Hobe Sound in Martin County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Camp Murphy Site

Photographed by Julie Szabo, December 7, 2008

1. Camp Murphy Site Marker

Inscription. In 1942 the federal government opened Camp Murphy. It was the home of the Southern Signal Corps School during World War II and served as a U.S. Army base for instruction in radar operation in the early course of the war. The post was named in honor of Lieutenant Colonel William Herbert Murphy, a pioneer in the development of radio beams and equipment for military aircraft. Camp Murphy consisted of 11,364 acres and accommodated 854 officers and 5,752 enlisted men. The camp had close to 1000 buildings that included a bank, movie theater, church, and bowling alley. Camp Murphy was officially decommissioned in 1944 and used for migrant housing during the fall and winter of 1945. Buildings not already dismantled after the camp's deactivation were sold and carted away beginning in 1946. On June 9, 1947, the property was transferred from the U.S. Government to the State of Florida for a State Park. In 1950 Jonathan Dickinson State Park opened to the public.

Erected 2008 by Friends of Jonathan Dickinson State Park and The Florida Department of State (A Florida Heritage Site). (Marker Number F-624.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Parks & Recreational Areas • War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1781.

Location.

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27° 1.011′ N, 80° 6.63′ W. Marker is in Hobe Sound, Florida, in Martin County. It can be reached from an unnamed park road.. The marker is off a park road to the southwest of Hobe Mountain observation tower. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hobe Sound FL 33455, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Treasure Coast.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hobe Mountain Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); Sand Pine Scrub (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Beach Hammock (about 600 feet away); Jonathan Dickinson Shipwreck (approx. 1.1 miles away); Apollo School (approx. 3.2 miles away); Olympia School (approx. 3.2 miles away); Trapper Nelson Interpretive Site (approx. 4.3 miles away); Tennessee Volunteers and Militia Camp (approx. 4½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hobe Sound.

More about this marker. Many of the concrete footings of the buildings are still visible, as are the camp's original roads.

Also see . . . Camp Murphy (Florida). Wikipedia entry (Submitted on October 19, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Additional commentary.
1. Relocation of marker and addition
It appears that the marker has been moved about 300 feet or so from

Camp Murphy Site Marker (old location) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Julie Szabo, December 7, 2008

2. Camp Murphy Site Marker (old location)

the roadside to in front of a new kiosk display about the history of the Camp. The photos will illustrate the move . Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor

— Submitted May 15, 2015, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida.

Camp Murphy Site Marker (new location) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James R. Murray, May 15, 2015

3. Camp Murphy Site Marker (new location)

Marker is now in front of an informational kiosk that richly describes the history of the Camp.

Photographed by Google Earth, May 15, 2015

4. Camp Murphy Site Marker

View of the old location of the marker. It appears the marker has been moved about 300 feet from the side of the road to a new location in front of a kiosk.

Hobe Mountain Tower information sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Julie Szabo, December 7, 2008

5. Hobe Mountain Tower information sign

Hobe Mountain Tower
This 10-minute walk up to the top of the Hobe Mountain observation tower will give you a view of the Atlantic Ocean, Intracoastal Waterway, and the entire expanse of the park. As you walk through the sand pine scrub (vanishing plant community) notice the changes in terrain and elevation. This “mountain” is the highest natural point south of Lake Okeechobee, rising 86 feet above sea level on ancient sand dunes.
Please stay on the path to prevent erosion.

Photographed by James R. Murray, May 15, 2015

6. Camp Murphy Site Marker

Close up of the detail of the descriptions of the camp

Jonathan Dickinson State Park entrance sign along U.S. 1 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Julie Szabo, December 7, 2008

7. Jonathan Dickinson State Park entrance sign along U.S. 1

Aerial view of Camp Murphy image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Florida Memories, Unknown

8. Aerial view of Camp Murphy

Camp Murphy site trails image. Click for full size.

Photographed by FL Trails, Unknown

9. Camp Murphy site trails

Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2008, by Julie Szabo of Oldsmar, Florida. This page has been viewed 4,934 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 9, 2008, by Julie Szabo of Oldsmar, Florida. 3, 4. submitted on May 15, 2015, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. 5. submitted on December 9, 2008, by Julie Szabo of Oldsmar, Florida. 6. submitted on May 15, 2015, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. 7. submitted on December 9, 2008, by Julie Szabo of Oldsmar, Florida. 8, 9. submitted on October 19, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.