In 2012, Jupiter was rated the 9th happiest seaside town in all of the United States by Coastal Living. Located in Palm Beach County, the town has a population of about 60,000 people and a community that runs deep with culture, art, and history.
The town was originally named after the Hobe Indian tribe who lived along the Loxahatchee River. Jupiter, Florida has several lovely attractions that will please the most passionate arts and culture enthusiasts around, and the following are some of the most notable spots in town you can visit.
The Inlet Lighthouse
The most iconic landmark in the town is the Inlet Lighthouse. The Sunshine State is well known for its immaculately constructed towers, and the Inlet Lighthouse does justice to this reputation. Finalized in 1860, the brick tower is considered a symbol of respect for the Roman God from which it gets its namesake.
Visitors of the lighthouse can go on climbing tours of the landmark to get a fantastic vantage point of the entire town and the Atlantic Ocean. The tower operates in conjunction with the Waterfront History Museum, positioned near the World War II Naval Housing quarters building.
In addition to being one of the most significant cultural centers in the town, the lighthouse also serves as an active navigational aid for the U.S. Coast Guard. Visitors can purchase tickets for either sunset or moonrise tours. The beam is recognized as a Blue Star Museum and is partially operated by the River Historical Society non-profit organization.
In this cultural space, visitors can see a multitude of well-preserved photographs and historical pieces that give visitors an all-inclusive window of insight into the town’s pioneer beginnings.
Visitors may directly observe the progress of the coastline conservation and the creation of the East Coast Railroad. Those with an interest in ancient history will be pleased to see an abundance of Seminole artifacts and fossils.
One of the museum’s most notable exhibits is a walk-through display show known as the History Shaped by Nature experience. Visitors have the opportunity to get a firsthand look at how the earliest settlers in the town managed to adapt to their new natural environment and use and cultivate the land for the first time.
The center also features the Tindall House, which is currently the oldest known home in Palm Beach County. It was built in 1892 by George Tindall, who was the son of an Indian chieftain and a British preacher. The one-room frame house has two main sections, a living area, and a kitchen area. It was donated to the history center in 1995, where the living exhibits are on display all year round.
Address: 500 Captain Armour’s Way
Phone: (561) 747-8380
Website: http://www.jupiterlighthouse.org/
Dubois Home Museum
The Dubois Home Museum was built in 1898 and stands as a powerful intersection between the town’s cultural and geological history. It is a two-story building that stands as one of the last physically-preserved original homesteads tied to the city’s pioneer origins.
The home was originally constructed as a one-story building inhabited by the Dubois Family, one of the most significant pioneer families in the history of the town. The home is situated on a Jeava Native American mound, one the last remaining coastal shell mounts to be found in the state’s southern region.
Many ancient artifacts have been discovered at the site and some pottery that was used as long ago as the year 500 BC. The Dubois Pioneer Home operates in conjunction with the Inlet Lighthouse.
Address: 805 North US Highway One
Phone: 561-747-6639
Website: http://www.duboiscountymuseum.org/
Jupiter Theater
Jupiter has a cultural space for theater lovers. Jupiter Theater is currently the largest professional award-winning not-for-profit regional theater in the state. It has been the recipient of the Bill Von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence and multiple Carbonell awards as well, a unique token of official recognition for artistic achievement in South Florida.
The theater has 617 seats and is the only League of Resident Theaters (LORT) B-Class theater in the state. The venue is known for having commissioned the world premiere of productions like Fanny Brice: The Real Funny Girl and Through the Looking Glass. The theater is open from 10 AM to 6 PM, Monday, and Friday.
Address: 1001 E Indiantown Rd
Phone: (561) 575-2223
Website: http://www.jupitertheatre.org/
Jupiter, Florida is home to an array of cultural places you and your family might enjoy. Visit these sites and learn a thing or two about your community and your state’s history.
