Jensen Beach in Martin County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Stuart Welcome Arch
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, December 27, 2017
1. Stuart Welcome Arch Marker
Inscription.
Stuart Welcome Arch. . This Mediterranean Revival style monument typical of the pre-Depression Florida Boom was designed by Nat C. Hodgdon of Pfeiffer and O'Reilly Architects, constructed by A. L. Doenges and completed on February 20, 1926. The arch was built to celebrate the creation of Martin County with Stuart as the county seat. This gateway greeted southbound travelers on the Montreal to Miami Dixie Highway (formerly A1A) with the bronze-lettered caption, "Stuart - Atlantic Gateway to the Gulf of Mexico", a reference to the cross-state canal connecting Martin County to Florida’s west coast through Lake Okeechobee. Design and construction of the arch was funded through a Stuart Chamber of Commerce campaign organized by prominent leaders and supported by citizens of the City of Stuart and Jensen Beach. Continuous repair resulting from theft during the Depression, hurricane damage, natural deterioration, and vehicular accidents reflects this landmark's significance in both the local and countywide communities. The gateway is currently known as the Rio-Jensen Arch, and its restoration is a goal in the Rio Community Redevelopment Plan adopted by Martin County in April, 2001.
This Mediterranean Revival style monument typical of the pre-Depression Florida Boom was designed by Nat C. Hodgdon of Pfeiffer and O'Reilly Architects, constructed by A. L. Doenges and completed on February 20, 1926. The arch was built to celebrate the creation of Martin County with Stuart as the county seat. This gateway greeted southbound travelers on the Montreal to Miami Dixie Highway (formerly A1A) with the bronze-lettered caption, "Stuart - Atlantic Gateway to the Gulf of Mexico", a reference to the cross-state canal connecting Martin County to Florida’s west coast through Lake Okeechobee. Design and construction of the arch was funded through a Stuart Chamber of Commerce campaign organized by prominent leaders and supported by citizens of the City of Stuart and Jensen Beach. Continuous repair resulting from theft during the Depression, hurricane damage, natural deterioration, and vehicular accidents reflects this landmark's significance in both the local and countywide communities. The gateway is currently known as the Rio-Jensen Arch, and its restoration is a goal in the Rio Community Redevelopment Plan adopted by Martin County in April, 2001.
Erected 2004 by Martin County Commission and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-520.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed
Click or scan to see this page online
in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1948.
Location. 27° 13.54′ N, 80° 13.208′ W. Marker is in Jensen Beach, Florida, in Martin County. Marker is at the intersection of Northeast Dixie Highway (State Road 707) and Northeast Arch Street, on the left when traveling south on Northeast Dixie Highway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2369 NE Dixie Highway, Jensen Beach FL 34957, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. Marker is at the base of the Arch.
Photographed By James R. Murray
2. The Stuart Welcome Arch Marker
Photographed By James R. Murray, May 13, 2015
3. The Stuart Welcome Arch Marker
4. The Stuart Welcome Arch Marker
Aerial view of the marker's location.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2015, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. This page has been viewed 558 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on April 28, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 15, 2015, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
