History

History of SMS

The Smithsonian Institution has had a presence in Fort Pierce, Florida since 1969. Through its association with long-time friend and supporter Edwin Link, inventor and engineer who chose this location for development of his research submersibles, and, through funding from J. Seward Johnson, Sr. of Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceuticals, the Smithsonian Institution established what was then known as the Fort Pierce Bureau. During the period from 1969 to 1981, the Fort Pierce Bureau had a staff of many scientists who carried on various research activities, partly in collaboration with the newly formed Harbor Branch Foundation (now the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution). The studies included underwater oceanography with research submersibles, a survey of the Indian River Lagoon, coral reef research, and research on life histories of marine invertebrates. In 1981, the Smithsonian chose to transfer the administration of its Fort Pierce program to the National Museum of Natural History. Thus, the Fort Pierce Bureau was dissolved and in its place the Smithsonian Marine Station at Link Port was formally recognized as an organizational unit under the auspices of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

At the time of the administrative transfer, the current program of research of the Smithsonian Marine Station was initiated. The program supports the research of visiting Smithsonian scientists and their colleagues, postdoctoral fellows, a resident scientist/director, and the operations of the station including a small support staff (see Staff Directory). Proposals for research, requested each year from Smithsonian scientists and prospective postdoctoral fellows, are reviewed by a Management Committee, composed of scientists from both within and outside of the Smithsonian. As a base of operation for its research program, the Marine Station, when formed in 1981, took over the Barge, acquired originally by the Smithsonian in 1973 from Federal Surplus and docked at the campus of the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. The program of the Marine Station, supported primarily by private funding provided through a trust from J. Seward Johnson, Sr., was expanded in l997 by grants from Florida’s St. John’s Water Management District and the Smithsonian’s Seidell Program to support a species inventory of the Indian River Lagoon (Indian River Lagoon Species Inventory Project) and in 1998 by the Link Foundation to support graduate fellowships (Link Foundation Fellowships).

In April, 1995 the Smithsonian entered into an agreement with the MacArthur Foundation for the purchase of 8 acres of property near the Fort Pierce Inlet with access easement to the Indian River Lagoon for the purpose of relocating its facilities and program of research to a land-based laboratory. In April, 1996 the purchase was completed and plans begun for construction at the new site (see Site Plan). Later, in August 1996, St. Lucie County offered a generous 25 year lease for use of a county dock and adjacent land at a nearby site on the Inlet. In this same month the MacArthur Foundation provided a 5-year renewable use and license agreement for an additional 13 acres of waterfront land contiguous with the Smithsonian’s 8 acres.

Groundbreaking for the research laboratory building of Phase I of the Site Plan (Phase I Laboratory) took place on March 11, 1998. At the groundbreaking ceremony, the Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, Robert Fri, announced an official name change for the Station, reflecting its plans for relocation and future commitment, from the former name "Smithsonian Marine Station at Link Port" to the current name "Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce.

A residence for visiting scientists, included in Phase I of the Site Plan, was donated to the Marine Station by Jeanne and Peter Tyson in June, 1997 and officially designated as the Tyson House.

Development of the site continues as funds become available. To date, these additions have included a storage building and dock which were added to the campus in 2004 and, in 2006, a 1,000 square foot aquarium building with a running seawater system for maintenance of marine organisms.

Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce
701 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida 34949
Phone 772-462-6220, Fax 772-461-8154