"I wait for the animal to take its own picture." - Carlton Ward Jr.



"You can kind of think about the Florida Wildlife Corridor as Florida’s ‘Green Infrastructure,’ the heart and lungs of the state." - Carlton Ward Jr.

"The Everglades is somewhat of an abstraction. The purpose of these photos is to make the Everglades a tangible thing, to make images that burn in people’s minds and show them that this is a wilderness we should be proud of, like Yosemite and Yellowstone, places we all consider collective goods and resources that we all benefit from." - Mac Stone

The Historical Society of Martin County is committed to presenting one major exhibit each year that addresses the fragility of Florida’s magnificent natural environment. This annual exhibit will be featured as our "Protect Our Peninsula" series, and we will find or create meaningful shows to help enlighten and stir to action all Florida residents and guests. We will create opportunities for a host of lectures, forums, and other engagements to raise awareness and influence behaviors in the realm of pure conservation. We are resolute in our desire to use the Elliott Museum as a platform and a forum to bring about change in this most crucial battle.

Carlton Ward Jr.

Mac Stone

We consider ourselves very fortunate indeed to present two absolute superstars in the battle to protect and restore our natural resources under continual pressure. We are combining the talents of these award-winning photographers with Carlton Ward Jr.’s "Path of the Panther" and Mac Stone's "Wild Everglades." Carlton and Mac use their celebrated photography and videography skills to capture the essence of the power and the plight of the Florida ecosystems.

We have already contracted for a new Smithsonian exhibit called "Water/Ways" in the fall of 2024 as next year’s exhibit in the Protect Our Peninsula (POP) series. We will fashion a dynamic exhibit by surrounding the Smithsonian exhibit with mini displays created by many of our front-line Florida institutions who have been fighting the good fight to preserve our natural resources for decades.

"As my eyes grew accustomed to the light, details of the room within emerged slowly from the mist, strange animals, statues, and gold – everywhere the glint of gold…when Lord Carnarvon, unable to stand the suspense any longer, inquired anxiously, ‘Can you see anything?’ it was all I could do to get out the words, ‘Yes, wonderful things.’" - Howard Carter



The Elliott Museum will open our doors on January 3, 2024, to a wonderous scene in much the same fashion as Howard Carter did on November 26, 1922, 100 years ago. In collaboration with Tarek Ragab and the Egyptian Art Center in Cairo, we will be hosting "In Celebration of King Tut" in the museum’s main gallery.

We intend to do all we can to transform our modern museum space into an ancient tomb of unimaginable beauty. These remarkable objects have been painstakingly recreated by historians and artists in Egypt using locally sourced, authentic materials and scaled and finished to perfection. The impact of standing amidst these objects will be something you will long remember. We were fortunate to secure the exhibit for a five-month run which will afford everyone a January to May window opportunity to take it all in.

The team from the Egyptian Art Center will be visiting the Elliott Museum early this summer to gain an understanding of our space and then return to Egypt to craft a design to fit the exhibit to our space. Our team at the Elliott will use this time to find new and original ways to leverage the impact of an exhibit 3,000 years in the making. We are currently planning for a dance clinic to teach everyone to "Walk Like An Egyptian." It seems the fun never stops in the halls of our beloved museums.



My best,

Rob

Because our Adopt-a-Car program has been so successful and you’ve asked to adopt other items in the Elliott’s permanent collection, we’re beginning a new adoption program today. Simply named Adopt Something … Anything … Everything! you can adopt items such as a Florida Black Bear, Frances Langford’s Fishing Chair, a Barber Pole, Wyatt’s Circus and Parade, 1911 Pelican Aero-Plane Replica, Matela’s General Store, Gas Pumps and other fun and eclectic items. We currently have 19 items available for a one year adoption. The adoption fees are $100, $250, $500 and $1,000.

When you adopt an item, you are donating to the Historical Society of Martin County (HSMC) and will receive a thank you letter noting your donation, a personalized Adoption Certificate and signage by your item. If you adopt in the name of a business, we will include your logo on the signage!

You can find complete details at https://hsmc-fl.com/adopt-something or access this QR code using the camera on your phone. You may also visit Elliott Guest Services. They will have all the information you need to make your choice. It’s easy, fun, and a wonderful way to support the HSMC — either as an individual or business.

