Navigation Through The Ages

We're excited to announce our newest exhibit Navigation Through the Ages … a hands-on interactive exhibit that traces the history of navigation from early times to present day. This exhibit was totally created and installed by our incredible and dedicated volunteers Joe Brannin, Charlie Wood, David Read, and Dennis Murphy…with special assistance from Suzie Bausch, our Community Outreach Coordinator. Thanks to all!!

Please be sure and visit the museum to enjoy this great addition…and learn some new navigational skills!

The Ole and Bess Evinrude Story

This exhibition tells the story of Ole's outboard motor invention in the late 1800's and the fascinating story of Evinrude, ELTO, Johnson and OMC. A broad range of antique outboards representing the brand's early developmental history are also on display. Funded in part by the Ralph Evinrude Foundation.

Working Boats: Boat Models and Photographs

On exhibit from the permanent and private collections. Indian and St. Lucie River and communities down the Atlantic could never have been successfully settled without a variety of working boats and ships.

William Milligan Library

The Maritime & Classic Boat Museum is committed to ensuring that library resources and services are a vital part of the museums continuous learning experience. The museum library is cataloged with boating resources for research, books for pleasure and multiple maritime magazine publications. The museum is a research tool for both the student and the boating enthusiast. If you’re a member of the museum, be sure and stop by to get your official Maritime & Classic Boat Museum library card, and check out a book to take home to enjoy!

Go Fish

This exhibit tells the historic tale of fishing and maritime life of the Treasure Coast. On exhibit from multiple private collections, including Curt Whiticar's wooden tools and historical photographs from the original Stuart Sailfish Club. Learn about the origins of the "catch and release" program and the history of sport fishing. All ages can try our interactive fishing simulator and see what it feels like to catch a real Sailfish.

Talking Graphics with Waterscapes© by Jane Davis Doggett

Jane Davis Doggett, a Florida resident and active conservationist, is inspired by the state's natural beauty with these words: "In my art, I am expressing a unique feature of Florida: a floating watery world always in motion where water changes places with sky, where clouds and currents interact and vivid colors of sunrise and sunset pour into flowing rivers. I live by the Atlantic Ocean - Florida in winter and Maine in summer - by the omnipresent boundless sea, from pounding and roaring to gentle and subtle, but always moving."  From this inspiration, she has created Waterscapes in murals and prints on canvas and silk.

US Sailing Center Collaborative Exhibit

On exhibit from permanent and private collections. The collaborative sailing exhibit includes half hulls, America's Cup memorabilia and a full size International Optimist Dinghy. As an Indian RiverSide Park Partner, our collaborative exhibit with the US SAILING Center • Martin County (USSCMC) depicts sailing on the Indian River at its best, including a timeline of the USSCMC. The USSCMC is one of only three Community Sailing Centers in the United States sanctioned by the US SAILING Association - the national governing body of the sport of sailing.

Race Boats and Roostertails

Hydroplanes were designed and built for speed. It is impossible to describe the excitement that stems from watching huge boats vying for position, throwing roostertails, and roaring with truly vibrating speed as they try for the world's most sought-after motor boat trophies. This exhibit follows the successful racing career of Canadian-born Guy Lombardo, an important figure in hydroplane speedboat racing.

Mahoganies: The Boats that Brought Leisure Boating to the Populace

Wooden boats from the Museum's Permanent Collection including the two Chris Crafts; rare 1936 Deluxe run-about, Bull's Ship and our largest at 21 feet, 1932 Vintage Rose.

Crossing The Pond:The Age of The Ocean Liner

Tells the story of the revolution of transportation on the sea when steam superseded sail, as illustrated by "replica builders' models" by English artist-master craftsman, Alan Berry-Robinson of ships ranging from early Victorian through the mid-20th century. The exhibition is drawn from the Ashley Ford Collection of the Maritime Museum.