Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science Highlights Area’s Unique Past From the Ice Age to the Space Age – SpaceCoastDaily.com

Opened in 1973 in a Portable Classroom Donated by the Brevard County School BoardFLORIDA CRACKERS are cattle ranchers with techniques specific to the Florida pine and scrub lands. By cracking a whip they herd cattle while seated on Cracker horses, sturdy equines bread for cattle work. Learn more about a unique lifeway that has endured from early Spanish settlers to the present day at the museum. (Cracker Cow Hunt, Casper McCloud)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA The Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science, located at 2201 Michigan Avenue in Cocoa, is tucked away in a quite residential neighborhood and features two wings of indoor exhibits.

The entire museum complex consists of a 14,750 square foot facility with parking for 75 cars, a pavilion with four picnic tables, and a beautiful 22-acre nature preserve that backs up to the Eastern Florida State College Planetarium.

Through curation and display, visitors to the museum can explore the unique history of Brevard County from Ice Age fossils to the Space Age Hubble telescope, it have something for everyone.

The Brevard Museum is also now home to the Florida Historical Society Archaeological Institute whose mission, in hand with the museum, is to educate the public about Florida archaeology through research, publication and outreach.

Museum Home to Extensive Collection of Antiques, Historic Artifacts

In the late 1960s a group of local citizens saw the need to preserve the unique history and pre-history of Brevard County located on Floridas east coast.

Forming a Friends of the Brevard Museum organization, their efforts and dedication led to the establishment of the museum, which opened to the public in 1973 in a portable classroom donated by the Brevard County School Board.

A permanent facility was dedicated in 1978 with funding provided by the Grace and Albert Taylor trust.

Settling in the east central Florida area in 1895, Grace and Albert contributed greatly to the development of Brevard County. Grace in particular was interested in preserving the history and natural beauty of the area.

When she passed away in 1945 she left a bequest specifically for the development of a museum to to preserve these early lifeways.

Today, in addition to many milestones and moments in Brevard County history, the museum is home to an extensive collection of her antiques and historic artifacts.

Interest in the museum continued to grow and funds for further construction were secured through a partnership between the state and local community, allowing a second wing with a connecting lobby to be built in 1992.

The original Taylor Wing is now home to the museums Ice Age exhibit featuring fully articulated skeletons of a mastodon, giant ground sloth and saber tooth cat.

This wing also has a hands-on Imagination Station for the young and young at heart, with a simulated rocket capsule, tree house and cave.

Explore Floridas Past with the Brevard Museums Exhibits

The Brevard Museum features two wings of exhibits representing Brevard Countys rich and diverse history. Click on the links below for a sneak-peak at some of the images that will whet your appetite to stop in to learn the rest of Brevards exciting story.

Lesson plans are under development for many of the museums exhibits, call 321-632-1830 for more information.

The newest chapter in the museums history began in September of 2014 when the Florida Historical Society, located at 435 Brevard Avenue in Cocoa Village, became the museums parent organization.

Many changes have occurred, and will continue to occur, under this new umbrella. If you havent seen the Brevard Museum in the past year, you havent seen the Brevard Museum.

Be sure to come on out and see these great exhibits:

The Ice Age

Windover Archaeological Site

Cape Canaveral Lighthouse and special 150th anniversary exhibit

Pioneer Homestead

Citrus Industry

Florida Cracker Culture

Florida East Cost Railway

Grace & Albert Taylor

Hubble Space Telescope: Eye on the Universe

Butterfly Garden

Imagination Station

Past Exhibit: Paintings of Nostalgic Florida: The Original Highwaymen Artists April 7, 2018 April 28, 2018

Past Exhibit: Time to Shine: Mismatched Items from our Collection Feb 23 March 31

The Apollo Journey: Birth of the Space Coast

For more information log on to myfloridahistory.org/brevardmuseum

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Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science Highlights Area's Unique Past From the Ice Age to the Space Age - SpaceCoastDaily.com