Thank you for considering this new way to support us. And, as always, we truly appreciate your thoughtful consideration and continued support.

Linda Prange

Director of Development

772-225-1961, ext. 110

linda@hsmc-fl.com

The Elliott will be hosting a Travel Talk on Wednesday, June 7. Travel professional Patty Bell will present "Upcoming Adventures with the Elliott" from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Forum. Wine and cheese will be served. Admission is free. Please RSVP to Debbie Banta at dbanta@elliottmuseumfl.org.

Updates, promotions and registration information will be provided for:

• Opryland Christmas Tour - November 26-December 1, 2023
• Ionian Adventure - April 24-May 4, 2024
• Alaskan Cruise - July 23-Aug 4, 2024
• Danube Christmas Market Cruise - December 7-18, 2024
• Antarctic Eclipse Cruise - Dates and more info TBA

Florida Senator Gayle Harrell will present a proclamation to the Florida Highwaymen for their historical impact on American culture and art. The event will take place on Tuesday, June 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Elliott Museum. The Highwaymen are a group of 26 African American landscape artists who literally went from selling their paintings on street corners in the 1950s to now being represented in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Noted Highwaymen collector Roger Lightle is extending an invitation to the surviving Highwaymen artists and their families to join us for this notable event. We hope you will join us, too! The evening also will feature a live painting demonstration and gallery talk.

Regular admission for non-members, FREE to members. Cash bar. We are looking forward to this history-making event!

Members, please RSVP by calling 772-225-1961. Non-members may buy their tickets by clicking the button below. Thank you!

Buy your tickets today at the Elliott Museum!

Come to the Elliott from 7 to 9 p.m. on June 22 to enjoy the Laid Back Country Picker, a piece of living Kentucky folklore and roadside Americana. In the current era we’re living through in country music, the Kentucky roots music insurgency is very much driving the story. The Laid Back Country Picker is an unusual, but in many respects, essential part of that story. Who are they? David Prince teaches high school civics classes by day in Lawrence County, Kentucky. But on weekend nights, Prince and his wife Teresa transform into the sensational Laid Back Country Picker and Honey! Come on out and listen to a time almost forgotten!

As the FREE ELECTRONS exhibit ends on June 20, the Elliott Museum is delighted to offer a unique opportunity for you to own original paintings by extraordinary artists Danuta Rothschild and Torenzo Gann. Twenty percent of each sale will be donated to the Historical Society of Martin County. It's a win-win for our historical society and the artists! The exhibit, on the museum's second floor gallery, is included with the Elliott Museum’s regular admission.

Check out the exhibit, admire Danuta and Torenzo's artwork, and arrange your purchase with the Elliott Museum staff in person. Or call 772-225-1961 to arrange your acquisition. From Norman Rockwell to the Highwaymen, Danuta and Torenzo have capped off an exciting season of art at the Elliott. Don’t miss more thrilling exhibits that are in store for 2023-2024!

Congratulations to Lloyd Jones for being recognized as the 2023 Martin County Preservationist of the Year! The Martin County Historic Preservation selected him for his many accomplishments and persistent efforts in preserving Martin County's Black history and for building a greater understanding of our collective community legacy. He was recently given this award before a packed room of supporters at the Elliott Museum-Stuart. Mr. Jones also is on the Historical Society of Martin County's Board of Directors. The Elliott Museum and House of Refuge are under the umbrella of the HSMC.

GET READY to rock your padded shoulders, spiked hair, and leg warmers!

Join us on Thursday, June 29, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Elliott Museum in the main gallery. Don’t miss the MUSIC…the DANCING…and the CLOTHES… from the BEST PARTY themes through the decades! DJ Tony will be spinning all the hits to party down with MJ, Toto, Queen, AC/DC, Bon Jovi and all your faves!

$25 for tickets. Cash bar for soft drinks, wine, beer, and liquor. Click here or scan the QR code with your smartphone camera to pay online or call us if you wish to pay over the phone at 772-225-1961. We are excited to see you there!

Make dinner plans before the dance at the Elliott’s Tiki Restaurant and enjoy the delicious taste of Philly with a Southern twist before the dance!

