National Historic Landmark

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Sebastian, Indian River County, Florida
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
66000265

About this property

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), and part of the Everglades Headwaters NWR complex, located just off the western coast of Orchid Island, Florida in the Indian River Lagoon east of Sebastian, Florida. The refuge consists of a 3-acre (12,000 m2) island that includes an additional 2.5 acres (10,000 m2) of surrounding water and is located off the east coast of Florida of the Indian River Lagoon. Established by an executive order of President Theodore Roosevelt on March 14, 1903, Pelican Island was the first National wildlife refuge in the United States. It was created to protect egrets and other birds from extinction through plume hunting.

Location

Sebastian, Indian River County, Florida
27.79604, -80.42876

Categories

CONSERVATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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This page lists Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Jungle Trail
Industrial
2.5 mi
Lawson, Bamma Vickers, House
Industrial
2.7 mi
Old Town Sebastian Historic District East
Listed
2.8 mi
Old Town Sebastian Historic District, West
Listed
3 mi
Sebastian Grammar and Junior High School
Industrial
3.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge listed on the National Register?

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge?

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge?

The period of significance for Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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