New Smyrna is the second oldest settled city in Florida offering visitors several historical sites and museums.You can visit the Eldora House, New Smyrna Museum of History, Sugar Mill Ruins, Turnbull Ruins and the Turtle Mounds .

Long before Juan Ponce de Leon sailed Florida's east coast in 1513 searching for a "Fountain of Youth," Timucuan Indians lived in the New Smyrna Beach area. Nomadic hunters and gatherers, they inhabited this area 10,000 year ago. But Timucuans disappeared within 200 years of Ponce de Leon's landing, victims of European infections and slavery. Only their shell mounds survived. Dr. Amos W. Butler, an Indian archaeologist, identified 22 mounds between Port Orange and Oak Hill in his "Observations on Some Shell Mounds on the Eastern Coast of Florida," published in 1917. Nearly all 22 were destroyed for use as road material.

The Florida State Historical Society saved Turtle Mound in 1924, purchasing Canaveral National Seashore for $8,000. Today it is a designated State Historic Memorial. Visible seven miles out to sea, Turtle Mound has been a navigational aid since the 1500s.

Preparations had been made for about 500 colonists, not 1,200 plus. This made New Smyrna the largest British attempt at colonization in the New World, nearly three times larger than Jamestown, Virginia. As an economic enterprise, New Smyrna succeeded, perhaps the most lucrative of all New World colonies.

The rich history of Southeast Volusia, especially New Smyrna, makes it Florida's third most important historical area. The New Smyrna Beach area provides a union of history and nature. Visitors can explore a mix of historic ruins, waterways, a national park and landmarks serving as bridges to the past.


TIME LINE OF NEW SMYRNA'S PAST

BC

15,000 - 500 Pre-Columbian Period - first
evidence of man in the New
Smyrna area
__________________________

AD

1492 Columbus discovers the New
World

1513 Ponce de Leon discovers "La
Florida"

1565 - 1763 First Spanish Period

1763 Timucuan Indian Period ends

1764 - 1783 British Colonial Period

1768 New Smyrna Founded

1776 The Revolutionary War begins

1777 Turnbull's New Smyrna colony
ends

1784 - 1821 Second Spanish Period

1821 - 1845 Territorial Period

1835 - 1842 Seminole Indian War - New
Smyrna burned by Indians

1845 Florida becomes a state

1861 - 1865 The War Between the States

New Smyrna Museum of History
120 Sams Ave. New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168 Local Phone: 386-478-0052 New Smyrna Beach the Museum's main exhibit features the Turnbull Colony with additional exhibits from the Pre-Columbian era, Spanish Periods, British Period, Seminole Wars, Civil War, Railroad Era and the 20th Century. Built in 1901, The Connor Library originally served as the area's local library and was donated to the city in 1924. Today, The Connor Library Museum, the oldest municipal building in New Smyrna Beach, serves as a museum of local history.

Turtle Mound
Dating back to 2000 BC, the Timucuan Indian civilization created Turtle Mound over a period of several hundred years. A kitchen midden made up of oyster and shellfish remains, Turtle Mound is seen seven miles out at sea and resembles the shape of a turtle. The highest point of elevation in the New Smyrna Beach area, Turtle Mound stands 50 feet tall and covers two acres. Located in Canaveral National Seashore Park, a trail to its peak leads to a spectacular panoramic view of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. Directions: Located south on A1A in Canaveral National Seashore.

Turnbull Ruins
This coquina block foundation represents the colonization by Dr. Andrew Turnbull from 1766-1777. It's believed that he attempted to build his personal mansion on these coquina remains. Although the origination of the ruins is unknown, it's theorized that they may be the remnants of a pre-colonial fort or a colonial church.

Sugar Mill Ruins
This once highly functional sugar mill was built during the uprisings of the Native Americans in the early 1800s. The mill, the sugar plantations and all the buildings in New Smyrna were destroyed during the war between the Seminole Indians and the United States.


Eldora House
In 1877 property was purchased for the creation of Eldora, a small community situated on the southern inland waterway. The exact population of early Eldora was not known, deeds and tax records indicate 50-75 people. The agricultural community thrived since travel along the waterway was faster and safer than the ocean. Their Eldora's decline began after three freezes during the late 1880's and 1890's destroying the citrus crops. After 1900 - After 1910, the Eldora "State" House, a large home on the water's edge was built. It has a Dutch Colonial design with plain, yet graceful features such as a gambrel roof and columns surrounding the front porch. The style is open and airy; they have full use of the attic and a widow's walk. Today, two buildings remain: the Eldora "State" House and a post office/citrus packinghouse. Directions: It is located in the North District of Canaveral National Seashore, south of New Smyrna Beach on A-1A. From the district's Parking #8, a short walk will take park visitors to the edge of Mosquito Lagoon and remains on the Eldora Community.