The European invasion of mainland North America, by the 19th century, had forced the decimated Native American population into scattered defensive outposts. It was the prevailing opinion that the European newcomers and the indigenous residents could not coexist.
Discover a timeline that stretches back thousands of years, tracing Fort Pierce’s story from its earliest inhabitants to the milestones that defined the community.
Few announcements in 2025 generated as much buzz along the Treasure Coast as the news that Buc-ee’s, the Texas-based chain famous for its spotless restrooms and cult-favorite snacks, will locate the world’s largest convenience store north of Fort Pierce.
For a decade, Robert Reed Gladwin rode the rails, learning the promise and the pitfalls of each community along Florida’s east coast. As a railway messenger for the Southern Express delivery service, he was typically armed, safeguarding packages, payrolls and valuables as they moved up and down Henry Morrison Flagler’s ever-expanding Florida East Coast Railway.
Are you new to the area and want a primer on the history of Florida? Or maybe you’re an old-timer who wants to put some of the pieces of Florida’s history together. Everyone may find answers to their questions about Florida History when Dr. Ben Brotemarkle, executive director of the Florida Historical Society, delivers the keynote address, “The Complete History of Florida in Less than an Hour,’’ at the Eighth Annual Treasure Coast History Festival this Saturday. The free festival, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., is at the grounds of the St. Lucie History Center, 414 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, and Brotemarkle’s talk is at 12:45 p.m.
Deep in a forest, a strangler fig [Ficus aurea] envelopes a towering cypress tree. Although widely thought to be an invasive species, it is actually native to Florida, with fossils suggesting their presence millions of years ago, and botanist Thomas Nutall describing them in 1846.
A food exhibit celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary opens Jan. 24 in St. Lucie Village and will run through the end of the year.
Upcoming Events: Jan. 2 - March 7, 2026
Collard greens have earned their place as one of the most dependable winter crops in Florida. They’re sturdy, unfussy, and remarkably productive from late fall through spring. In my garden, they’re the standout crop each season.
A retired architect with deep roots in Martin County has built on his long-standing interest in historic preservation to write about the nation’s midcentury history as seen through the eyes, and especially the ears, of a journalist who covered the popular music scene from the 1930s to the 1970s.
