Elliott Museum

Located on Ocean Boulevard in Stuart, Florida, The Elliott Museum has programs and exhibits that are related to history, art, and technology. Part of the Historical Society of Martin County, The Elliott Museum features collections of classic cars and trucks, as well as bikes and boats.

The Elliott Museum in Stuart, Florida, also has baseball memorabilia and items related to local history. There is art in the museum and a tribute dedicated to the late Frances Langford, who was an actress and part-time Jensen Beach resident.

The Elliott Museum has exhibits and programs that change throughout the year. Much of what’s found in the museum is also interactive.

Permanent collections at The Elliott Museum include “Tribute to Genius & Generosity,” which celebrates Sterling Elliot, who was an area politician, publisher, and social activist. The “Stuart Main Street Gallery” is an exhibit set against the backdrop of historic Stuart, and it gives visitors the chance to see the earliest motor vehicles that changed the country’s need to depend on the horse. These evolved into the Model T Ford and also trucks, changing people’s lives in dramatic ways. The Elliott Museum houses one of the largest collections of historic Model AA and Ford Model A commercial vehicles anywhere in the world.

“Wheels of Change” is a permanent exhibit showcasing the development of personal and commercial transportation and the impact it left on the day-to-day experience and culture of Americans. “Let Your Mind Soar” highlights the green building design of the museum, which is meant to blend in with the surrounding landscape.

Hanging above the Stuart Street Main Street Gallery is the “Hugh Willoughby & His Hydro Aeroplane” permanent exhibit, with a full-scale Pelican hydro-aeroplane replica, initially designed in 1910. 

For visitors interested in baseball, the museum has an extensive collection of signed cards, bats, baseballs, and other related artifacts. “Our Stories” is an exhibit that celebrates Martin County from the early days to the current innovation and progression of the area.

The “Maritime History” permanent exhibit showcases pieces from the Maritime and Classic Boat Museum Collection. The Elliott Museum merged with that museum in 2013, and they combined their collections.

There’s also an onsite library and archive, where you can find rare books, clippings from newspapers, historic documents, and photos. The research library and the Historical Society of Martin County archives have tens of thousands of items.

The museum is located at the southern end of Hutchinson Island, at the entrance to Stuart Beach. There’s an event space in the museum that can hold up to 500 people, as well as a 50-seat theater. The annual Classics At the Beach is an auto show that appeals to vintage car enthusiasts. The event has been held every spring since 1996.

In 2011, the original Elliott Museum was demolished, making way for the current modern building that opened in 2013 and has state-of-the-art technology and eco-friendly features.

The namesake of the museum, Sterling Elliott, was a resident of the area who had a series of inventions from the late 19th century through the early 20th century. Elliott had more than 125 patents, and he was also a successful businessman in addition to being an inventor.

The Elliott Museum is part of the “Museums for All” program. With this program, anyone receiving food assistance as SNAP benefits may be eligible for free museum admission for a family of four by presenting a photo ID and SNAP EBT card. All museum exhibits are included in the regular admission price at the Elliott Museum, and there are certain times of the year when active-duty military personnel and up to five of their family members can receive free admission.