Stuart, Florida.
Lat. 27.192223 | Long. -80.243057
“Sailfish Capital of the World”
Stuart and Martin County got in on the sailfish action early on in its history. It was January 1938 and Stuart News editor and visionary Ernie Lyons was hosting a half dozen sports writers from some of the nation’s largest newspapers. He had them out fishing aboard the Whiticar Fleet with Captains Add Whiticar and sons Jack, Johnson and Curt. The small fishing fleet based in Stuart had tallied over 1,000 sailfish catches in a little less than a week. One of the columnists went back home and penned a phrase that read something like: “You might as well call that place Stuart the world capital of sailfish.” Visit Discover Martin County.
-
Stuart, Florida, has a rich history that reflects its development from a small settlement to a vibrant community. Located on Florida's Treasure Coast, Stuart is the county seat of Martin County. Here's an overview of its historical development:
Early History
Indigenous Peoples: Before European settlers arrived, the area around Stuart was inhabited by the Ais and Jaega Native American tribes. These indigenous groups lived off the land, relying on fishing, hunting, and gathering.
Spanish Exploration: The region was explored by Spanish explorers in the 16th century, but it remained largely undeveloped by European settlers for several centuries.
19th Century
Early Settlers: The first non-indigenous settlers arrived in the mid-19th century. By the 1870s, small communities began to form along the St. Lucie River, which provided a natural harbor and access to inland areas.
St. Lucie Settlement: Originally, the area was known as St. Lucie, named after the nearby river. The settlers were primarily involved in farming, fishing, and trading. The population was small, and the community was fairly isolated.
The Arrival of the Railroad (1892)
Railroad Impact: The Florida East Coast Railway, developed by Henry Flagler, reached the area in 1892. This was a pivotal moment in Stuart's history, as it connected the community to other parts of Florida and brought increased commerce and population growth.
Name Change to Stuart: The town was renamed "Stuart" in 1895, in honor of Homer Hine Stuart, Jr., a prominent local landowner and one of the founders of the town.
Early 20th Century
Incorporation: Stuart was officially incorporated as a city in 1914. During this period, the town began to develop more structured governance and infrastructure.
Boom and Bust: Like much of Florida, Stuart experienced a land boom in the 1920s, followed by a bust during the Great Depression in the 1930s. The town's economy, heavily reliant on agriculture and fishing, was hit hard, but it slowly recovered.
Mid to Late 20th Century
World War II: During World War II, the U.S. Navy established a training base in Stuart, which brought a temporary influx of people and economic activity.
Post-War Growth: After the war, Stuart began to grow steadily. The development of new roads, the expansion of tourism, and the attraction of retirees contributed to the area's growth.
Martin County Seat: In 1925, Stuart became the county seat when Martin County was created, separating it from Palm Beach County. This solidified Stuart's importance in the region.
Modern Era
Environmental Conservation: In recent decades, Stuart has been recognized for its efforts to preserve the natural environment, particularly the St. Lucie River and nearby ecosystems. The town is known as the "Sailfish Capital of the World" due to its excellent fishing opportunities.
Tourism and Culture: Stuart's charming downtown, historic buildings, and cultural attractions, such as the Elliott Museum and the House of Refuge Museum, have made it a popular destination for tourists. The town is also known for its annual events, like the Stuart Air Show and the Stuart Boat Show.
Recent Development: While maintaining its small-town charm, Stuart has continued to grow, with new residential developments, commercial areas, and infrastructure improvements. The community remains a blend of historical preservation and modern amenities.
Stuart's history is marked by its transformation from a small, isolated settlement to a thriving coastal town with a strong sense of community and a commitment to preserving its natural and historical heritage.
The charm of this historic downtown is undeniable, with the beauty of the St. Lucie River just feet away from over 50 locally-owned shops, restaurants and galleries. There’s history around every corner with turn-of-the-century buildings and the Feed Store Museum steps from the Riverwalk boardwalk winding from the docks of Sunset Bay Marina to the historic homes of Seminole Street.
There’s always something happening in this coastal community, with live entertainment year-round in the beautifully restored Lyric Theatre, on the waterfront Riverwalk Stage, and in unique venues throughout downtown. Add craft and art festivals and holiday events, and there’s something fun for everyone.
Sportfishing Charters
The mission of the Historical Society of Martin County is to collect, preserve, and share the history of the Treasure Coast; to provide fresh, eclectic, and relevant exhibitions and engagements for their guests; to assure that their museums are vital, responsive, and agile community gathering places that nurture an environment of collaboration; to serve as a catalyst for economic development, and to continuously earn the honor of being a point of pride for the community.
