Historical Society launches web-based historic marker tour

arts & entertainment

The Indian River County Historical Society has launched a web-based tour of the 37 historic markers located in Indian River County. The tour is interactive and may be viewed on the Society’s website, www.irchistorical.org. On the navigation bar, you will go to Historical Marker Tour.

Working collaboratively with Datastory, a Baltimore based firm, the Historical Society produced this north to south tour. The historic marker locations are included on a map, with interesting educational data and photographs about each site. Datastory believes we are the first historical society to use GIS (geographic information system) location intelligence used with data and photos to provide this end product.

Mark Holt, President of the Historical Society said “This new web-based history tour is another great example of the Historical Society creating educational programs for our community.”

The historical marker tour looks great on computers, tablets, and smartphones. The attractive, easy to navigate design features large historic images.

Historical Society volunteer Penny Chandler, with assistance from County Historian Ruth Stanbridge, led the effort which began in March. Sixty-six photographs are used in the tour with the majority from the Historical Society Collection. Others photo sources include several historical websites along with local residents: Joe Semko, Charlotte Cain “Shotsi” Lajoie, Richard Lane, Beth Mitchell, the Collection of Korky Korker, Bob Montanaro, Gifford Historical Museum and Cultural Center, George Nelson Collection of the Sebastian Historical Society, Joanna Webb, Allen Chapel, and JPR Images.

For over 30-years, the Indian River County Historical Society has contributed to preserving the historical and environmental resources of Indian River County, the Indian River Lagoon area, and the State of Florida. The Historical Society office is located in the 1903 Vero Beach Railroad Station on 14^th Avenue in historic downtown Vero Beach. For more information on becoming a member or to volunteer with the Historical Society, call 772-778-3435 or email indianriverhisto@bellsouth.net .