Melbourne in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Florida Institute of Technology
Photographed by Jamie Cox, March 22, 2012
1. Florida Institute of Technology Marker
Inscription.
Florida Institute of Technology. . A 37-cent donation, given to Florida Institute of Technology founder Jerome P. Keuper (1921-2002), would launch one of the most remarkable stories in American higher education. Keuper, a scientist working at Cape Canaveral, founded Florida Tech in 1958 to meet a critical need for scientists and engineers in America's race for space. Florida Tech quickly attracted the world's foremost rocket scientists to its halls. It awarded its first honorary doctorate in 1962 to astronaut Virgil "Gus" Grissom. Among its first visiting professors were the legendary rocket scientist Wernher von Braun and Edward Teller, the father of the hydrogen bomb. Over the years Florida Tech expanded its course offerings to take advantage of its unique location where the land, sea, sky and space come together. It has done so while maintaining internationally recognized excellence, and its ties to the space program. It counts among its graduates five astronauts, including two who flew together on Space Shuttle Discovery in December, 2006, Joan Higginbotham and Sunita Williams. A Florida Heritage Site
A 37-cent donation, given to Florida Institute of Technology founder Jerome P. Keuper (1921-2002), would launch one of the most remarkable stories in American higher education. Keuper, a scientist working at Cape Canaveral, founded Florida Tech in 1958 to meet a critical need for scientists and engineers in America's race for space. Florida Tech quickly attracted the world's foremost rocket scientists to its halls. It awarded its first honorary doctorate in 1962 to astronaut Virgil "Gus" Grissom. Among its first visiting professors were the legendary rocket scientist Wernher von Braun and Edward Teller, the father of the hydrogen bomb. Over the years Florida Tech expanded its course offerings to take advantage of its unique location where the land, sea, sky and space come together. It has done so while maintaining internationally recognized excellence, and its ties to the space program. It counts among its graduates five astronauts, including two who flew together on Space Shuttle Discovery in December, 2006, Joan Higginbotham and Sunita Williams.
A Florida Heritage Site
Erected by Florida Institute of Technology
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Alumni Association and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-610.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical month for this entry is December 2006.
Location. 28° 3.965′ N, 80° 37.491′ W. Marker is in Melbourne, Florida, in Brevard County. It is on South Country Club Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Melbourne FL 32901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Florida’s Space Coast. It is also in the American South and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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 markers no longer nearby. Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (was approx. one mile away but has been confirmed missing); Henegar School Complex (was approx. 1.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
More about this marker. This has to win the award for the best-landscaped marker.
Regarding Florida Institute of Technology. Founder Jerome Keuper's last name is pronounced "Cooper".
Additional keywords. FIT F.I.T. college university
Photographed by Jamie Cox, March 22, 2012
3. Florida Tech Marker Landscaping
This marker has its own bench, sidewalk and landscaping circle.
Photographed by Diane Murphy, June 2023
4. Florida Institute of Technology Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2012, by Jamie Cox of Melbourne, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,554 times since then and 84 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on March 23, 2012, by Jamie Cox of Melbourne, Florida. 4. submitted on January 4, 2026, by Diane Murphy of Saint Cloud, Florida. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