Congratulations to Dylan Little on completing his internship with Project SEARCH and earning his high school diploma on May 23, 2023.

In March 2023, Dylan joined the Elliott Museum as the museum caretaker. He takes great pride in his work and as a part-time employee, he makes sure that the museum is clean, tidy and in perfect condition from bathrooms to chalkboards in the general store. 

Dylan completed his internship at the Cleveland Clinic with six other students. Students were placed in various departments throughout the hospital. The Project SEARCH Transition-to-Work Program is a one-year employment preparation program for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Dylan is pictured here with Michele Henderson, ARC of Martin County, and Vikki Tobiasz, Historical Society of Martin County.

Special thanks to TCPalm's Luminaries for featuring the Highwaymen's story and exhibit at the Elliott Museum. This cover photo and story on page 2 appeared on May 22. 

If you haven't made it to the Elliott yet to see the Highwaymen exhibit, we invite you to come the evening of the Highwaymen proclamation on June 13 or whatever date works for you between now and July 14, when the exhibit ends.

Debra Groves, assistant keeper of the House of Refuge (HOR), took this photo at the end of May near the HOR. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, these tracks were created by a leatherback turtle, which can weigh as much as 1,500 pounds! For nearly 30 years, from 1961-1989, the HOR also was a turtle refuge. Under the direction of Ross Witham, marine turtle coordinator for the Florida Department of National Resources from 1963 to 1987, the Turtle Conservation Program sought to build the turtle population by means of hatching turtle eggs in tanks on the house property, raising the turtles to a certain size and releasing them into the ocean. Today's conservation measures are hands-off. Conservationists mark some of the turtle nests along the beach to protect them from humans. 

Chessy Ricca, the Elliott's curator, asked Professor Nathaniel Osborne of the Pine School's junior history class if his students would do an art project relating to Florida history. The purpose would be to use it for a local art exhibit at the Elliott. He happily said yes and the students immediately got to work on their projects. On May 19, Professor Osborne took his students to see their art hanging and they briefly described their projects. Says Chessy, "I think getting our young students interested in local Florida history through art is a neat way to see a different perspective of our history!"

Just outside the Elliott Museum, you will notice this large Philly Down South Tiki Hut. Check out these specials:

Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - $3 tacos when you order a cocktail

Wednesdays from 5 to 8 p.m. -

Prime Rib Night or Glazed Salmon - your choice for $24.95. Includes starch and vegetable and $2 off your cocktails when you order one of the specials.

Thursdays from 4-6 p.m. - Happy Hour - $2 off your favorite cocktails. From 5 to 8 p.m., Lollipop Lamb Chop Night. Also available — Prime Rib and Glazed Salmon - your choice for $24.95. Includes starch and vegetable and $2 off your cocktails when you order one of the specials.

Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Fun Fridays includes Philly Down South's hidden lunch. Sit in the right chair or bar stool and owner Jim Leary will buy you lunch. Happy Hour from 4-6 p.m. and $2 off your favorite cocktail. Try the new bars snacks - Tater Tot Nachos for $7. Hang around for live music that starts at 6 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night.

For musicians and singers, check out the open mic every Saturday from 1-4 p.m. The upstairs restaurant on the Elliott's second floor is available to reserve for private lunches or dinners (minimum 25 guests to reserve inside dining). Call 561-718-9733 to make your reservation today! For more information, visit the website, phillydownsouth.net.

Deena Rahill, founder of HI Mindfulness Forums, presents the following Sound Vibration events.

For more details on these events and/or to register, please visit her website, www.soundvibration.net, or click on the individual events below.

Saturday, June 3 at 6 p.m. - Evening, Strawberry Full Moon - Join Deena for a powerful Sound Vibrational Journey during the Strawberry full moon.

Tuesday, June 13, at 6 p.m. - Spirit Speaks with Medium Beth Lynch - Beth Lynch returns for more life, death and in-between as Spirits speak for you through her.

Wednesday, June 21, at 6 p.m. - Evening - Summer Solstice - Traditionally, this is a time of new beginnings. It’s associated with fire, passion, and renewed energy but also with slowing down and releasing things that no longer serve you.

