Melbourne Beach in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Melbourne & Atlantic Railroad

Melbourne Beach Historic Site

— Cyrus E. Graves —

Melbourne & Atlantic Railroad Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jamie Cox, February 11, 2012

1. Melbourne & Atlantic Railroad Marker

Inscription. On this site, in February of 1889, Captain Alfred Wilcox took delivery of a shipment of steel rail that would be used in the building of the Melbourne & Atlantic Railroad. Over the coming months, railroad track would be laid to connect the Indian River with the Atlantic Ocean. Starting on the western end of the Melbourne Beach Pier and running the distance of the pier and then continuing along a straight path to the Atlantic Ocean (where Ocean Ave would later be built) the Melbourne & Atlantic Railroad greatly improved ocean access for the growing number of citizens and visitors in Brevard County.

On July 17, 1889 Major Cyrus E. Graves signed the paperwork that laid out the streets of Melbourne Beach and allowed the railroad company "to lay and operate a railroad throughout the center of Ocean Avenue forever unmolested".

Capt. Rufus Beaujean (and later sons Don and Claude) provided for a fee motorized tram rides from the pier to the ocean.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1889.

Location. 28° 4.104′ N, 80° 33.949′ W. Marker is in Melbourne Beach, Florida, in Brevard County. Marker is at the intersection of Riverside Drive and Ocean Avenue when traveling south on Riverside Drive. Marker

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is at the Melbourne Beach Pier. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Melbourne Beach FL 32951, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Melbourne Beach Pier (here, next to this marker); The Villa Marine (within shouting distance of this marker); The Ryckman House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Community Chapel of Melbourne Beach Florida (approx. 0.2 miles away); Myrtle Cottage (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Melbourne Beach Town Hall (approx. 1½ miles away); Indialantic Casino (approx. 1.7 miles away); Billy Wallace House (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Melbourne Beach.

Regarding Melbourne & Atlantic Railroad. In those days, there was a gentleman's reciprocal agreement that railroad owners rode free on each other's lines. Even though the Melbourne & Atlantic was only about a mile long, its owners qualified for free travel on railroads around the country.

Melbourne & Atlantic Railroad Marker 2nd Panel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jamie Cox, February 11, 2012

2. Melbourne & Atlantic Railroad Marker 2nd Panel

Photographed By Diane Murphy, October 2023

3. Melbourne & Atlantic Railroad Marker

Photographed By Diane Murphy, October 2023

4. Melbourne & Atlantic Railroad Marker

Melbourne & Atlantic Railroad Replica Tracks image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jamie Cox, February 11, 2012

5. Melbourne & Atlantic Railroad Replica Tracks

Facing East along Ocean Avenue

Photographed By Diane Murphy, October 2023

6. Melbourne & Atlantic Railroad Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 12, 2012, by Jamie Cox of Melbourne, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,529 times since then and 140 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 12, 2012, by Jamie Cox of Melbourne, Florida. 3, 4. submitted on October 8, 2023, by Diane Murphy of Saint Cloud, Florida. 5. submitted on February 12, 2012, by Jamie Cox of Melbourne, Florida. 6. submitted on October 8, 2023, by Diane Murphy of Saint Cloud, Florida. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.