Copyright, Palm Beach Maritime Museum, Inc. 1999 Rev. 3/10 Above ... The Former U.S. Coast Guard Station on Peanut Island, Right: PBMM Field Office, Including Dock Space on the Intracoastal Waterway, West Palm Beach, Florida.
Palm Beach Maritime Museum, Inc. is an IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization complying with federal, state and local non-discriminatory policies.
Palm Beach Maritime Museum
About us ...
The opening of the Palm Beach Maritime Museum in 1999, after 6 years of preliminary work, is a major event for South Florida. Following a lengthy restoration and construction program, we now have four facilities: 1. the former U.S.Coast Guard Station, Boathouse and President John F. Kennedy command post and bomb shelter on Peanut Island; 2. the marine science field office and dock on the Intracoastal Waterway; 3. an educational center, preview building and ferry dock at Currie Park in West Palm Beach [below, left] (Museum tours leave from this site for Peanut Island and the Kennedy Bunker at the Coast Guard Station. Click on Ferry for the schedule.); and 4. the new location for our Palm Beach Maritime Academy K-8 Charter School at 7719 S. Dixie Hwy. in West Palm Beach.
Education is our passion ...
Our first exhibit was a fascinating collection of artifacts from the Battleship
Maine, which sank after a mysterious explosion in Havana Harbor ... the
rest is history. It's an eerie feeling to see the bugle that blew taps for the
Army contingent on board on the eve of the ship's destruction and see salvaged
uniforms in perfect condition that were never again to be worn by the victims.
One of the permanent exhibits on Peanut Island
is John F. Kennedy's Bunker ... constructed by the SeaBees under the direction
of the Secret Service. Peanut Island is very near the Kennedy Compound in Palm
Beach and the bunker was a nuclear war contingency facility during the Cuban
Missile Crisis. It is a stark reminder of the Cold War at its peak, and our
military past is certainly relevant today!
Our living reef system is only one of nature's treasures to be studied here. Here in the Palm Beach area, we have an intensive mix of residential development, historical cultural resources, commercial ship traffic, agriculture and recreational use of our waterways. We have crystal-clear saltwater at our docks and part of our mission is to help keep it that way. We plan to collect data for use by graduate and high school programs ... and for use by environmental engineers, both commercial and jurisdictional. Currently under construction is an innovative "Virtual Port" which will include automated data collection from in situ sensors [e.g. salinity, turbidity, pH, tides, current] as well as real-time television both above and underwater.We'll keep you posted as we progress.
Although Peanut Island appears
to be a well-forested natural island, it is in fact a repository for
dredged material from the inland waterway covered with Australian Pines ...
a nuisance weed that will be removed. Peanut Island was enlarged in the early
part of this century and we are helping to restore plants from our natural ecosystem.
The Lake Worth portion of the waterway, filled with mega-yachts, was actually
a fresh water lake until Henry Flagler opened it to the ocean. Flagler was the
railroad tycoon who opened Florida all the way to the Keys and his Lake Worth
mansion, now a museum, is open for tours.
Palm Beach County has opened a major park with campgrounds around Peanut Island. For more information about the county park and campgrounds, please call (561) 845-4445.
Planning for the Future ... The field office for the Museum's maritime program is located on the Intracoastal Waterway across from some of the world's most valuable real estate. The island of Palm Beach is bordered by the Gulf Stream and has what can only be described as the world's best climate.We're working on major educational programs and our Charter School, the Palm Beach Maritime Academy, is an "A" rated school in its 11th academic year.. Click on Academy for more information.
Where we are ... Below left is a regional map, showing where we are in the lower half of Florida. Following is an aerial view of Peanut Island, showing its unique location. For a street map to our Education Center and Ferry Dock... Scroll down or click on the "Maps" link at the right..
Palm Beach Maritime Museum's
Lake Worth Lagoon Education Center in Currie Park
2400 North Flagler Drive (1/2 mile north of Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.)
(561) 832-7428
Hours of Operation (Currie Park Location)
Wednesday-Saturday 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Closed Sunday-Tuesday
Directions to Currie Park in West Palm Beach: I-95 to Exit 71, Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., east to Flagler Drive (on Intracoastal Waterway), then north 1/2 mile to Palm Beach Maritime Museum in Currie Park, 2400 N. Flagler Dr. Free parking on the street or in the parking lot.
