Pioneering Sebastian and Roseland ─ Bringing Alive the Past

Sebastian and Roseland, Florida, are not your typical little Florida towns. Their tale is fascinating and unique, as are the physical features that made them famous. It includes the native Ais population, the Spanish incursions, Jonathan Dickinson’s saga, the 1715 Plate Fleet disaster, smugglers, deserters, Seminole Wars, cattle rustlers, steamboats, trade boats, Flagler, President Roosevelt and Pelican Island, mosquitoes, and the tough, hardy pioneering spirits that brought this stretch of the Indian River to life. From the 1400s through the 1920s, this area’s history is explored, providing insight into how and why it succeeded and prospered. Settlers, naturalists, photographers, adventurers, and tourists came from around the world, adding to the varied and sometimes surprising historical incidents. They overcame the difficulties of travel and access to the area, drawn by promotion of the abundant wildlife, fertile and healthful environment, cheap land, space, and freedom. This work delves into the history and formation of this little corner of Florida.