The Museum was founded in 1969 by a group of caring Brevard County citizens and opened it's doors in 1973. The mission of the Brevard Museum is to operate a museum that will attract and educate residents and visitors about history, science and culture, with an emphasis on Brevard County and the East Central Florida region.

The Museum is located in Cocoa, Florida, a community of approximately 18,000 people and serves Brevard County, with a population of approximately 444,000 according to the 1990 census (Valinda Bradshaw at the Museum has the 2000 figures). Brevard is the sixth fastest growing county in the nation and Florida ranks 14th in population growth according to the Institute of Science and Public Affairs, State of Florida.

The Museum, a private non-profit corporation, is the depository of many of Brevard County's historic artifacts and scientific specimens, and is continually striving to increase and improve the acquisition and maintenance of its collections. Through presentation and interpretation of these artifacts and specimens, the Museum strives to serve its constituency by encouraging and developing in them a working knowledge and appreciation of Florida history and natural science. The Museum is also aware of the challenge to reach an ever increasing number of resident "transplants" with programs designed to pique their interest in thinking of Florida "as home", thus developing respect for its past and a sense of responsibility for charting its future.

The Museum is located on 26 acres, 22 of which are devoted to three main nature trails. Each represents a separate and unique ecosystem: a Pine Sand Hill, a Fresh Water Marsh, and a Hardwood Hammock. These trails represent a microcosm of environmental life in Brevard County and are used to educate school children, residents and visitors about the interdependence of man and his environment and the fragility of this easternmost area of Florida. The trails are always open to the public, without charge, during Museum operating hours.

www.brevardmuseum.org