Peanut Island
Visit the JFK Bomb Shelter and the Historic Former Coast Guard Facility on Peanut Island.
Water taxis are available to Peanut Island from various locations, including Riviera Beach Marina, 200 E. 13th Street, Riviera Beach, Florida, 33404.
Kennedy Bunker & Coast Guard Station Tours
Thursday-Friday 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
HIGH WINDS AND INCLEMENT WEATHER MAY AFFECT FERRY SCHEDULE AND TOURS. PRICES AND SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. PLEASE CALL US AT (561) 848-2960 or 832-7428 FOR MORE INFORMATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATRONAGE.
Historic Former U.S. Coast Guard "Ready" Boathouse
The Palm Beach Maritime Academy is a Charter School, operated by the Palm Beach Maritime Museum. "Charter Schools" are tuition-free, public schools that operate under a performance contract with the local school board. [Ask us about our current performance record ... We're proud of it!!!]
The Academy considers the Lake Worth Lagoon, with its varied environments and the museum's main exhibit on Peanut Island, the historic Coast Guard Station and Kennedy Bunker as its experiential campus. It is the combination of these sites with our ability to bring in historic tall ships and other important exhibits that inspires our young students. The decade-long success of our charter school has been recognized by two Florida Governors, the U.S. Congress and recently the highest ranking officer in the U.S. Navy, Adm. Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations, who is totally dedicated to educating the next generation about our nation's maritime history and the strategic importance of our marine industries.
The Palm Beach Maritime Academy meets the guidelines for the School District of Palm Beach County, with a focus on maritime studies: science, technology and history. A unique integration of marine subject areas inspires and motivates students!
All teachers and administrators are certified, and have been screened and fingerprinted by Palm Beach County. The PBMA has access to the resources of the Palm Beach Maritime Museum, in the world's most beautiful waterfront location. Click Academy for more about the school.
Contact: Tel: 561-547-3775 Fax: 561-540-5177 Email: MaritimeAcademy@aol.com
Physical Address: 7719 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33405
Past Exhibits and Activities of Interest:
Battleship Maine: [past exhibit]
Kennedy Bunker: The Kennedy Bunker is on the Peanut Island tour.
HM Bark Endeavour visited 3/7-15/98
Governor's River Walk Reef: Dedicated by Governor Jeb Bush on 5/17/02.
Jeanie Johnston Emigrant Tall Ship: Visited Palm Beach Maritime Museum on Peanut Island on 4/15/03.
Nina Exhibit: Visited Palm Beach Maritime Museum at Currie Park on 3/11/04.
HMS Bounty: Visited Peanut Island from November 2009 - March 2010.
Privateer Lynx: Visited Peanut Island from January - April 2010.
We salute New York Firemen!!
Photo Below: from our archives, NYC firemen launch a small fire
boat, circa 1963.
Please Consider a Donation to Palm Beach Maritime Museum and Academy
Palm Beach Maritime Museum, Inc.(PBMM) is a non-profit organization funded through public and private grants as well as a variety of charitable contributions that include real estate and personal property, such as yachts and aircraft. PBMM is an IRS 501(c)(3) educational organization, which focuses on maritime history, the marine environment, technology and science, has conducted a successful personal property donation program for over 25 years.
The Palm Beach Maritime Museum and Academy would like you to consider a philanthropic gift to its organization. The fair market value of your yacht, airplane or real estate is deductible for Federal tax purposes based on a reasonable appraisal of the donated value obtained by the donor. Consult your tax advisor to determine how you can benefit from a donation to Palm Beach Maritime Museum.
If you are interested in making a donation of personal property to Palm Beach Maritime Museum and Academy, please contact the Museum office at (561) 540-5147 or email us at Museum@pbmm.org.
Thank you for your consideration.
Palm Beach Maritime Museum, Inc.
Mail: P. O. Box 2317, Palm Beach, FL 33480
School and Administrative Offices: 7719 S. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach, FL 33405
Voice: 561-540-5147 * Fax: 561-540-5196
send us email ...Museum@pbmm.org
PALM BEACH MARITIME MUSEUM IS A CHARITABLE
ORGANIZATION REGISTERED WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA. A COPY OF THE
OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED
FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE
WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA (800) 435-7352. REGISTRATION DOES NOT
IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
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