Celebrating the history of Merritt Island on “Pioneer Day” is an annual event that has an exciting appeal for history, art, music, and nature lovers, and children of all ages from 1 to 100. The February 8th event is a partnership between Sams House at Pine Island and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church located on a sleepy little stretch of North Tropical Trail on North Merritt Island. From 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. the Sams House and St. Luke’s will host a wide variety of activities, most of which are free.
Pioneer Day is held near the birthday of John Sams, a citrus-grower and the first Superintendent of Brevard County Schools. Mr. Sams built the oldest standing home in Brevard County (circa 1875). The Sams Cabin is now a museum within the 1,000-acre Pine Island Conservation Area, which is owned and operated by the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program. Mr. Sams also helped to build St. Luke’s Chapel in 1888 and is buried in the church cemetery.
Primary parking available at St. Luke’s with limited parking at Sams House.
Suggested donation of $5 for parking includes continuous shuttle service between venues.
Print list of events here.
Events at St. Luke’s (10 am to 4 pm) 5555 N. Tropical Trail
Perrine Hall: Lunch includes a variety of homemade chilis (traditional, white and vegetarian), grilled hotdogs and loaded baked potatoes.
10:00 to 12:00 Cemetery Quest: Start your quest at the playground to win a prize! For ages 7 and up.
10:30 CEMETERY:
Guided Tour “Island History”: Stories of locals who cleared the land, built our community, and launched us into space.
11:00 CHURCH “Harry and Harriette Moore; Activists and Educators – Their Story” Educators by profession, teaching in segregated public schools in Brevard, Harry and Harriette were also the first true civil rights activists of the modern civil rights era in the State of Florida.
11:30 CHAPEL: Pioneer Music
12:00 CHAPEL: “St. Luke’s Chapel: A Gem of Carpenter Gothic Architecture” Jonathan Rich will give a talk on how this unique style of architecture came to the Florida frontier of the 1800s.
12:30 – 1:30 Cemetery Stroll: Hear from some of the inhabitants tell their story in this historic cemetery.
1:15 CHURCH: “Notes on a Wet Cocktail Napkin”: It began on October 31, 1948, when Bernard Fischer opened Bernard’s Surf in Cocoa Beach. Rusty Fischer reveals the tales of Cocoa Beach from sleepy town to the host of astronauts, movie stars, and celebrity journalists.
2:00 CEMETERY: Guided Tour “Island History” Stories of locals who cleared the land, built our community, and launched us into space.
On-going Events:
Self-guided tour of St. Luke’s Historic Chapel & Cemetery
Events at Sams House (10 am to 4 pm) 6195 N. Tropical Trail
- Florida living history demonstrations and educational exhibits that include archaeology and anthropology, historic reenactors, encampments and artifacts on display
- Live music throughout the day by Celery City String Band, Chris Kahl, Pine Trio, and Boylston Fish
- A Pioneer “parade” throughout the grounds at 11 am, led by drum and fife, of those dressed in historic attire
- Local exhibitors from Brevard’s historical societies and others
- Local exhibitors from Brevard’s natural lands and environmental organizations such as the Merritt Island Wildlife Association, Space Coast Audubon Society, Florida Native Plant Society, Brevard Backyard Beekeepers, and others
- Vintage, crafts and farmer’s market vendors such as the Spade and Trowel Garden Club, Wake and Bake Bread Co., Spiked Greens, Banana River Soapworks and others (also local honey, Florida native plants etc.)
- Pine Island guided nature trail hikes throughout the day courtesy of the Florida Trail Association and Brevard’s Environmentally Endangered Lands Program
- 1888 Sams House tours with rarely seen antiques on display
- 1875 Sams Cabin family history, Native American artifacts and fossils on display
- Children’s crafts and games – Corn Hole, Hay Dive, Steer Roping, and Tic Tac Toe
- Children’s crafts and games such as Hay Dive, Steer Roping, Cornhusk Dolls, and Tic Tac Toe
- Local food trucks, lemonade, fruity dream whips and kettle corn!