The Mel Fisher Museum, Sebastian, is a significant stop for anyone interested in maritime archaeology and historic shipwreck recovery.
Named after Mel Fisher, the world’s greatest treasure hunter, the museum was established by his daughter, Taffi Fisher, in an old fire station.
Within the museum is a collection of artifacts, or treasures, recovered from a variety of shipwrecks. The most notable treasures come from the wrecks of the 1715 Spanish treasure fleet and the Nuestra Señora de Atocha (the largest underwater treasure find in history).
The Treasure Museum, Sebastian, Florida, houses all the hard work of Mel Fisher that he started in 1963 while living in Vero Beach, Florida. It took several years to salvage the 1715 Fleet, a wreck that spawned the area now being called Florida’s Treasure Coast.
Mel’s most famous discovery would be the main pile of the Atocha in 1985. The museum and his family are still searching for the remaining cargo and the sister ship, the Santa Margarita.
The museum isn’t only about the artifacts. It also houses a fully functioning conservation laboratory for preserving artifacts that were found underwater as they need very special treatment. Visitors can watch the lab techs as they work and see all that goes into preserving these small pieces of history.
Mel Fisher fought over 100 court battles all the way up to the US Supreme Court in order to maintain this collection and continue treasure hunting.
The museum offers a unique insight into the world of maritime treasure hunting and the area’s rich maritime history.
The value of the cache recovered from the parts of the Atocha that were recovered can only be estimated. The cache included 40 tons of golf and silver, with around 114,000 Spanish silver coins, emeralds, gold and silver artifacts, and silver ingots. All told it is believed to be worth $450 million.
After significant court battles, Mell Fisher and his estate won exclusive rights to all the treasure found in the vessel.
Depending on how long you look at the exhibits, or watch the lab, usually 1 to 2 hours.
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Read on about more things to do, see, and enjoy on Florida’s Treasure Coast.
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