New Smyrna Beach History with Greg Holbrook

Greg Holbrook of the New Smyrna Beach Museum will share the fascinating history of one of Volusia County’s oldest communities.

New Smyrna Beach’s story reaches back well before Daytona Beach, beginning with the Timucua and early Spanish contact in the 1500s. One of its most dramatic chapters came in 1768, when Dr. Andrew Turnbull attempted to establish a large British colony with hundreds of Mediterranean settlers. Harsh conditions eventually caused many of the Minorcan settlers to flee to St. Augustine, and the colony collapsed.

Through the 1800s, New Smyrna grew through agriculture, leaving behind landmarks such as the Sugar Mill Ruins. Later, the arrival of Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway helped transform the area into a connected coastal town.

Today, New Smyrna Beach is known for its surfing, arts, tourism, and beautiful coastal setting, but its story stretches back centuries.

Free with your membership or museum admission.

Please call (386) 255-6976 for more information.