The New Smyrna Museum of History, part of the Southeast Volusia Historical Society, is located just off Canal Street at 120 Sams Avenue in the historic district of New Smyrna Beach.

  The  focal point of the museum is an exhibit devoted to the founders of New Smyrna, an intrepid group of indentured Mediterranean colonists, under the leadership of Scottish physician and diplomat Dr.Andrew Turnbull.

  In addition to the New Smyrna Settlement Exhibit, there is an Interior Gallery which gives chronological overview of area history, starting with pre-historic Florida and continuing through eleven distinct periods

Upstairs at the museum is a special exhibit  of early St John's pottery, projectile points, and other artifacts collected by the late Zelia Wilson Sweett, a noted local historian .

The Sheldon Research Library contains documents, books, periodicals, maps and photographs relating to the history of New Smyrna Beach. The Library is open Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm and by appointment.
FREE ADMISION

Hours
Museum and store
Tuesday-Saturday - 10 am-4 pm

Sheldon Research Library
Tuesdays & Thursdays - 10 am -4 pm & by apt.

(386)478-0052
120 Sams Avenue
New Smyrna Beach, Florida 32168

We are always seeking VOLUNTEERS for our Museum if you are interested in joining us please call: Jim McGee 352-553-9136


LOCAL LINKS OF INTEREST

Preserving, Interpreting, and Promoting History in  Southeast Volusia.
Dr.Turnbull organized the largest attempt at British colonization in the New World by founding New Smyrna, Florida, named in honor of his wife's birthplace. New Smyrna, Florida Colony, founded in 1768, encompassed some 101,400 acres.
We are Preserving our History & Heritage 
  Historical Museum & Library
Southeast Volusia
Historical Society, Inc.
Interactive  programs and resources
make history come alive!

Civil War
      Artifacts

  As early as 2,000 B.C. indigenous tribes inhabited the area around New Smyrna Beach thriving on the east coast until being rapidly destroyed by European diseases and war. 

When East Florida was traded by Spain to England in 1763 Scottish physician Dr. Andrew Turnbull    determined to establish an agricultural colony, naming it "Smyrnea."  It occupies a place in history by bringing to the New World the largest number of settlers ever sponsored by the British government.

In 1768 just over 1,400 people left the port city of Mahon in Minorca on eight ships.  Most hailed from the Balearic Islands (called Minorca, Mallorca and Ibiza) but many others had come from Italy, Crete, Cyprus, Greece and Sicily.  Sadly only 1,295 of the original group of indentured servants reached the east coast of Florida three months later.

`A sneak peak of the history of New Smyrna Beach` 
During the nine years the colony was in existence, these hard-working Mediterranean peoples suffered major losses due to malnutrition, diseases, inclement weather, harsh treatment and skirmishes with Native Americans.

It’s no wonder in 1777, the remaining disgruntled workers walked north to St. Augustine along the Old King's Highway, abandoning the “Smyrnea” colony forever.  Soon after, the province of East Florida was returned to the Spanish and Dr. Turnbull ended his years in Charleston, South Carolina.

On St. George Street in the city of St. Augustine, the Greek community of  St. Photios National Shrine has honored those intrepid settlers of the Smyrnea plantation, some of whom were the first Greek Orthodox Church worshipers in North America.

After the abandonment of the settlement the eastern central coast of Florida remained sparsely populated.  The American Civil War saw forays into Mosquito Inlet of Confederate and Union ships, and the Stone Wharf built by the original Smyrnea settlers, was shelled by Union gunboat cannon fire, as was a local riverfront home located on the site of “Old Fort Park”.
Visit us today, learn the History of New Smyrna Beach
Southeast Volusia  Historical Society, Inc.  Copyright © 2012  Cut Above Designs Original works unauthorized reproduction and/or publication without the written consent is a violation of applicable laws  Site developed & maintained by Cut Above Designs.com
Museum Galleries and Store Hours Tuesday-Saturday - 10 am-4 pm
By 1887, with only a population of 150, the Town of New Smyrna was incorporated.  The imminent arrival of Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway (FEC RR) in the late 1890’s led to a boom in the area's population, tourism, hunting, growing of citrus crops, and commercial fishing.

During Prohibition in the 1920 and 1930s the city and its river islands were popular sites for moonshine stills and hideouts for rum runners coming in from the Bahamas through Mosquito Inlet. At some point, it became obvious  that the inlet need a more desirable name.  Thus, the more recent name change to Ponce de León Inlet.  

In 1947 when the city annexed the island/seaside community of Coronado Beach "New Smyrna" became "New Smyrna Beach".   Today, our city struts its stuff as a bustling resort and nationally known art community with over 22,000 permanent residents and a million visitors annually. 

Florida’s  diversity is exemplified by the plethora of state and national flags that have waved proudly throughout it’s 500 year history (1513 to 2013).