.
• Acquired the 1903 Vero Beach Railroad Station in downtown Vero Beach, and the 1918 Hallstrom House property in south county. Both are open to the public and maintained by the Historical Society.
• Produced a series of short documentaries about the history of Indian River County.
• Took the lead role in providing historic facts and support for the City of Vero Beach sale of the Historic Dodgertown parcel to Indian River County.