A city that incorporated with zero residents sounds like a riddle, but it’s the spark that brings Port St. Lucie’s past to life in this conversation with curator Donnita Graben. We pull back the curtain on the Port St. Lucie History Museum and Education Center inside the historic Peacock Lodge, tracing the city’s rapid journey from ranch land and river bends to one of Florida’s fastest-growing communities.
Donnita shares how the Port St. Lucie Historical Society began in 1996 with a simple, ambitious goal: capture and protect local history before it fades. You’ll hear about moving historic buildings from the Peacock Ranch to McCarty Ranch and finally to the Port, and why those relocations matter for preserving a sense of place. We explore the power of oral histories in a young city where founders and first residents are still around to share stories, and we discuss how outreach to HOAs, clubs, and neighborhood groups helps new arrivals connect with the roots under their feet.
Along the way, we surface surprises—like why the 1961 incorporation counted zero residents and how the city operated without its own police department until 1980—framing Port St. Lucie’s growth in a way that’s both human and historic. If you’re curious about local museums, civic identity, or how communities preserve living memory, this is a thoughtful guide to visiting and getting involved. Plan your trip to 2456 SE Westmoreland Boulevard, check hours Wednesday to Friday 10–4 and Saturday 11–3, and explore pslhistory.org for memberships and volunteer opportunities that keep this nonprofit museum thriving.
If this story opened your eyes to Port St. Lucie’s hidden history, subscribe, share the episode with a neighbor, and leave a review to help more locals find the museum and become part of the story.
