Melbourne Favorite Tips by gkitzmil Top 5 Page for this destination

See Pirate Treasure -- REALLY

Favorite thing: Visit both the McLarty Treasure Museum (owned by the state) and the Mel Fisher Museum.

The McLarty is about 20 - 25 minutes south of Melbourne Beach (about 10 minutes North of Vero Beach) on A!A.

http://www.atocha1622.com/mclarty.htm

In 1715 a fleet of Spanish ships had collected a dowry for the queen of Spain. They were traveling north from Cuba to hit the westerly winds back to Spain. In very bad weather they wrecked off the coast of what is now Florida. It must have been terrible for the survivors as this was a swamp. Yet, they lost millions in gold and other treasures to the see. Even today it is possible that gold coins sometimes wash up on the beach. Much HAS been recovered in the past fifty years and some of that is on display at these two museums.

National Historical Landmark
Site Of The
1715 Spanish Plate Fleet
Survivors' & Salvaging Camp

772-589-2147
Fax 321-984-4854

McLarty Treasure Museum is open 7 days a week
10:00 AM-4:30 PM.
(last video shows 3:15-4:00)
Admission fee is $1.00 per person.
Children under six admitted free.