George W. Parks General Merchandise Store
The museum building is wooden, made of Dade County pine, which is some of the longest-lasting variety of wood to be found. It is a 1901 tin-roof structure of vernacular architecture with a classical pioneer false-front and a gabled tin roof which was constructed and named the George W. Parks General Merchandise Store of Stuart, Florida. This historical icon situated along the St. Lucie River in downtown Stuart is some 25 miles north of West Palm Beach and one of the earliest commercial buildings in the area.
The Black Marlin
After 27 years in the Food and Beverage arena for the cruise ship industry and former owner of Stuart’s famous Jolly Sailor Restaurant, Bob Davis knows what people want in a memorable dining experience.
Bob, along with his wife Tracy, came up with the concept to create one of South Florida’s most exciting new restaurants, Sailor’s Return.
This 8000 square foot, 220 seat restaurant with two bars is nestled on Sunset Bay Harbour and Marina. One of South Florida’s premier waterfront locations.
Their experienced executive leadership group is committed to creating a unique and special collaborative culture for their team members. The team members at La Grande Martier come from many different places & backgrounds. Many began their work experience in restaurants at 14-15 years old. They all share the same passion for consistently delivering outstanding food, drinks, and service.
All the sails that they use are 100% recycled. They are collected from sailors and sail-lofts, then sorted and carefully identified. Their creative process is diametrically opposed to the one of regular fashion and decor items collections: they start with the recovered material and then imagine their new products. And through this upcycling process, they choose the spirit of their collections.
Stitched inside their bags and most of their decor items, a certificate of origin retraces the history of the recycled sailcloth, specifies the sail number and the number of products made from the sail.
This Coastal Chic store features an eclectic collection of all things coastal with vast array of home accessories, unique gifts and fabulous finds. They are thrilled to announce the opening of their Pandora shop-in-shop! All of the beautiful Pandora jewelry you know and love is there now! They always have something new to see when you visit their store! In addition to the perfect accent for your home, Gumbo Limbo Coastal Chic features casual coastal clothing, jewelry, accessories and more!
The original “Duffy’s Drafthouse”, was founded by two childhood friends turned business partners in Lake Park, Florida in 1985. In addition to plenty of beer choices, Duffy’s had only 4 items on the menu: Grilled Mahi Sandwich, Hot Ham and Cheese, Smoked Sausage and ½ lb. Cheeseburger. All of these original items were served with potato chips so there was no need for silverware or even a fryer. From the beginning, Duffy’s Drafthouse became known for “The Coldest Beer” and “Best Burger” in town…and it was wildly popular.
VÊTU
These Boutiques not only offer Award winning Interior Design Services, they feature, beautifully selected items for the home. Their Sales Specialists will help you select that very unique gift for birthday, baby or just because. They celebrate the relaxed, easy living lifestyle, that Historic Downtown is all about. Stop by to see what the buzz is all about !!
Established in 1991, Luna often referred to as a" Stuart landmark" draws an eclectic neighborhood crowd. Located in the Riverview shopping and Dining district in the Historic Downtown. With it's creative mouth watering entrees and specialty pizzas, Luna knows how to satisfy all appetites and budgets. Home of the original and irresistible garlic knot. You'll be happy you stopped by! Casual dining as well as outside seating.
Old Florida Mockingbird
Ingredients
1.5 oz Jamaican or dark rum
1 tsp honey, preferably Tupelo
1 oz cardamon simple syrup
4 oz club soda or sparkling water
Freshly ground black pepper
Cardamon Syrup:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 tsp ground cardamon
Steps
Make the simple syrup in a small pot over medium heat. Cook until the sugar is melted. Add ground cardamon. Allow the syrup to steep and cool for about 30 minutes.
Add the rum, syrup and honey to the cocktail shaker. Add ice and gently stir. Pour into an iced filled cocktail glass. Top with sparkling water and a few grinds of black pepper. Garnish with a rosemary sprig.
Since 1982, The Gilt Complex has provided custom framing and art conservation to private residences, galleries, museums, corporations, architects and interior designers. They have one of the largest and most diverse collections of frames in south Florida. Recognized for their professional expertise, superb craftsmanship and personalized service, they frame and restore original art, prints, documents, maps, memorabilia and mirrors.
The Snappy Turtle
They are thrilled to introduce Mens, Mommy & Me, Daddy & Me, and pet departments to the shop. They also have added new woman's apparel and shoe lines to meet more of your shopping needs. Their accessory, home and gift selections have grown with the expansion as well.
Matilda’s is located in the heart of the Historic Downtown Shopping District of Stuart, Florida. Nestled just a stone’s throw from the river, the boutique instantly captures the essence of beach chic living. Matilda’s showcases home gift design resort wear, wedding, baby, accessories and endless style…. a little shop filled with coastal wonder and inspiration!
