History of the Treasure Coast
So why do they call this area of Florida the Treasure Coast? The short answer is because the coast has a long history of pillaged and shipwrecked ships, laden with treasure and goods. Many have been salvaged or documented, while many more still remain lost to this day waiting to be discovered! The Elliott Museum in Stuart, along with the House of Refuge (which has recently undergone renovation) tell the story of Martin County’s history while the St. Lucie County Historical Museum in Fort Pierce houses permanent exhibits from a time long ago. Read on for a tale of Spanish Galleons, Pirates, and a brief history of this region on the eastern coast of Florida aptly named the Treasure Coast.
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The first nomadic tribes arrived between 10,000 and 8000 BC. Over the next nine millenia migrants and tribes fished, settled, and traded goods in this area. In 1513 Juan Ponce de Leon became the first European to land here and christened it as "Pascua de Florida" (feast of flowers) for Spain. You can still visit the site of his landing and even witness a re-enactment at Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine. Leon was searching for the Fountain of Youth and spent the next decade in his quest, only to suffer through Malaria, Yellow Fever and his eventual death at the hands of the Calusa chief known as San Carlos on Ostero Island. In the years to follow many more explorers and fleets from Spain and elsewhere began to pass through this area. What made this area so important was its location as a shipping route as the Gulf Stream leads through the straits that parallel Florida’s Keys. Along came many Spanish vessels carrying Gold and Silver coins and jewelery, gems, and many rich goods of all types. And these Plate Fleets, as they were called, also attracted the organized and deadly Pirates. What the Pirates didn't plunder the Hurricanes common to Florida were also to blame for many a lost ship.
In 1564, the English also decided to get a foothold into Florida along St. Johns River. With Pirates and now other nations proving to be a danger to the Spanish treasure King Phillip II named Don Pedro Menendez
de Aviles as governor of Florida and sent him to explore and colonize Florida and drive out any pirates or settlers. On August 28, 1565,
Menendez and his large fleet of soldiers and settlers landed near what is now called St. Augustine establishing a post to combat the piracy that was costing Spain dearly. Bandits, runaway slaves, corrupt merchantmen and youth were showing up in Tortugas, Point Royal and other known recruiting centers for piracy looking to get rich directly plundering ships and settlements or scavaging for shipwrecked treasures after storms. Many of the most famous Pirates were here to make their loot, such as Blackbeard, Lafitte, Gasparilla, Kidd, Rackham, Bowlegs, and Bonnett. Quite often after a battle and the loot was captured the Pirates would bury some of it on land only to die later or be captured and take the secret of their stash to their graves. This region has a long history of treasure hunters, still very active today, who study the many historical documents and attempt to find the lost ships and buried treasures.
In fact some historians put the estimate at $165 million in these still undiscovered treasures.
The Treasure Coast is rich in this turbulent and storied past and you can visit its museums displaying the recovered
coins, jewelery, chests and artifacts. There are themed restuarants and re-enactment sites where you can go and experience the history and see the sites first-hand. As you can see the Treasure Coast, besides its many modern amenities and beaches of course, can also be your ticket to fun and adventure for the history buffs, treasure hunters, and buccaneers within us. Although the days of Pirates are long gone the many tales and artifacts are kept alive here on the Treasure Coast for you to experience.
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