EVERY WEEK: Tune Up Tuesday and Sound Healing Sunday. To learn more about sound healing, new events and what Deena does, visit her website - www.soundvibration.net.

As a Family Level Member or higher, you have access to free or discounted admission to 134 museums in Florida alone with the NARM and SERM reciprocal benefits. One of the participating museums is the Boca Raton Museum of Art in Boca Raton, FL. For more information on this amazing museum, keep reading and visit their website below. We hope you get the chance to explore this season and use your membership benefits!

The Boca Raton Museum of Art encompasses a creative campus that includes the Museum in Mizner Park and the Art School. The Museum has provided seven decades of cultural and artistic service to the community and to many visitors from around the world. Learn more at their website: https://bocamuseum.org

IF YOU'RE NOT ALREADY A MEMBER, CLICK THIS BUTTON TO JOIN!

Members-only benefits include:

•  Behind the scenes tours to upcoming exhibits
•  Access and admission discounts to special events and opening receptions
• 10% off museum shop items (some exclusions may apply)
• NARM & SERM - free admission to over 1,000 museums in the Southeastern and National Reciprocal Programs (Family membership and above)

Plus, you can enjoy a sense of community pride knowing that you are supporting a worthy nonprofit organization right here on the Treasure Coast. For a full list of benefits, visit our website at www.hsmc-fl.com/membership-2. Questions? Email Director of Visitor Services Ales Day at aday@hsmc-fl.com.

Whether you're shopping for a gift or for yourself you'll see plenty of unique items at the museum's Emporium Museum Shoppe. Merchandise includes magnetic, glow-in-the-dark butterflies, Beadworx sculptures, artwork, decorations, children's toys, Highwaymen placemats, an assortment of soaps, clocks, clothing, signed baseballs, baseball literature and much more. No museum admission is required if you just wish to browse and shop.

House of Refuge volunteers needed!

If you are interested in history and would enjoy being a part of the House of Refuge team — we need you! Come join our Volunteer Corps at the Historical Society of Martin County. If you (or someone you know) is interested, please contact Ales Day, director of visitor services, via email, or fill out an application online via the website.

Cars & Coffee is held the second Saturday of the month from 8 to 10 a.m. in the Elliott Museum's parking lot, weather permitting, co-sponsored by McKee's 37 and Oldies 95.9/106.9FM. Bring your pride and joy ride or just come and hang out with other car owners and enjoy the outdoor ambiance. The event showcases an amazing display of different makes, models and years of vehicles. This event is free and open to everyone. Coffee and donuts are provided at a nominal charge.

The Elliott Museum has always been a huge draw for car lovers and collectors of all kinds. We've featured a variety of car events and displays, both inside and outside the museum, including the addition of our own Tuesday night "Cruising At The Beach" car shows! We thank everyone for their support and want to let you know that the Tuesday night car show will take a summer hiatus and will return in October. In the meantime, there are plenty of other activities happening at the Elliott! (Photos by Linda Prange)

To take advantage of the museum's weekly tours of its auto collection on Thursdays at 11 a.m., meet at the front desk at 10:55 a.m. We recommend calling first at 772-225-1961. You also can take a joy ride to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion. The minimum suggested donation is $200.

Contact Jim Ferrare at 305-878-7795 to make arrangements or email him at jferrare@hsmc-fl.com.

As you can see from this newsletter, the Historical Society of Martin County continues to grow and offer more to the community than ever before. But we can't do it without your support. Every little bit helps! Thank you in advance for your support. PLEASE CLICK THIS BUTTON TO MAKE YOUR DONATION TODAY — AND DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DONATION MONTHLY!

Click here to see all of the local happenings and more on discovermartin.com.

For concise information on what's happening with the Arts Scene on the Treasure Coast, subscribe to Willi Miller's ARTS BLAST! at willimiller.com.

The Historical Society of Martin County

A Treasure on the Treasure Coast since 1961!

www.hsmc-fl.com | 772-225-1961

Two Museums on Hutchinson Island in Stuart, FL 34996

Elliott Museum | 825 NE Ocean Blvd.

Hours: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday

House of Refuge • 301 SE MacArthur Blvd.

10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Saturday and 1-4 p.m., Sunday