Enjoy a Personalized Walking Tour in Historic Downtown Vero Beach
Vero Beach's Joan Edwards is a retired teacher who taught Florida and Indian River County history in the Vero Beach classrooms for many years. Not only is she proficient at telling all the tales of long ago, she is extremely proud of her self taught Vero Beach knowledge and enjoys sharing it.
To that end, Joan leads semi-regular downtown walking tours and has become a Pied Piper of sorts for those interested in knowing about what was in downtown in the early years, facts about many of the Vero Beach Pioneer families and many interesting anecdotes to accompany her data. Joan is a prominent member of the Vero Beach's 90 th Anniversary Celebration committee, an event that is planned for October 16 th from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. in downtown.
During the two hour walking tour, Joan gives a 20 minute overview timeline of the city's history which also includes a handout. The walk weaves its way throughout downtown visiting the old buildings and Historic Registry buildings, while hearing about the different eras of the city's history including the Cuban American baseball team, the changing of our county name and why, the thread of the "mosquito" in our history, the WWII era, and all the personalities past and present. Walkers will see wall murals and art work along the way and will be introduced to the Rotary Fountain, restaurants and galleries of the area. The group walks along 14 th Avenue, visiting the Courthouse Executive Center (the original County Courthouse), the Old Train Depot (now home to the Indian River County Historical Society), Citrus Museum, Heritage Center, and the old Florida Theatre. Joan also includes a
Did You Know discussion that touches on the fact that The Seminoles were the third group of Native People in the area, Route 60 was once named Osceola Boulevard and 14 th Avenue was Seminole Avenue. Downtown has Pocahontas Park but Pocahontas wasn't even from Florida! She points out the Hibiscus on the turtle in front of the Heritage Center along with its Seminole Design and map of Downtown Vero on its belly, painted by Main Street Vero Beach board member Suzanne Phillips for the Mental Health Association.
Joan has been known to do tours for up to fifty and is offering two special tours on Thursday, October 15 in honor of the 90 th Anniversary. One tour will be held at 10:00 a.m. and the other at 1:00 p.m. The meeting spot is in front of the new Courthouse by the Parking Garage. Restroom stops will be made on the walk. No reservations are needed and the tour is free. The only caveat is to wear comfortable shoes.