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St. Lucie Historical Society, Inc.

St. Lucie County  Historical Museum Guide

The Fort Room 

The Second Seminole War began in 1835, when the tribe began to attack settlers.  The United States Army was ordered into the territory.  Most of the area had not yet been mapped or explored.  The Army hacked trails to connect the new military outposts through the virgin growth.  These trails later became roads and were used by settlers.

The men of the First Artillery commanded by Benjamin Kendrick Pierce, were joined by members of the U.S. Navy, under the leadership of Lieutenant L. M. Powell.  Accompanied by a topographical engineer, Joseph E. Johnston and a doctor Leitner, this group set out by boat to explore the Indian River.  Their mission was to select sites for military depots.  They reached our inlet and on the morning of December 31, 1837 set up camp on the sea shore.  On the morning of January 2, 1838 they moved to the west side of the river, about four miles south of the inlet.  The soldiers soon erected a block house on top of a bluff and deemed it worthy of a name.  The fort was therefore dubbed, Fort Pierce, after their worthy commander.

The fort remained active until the end of the Second Seminole War in 1842.  Another notable soldier stationed here for a time was Lieutenant William T. Sherman.  Both Sherman and Johnston gained fame as Civil War generals.  The buildings from the abandoned fort burned in December of 1843.

Other Displays:

Fort artifacts

Benjamin Pierce Letter

Federal Uniform

Era Clothing

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