McLarty Treasure Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1971 |
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| Location | 13180 North A1A Vero Beach, Florida , |
| Type | Maritime Archaeology |
The McLarty Treasure Museum is a cool place to visit in Vero Beach, Florida. It's located on North Hutchinson Island, Florida, right by the Atlantic Ocean. This museum is special because it sits on the very spot where survivors and salvagers camped after a huge disaster.
The museum tells the exciting story of the 1715 Treasure Fleet. This was a group of Spanish ships loaded with amazing treasures. You can see real artifacts, cool displays, and even an observation deck. From there, you can look out over the ocean where the ships sank! A film called The Queen's Jewels and the 1715 Fleet is also shown. It explains how a terrible hurricane hit the fleet 300 years ago.
The land for the museum was given to the state by Mr. Robert McLarty. He was a retired attorney from Atlanta who lived in Vero Beach.
Contents
The 1715 Treasure Fleet
Imagine a fleet of ships sailing from the New World back to Spain. These ships were packed with incredible riches. They carried gold, silver, jewels, and other valuable goods. This was the famous 1715 Spanish treasure fleet. It was a very important journey for Spain.
The ships were heading home from places like Mexico and South America. They were bringing back wealth for the Spanish king. This treasure was meant to help Spain's economy. The journey was long and often dangerous.
The Great Hurricane
On July 31, 1715, disaster struck. A powerful hurricane hit the fleet off the coast of Florida. The storm was incredibly strong. It caught the ships by surprise. Many of the ships were wrecked. They were smashed against the reefs and the shore.
Hundreds of sailors lost their lives. The valuable cargo was scattered across the ocean floor. The ships broke apart, and their treasures sank. This event was one of the biggest losses in naval history. It left a huge amount of treasure hidden underwater.
Finding the Lost Treasure
After the hurricane, some survivors made it to shore. They set up a camp near where the museum is today. They tried to salvage what they could from the sunken ships. But much of the treasure remained lost for centuries.
In the 1960s, treasure hunters began to find parts of the fleet. They discovered amazing artifacts from the wrecks. These finds helped bring the story of the 1715 fleet back to life. The McLarty Treasure Museum shares these incredible discoveries.
What You'll See at the Museum
The McLarty Treasure Museum is a fantastic place to learn about history. You can see many items recovered from the sunken ships. These include coins, jewelry, and even everyday items used by the sailors.
The museum has interactive displays. These help you understand what life was like on a Spanish galleon. You can also learn about the tools and methods used by treasure salvagers. Don't forget to check out the observation deck. It offers amazing views of the ocean. You might even imagine the ships sailing by!
See also
Gallery
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Front view of McLarty Treasure Museum
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Front oblique view of McLarty Treasure Museum
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Historical marker in front of museum designating the site of the Survivors' and Salvagers' Camp - 1715 Fleet
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Replicas of treasure recovered from the Atocha shipwreck in the Florida Keys
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"Blown shoreward and wrecked along inshore reefs, the fleet strewed its riches along a vast stretch of Florida's eastern coast." Oil painting on three wood panels, on display in museum
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Official photo of McLarty Treasure Museum, displayed at the ceremonial opening of the museum on March 27, 1971; on display in the museum
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A helmet and breastplate were worn mainly by Spanish foot soldiers and helped protect the body from piercing weapons and gunfire.
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Precious metals including silver, copper, and gold were shipped back to Spain in various forms. This pie wedge of silver was shaped for shipment in a barrel.
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This gilded pitcher was probably used to hold perfume and was made from silver that was overlaid with gold. Much of the gold was removed from years at sea as the silver underneath corroded.
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This replica galleon, called an Almiranta, was second in command of the Spanish Fleet and captained by an admiral. These warships carried most of the treasure returning to Spain, with their main duty to protect the convoy of other vessels within the fleet.
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The hilts of swords are sometimes made of silver which has been worked into an ornate piece of art. The iron blades of the swords do not survive the corrosive powers of seawater and are rarely found intact with the sword hilts.
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Delicate K'ang Hsi porcelain was loaded onto the 1715 Fleet galleons after a voyage halfway around the world from China aboard the Manilla Galleons in the Pacific Ocean. Mule trains from Acapulco to Vera Cruz would connect the trade routes and transport goods from the Pacific Fleet into the Atlantic Fleet.
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This large "charger" was a pewter plate used to serve food aboard ship.
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