Today in Smithsonian History: October 16, 1971

Aerial view of the Ft. Pierce Marine Station in Florida, ca. 1995. The overall mission of the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce is support and conduct of scholarly research in the marine sciences, including collection, documentation and preservation of south Florida’s marine biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as education, training, and public service.

October 16, 1971 The Fort Pierce Bureau, a marine research facility in Florida, was established as a separate bureau under the Smithsonian Assistant Secretary for Science. In 1982 the facility became known as the Smithsonian Institution Marine Station at Link Port, and was then administered by the National Museum of Natural History. In April 1995, the Smithsonian entered into an agreement with the MacArthur Foundation for the purchase 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 1998, the Station was renamed the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, reflecting its new location.

The overall mission of the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce is support and conduct of scholarly research in the marine sciences, including collection, documentation and preservation of south Florida’s marine biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as education, training, and public service.

Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution Archives

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