Jupiter and Tequesta

Jupiter is well-known for its beauty and beaches. It is often referred to as a "beach town" and has become a popular vacation spot.

Probably no other location on the East Coast of the United States enjoys the international reputation for guiding ships throughout the centuries as does the area now known as Jupiter. This location protrudes further out into the Atlantic Ocean, relatively speaking, than any other point along the Florida coast. For this reason it has guided ships of all kinds from about 1550 to the present. Today, as was done by early New World explorers, all ships usually consider this an important point when planning their sailing routes to Central and South America. Any of the very old maps found in Latin American seaports contain this "Puntd' clearly delineated. The historical role that this unique geographical location played was the subject for discussion on many evenings.

Jupiter is rich in history and Florida lore with earliest known records of the Jupiter Inlet dating back to 1565.

When the Spanish first came to this area they found the Jega Indians living along the banks of the Inlet and river. Tie Indians called themselves the Jobe, so the Spanish explorers named the river running into the Inlet the Jobe River, after the ,,,native tribe. Later, when English settlers found the area around 1763, Jobe sounded to them like the mythological god Jove, or Jupiter, and the name Jupiter has remained ever since.

The Jupiter area first came to widespread public attention when Jonathan Dickinson the namesake of Jonathan Dickinson State Park was shipwrecked on the shores of Jupiter and narrowly escaped death at the hands of hostile native Indians. In his journal Dickinson chronicled his families ordeal with the Jega Indians and his 230 mile trek to safety in St. Augustine. Today the Dubois Museum in Dubois Park stands atop the Indian mound described by Dickinson as the place where his family was held captive.

The Lighthouse Is Built

In the 1800's Jupiter's most identifiable landmark, the Jupiter Lighthouse, was erected. The Lighthouse stands 105 feet tall atop a 46 ft. hill on the north shore of the Jupiter Inlet. The land that is now Lighthouse Park was once a part of Fort Jupiter, a military installation that was formed during the Seminole Indian Wars.

Until 1929, when the Intracoastal was deepened, the Jupiter Inlet went through natural cycles of opening and closing. On several occasions, when the Inlet was blocked, area residents took their shovels and dug small channels to get the water flowing again. On one occasion in 1844, Captain Davis, a mail carrier, took several men and dug a four-inch deep channel into the Inlet before camping for the night. Several hours later the Captain and his men were awakened by water seeping into their camp. By the next day the Inlet was nearly a quarter mile wide.

Today Jupiter is still famous for its beautiful beaches, the Loxahatchee River, and Intracoastal Waterway. The town enjoys a vibrant cultural life as the home of the Florida History Center & Museum, and several annual arts and entertainment festivals. Town and County parks also provide recreational facilities for team sports like baseball, basketball and soccer, tennis court , an aquatic center and access ramps into the Intracoastal Waterway.

Jupiter is home to many full and part time residents as well as a popular destination for vacationers. The town has a mixture of family residential neighborhoods, condominium communities and upscale waterfront communities that attract young families, professionals, retirees and seasonal residents who can afford expensive, luxurious vacation homes. Most "snowbirds" eventually become year-round residents.

The following list includes persons who were born in Jupiter, previously lived in Jupiter, or currently reside in Jupiter.

· Robert Allenby - Australian professional golfer on the PGA Tour

· Tori Amos - Singer/Songwriter

· Rick Ankiel - Professional Major League Baseball player

· Don Brewer - drummer/singer, original member of Grand Funk Railroad

· Celine Dion - Grammy Award winning Canadian singer.

· Julie Dubela - Singer known mainly in the Boston area for singing the national anthem.

· Ernie Els - South African professional golfer on the PGA Tour and European Tour

· Drew Garrett - Actor

· Bill Parcells - Former NFL coach New York Giants, New England Patriots, and New York Jets

· Bryant Gumbel - Former morning TV show host

· Jack Hanna - Zookeeper and animal expert

· Michael Jordan - Former NBA basketball player, Hall of Fame member, and current majority owner of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats

· Charles Nelson Reilly - Actor and teacher, lived in a house given to him by Burt Reynolds, who had previously lived in it with Sally Field.

· Burt Reynolds - Actor famous for appearing in films such as Smokey and the Bandit and Deliverance

· Wayne Rosenthal, major league baseball pitcher and coach

· Mike Schmidt - Hall of Fame major league baseball player

· Dara Torres - Five-time Olympic swimmer and gold medalist
Points of interest

· Jupiter Lighthouse

· Jupiter is the home to the Florida Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals spring training facilities as well as one of their respective Class A Minor League Baseball affiliates, the Jupiter Hammerheads and Palm Beach Cardinals. They share the use of the Roger Dean Stadium complex. Both minor league squads compete in the Florida State League.

· Palm Beach International Raceway a racing facility built in 1965, and was remodeled in 2008 in and attempt to obtain a FIA Grade II Certification. The Facility currently host several IHRA and NHRA sportsman events as well as an ARCA Remax Series Event

· LORAN-C transmitter Jupiter

· Burt Reynolds & Friends Museum, home of the Florida Film & Theater Institute.

· Busch Wildlife Sanctuary , a non-profit, educational based care facility for injured wild animals.

Tequesta

In 1955 a bridge tender was asked by Charles Martyn to describe the area that is now the Village of Tequesta. His reply was, "it's just a jungle".

Inspired by the bridge tender's description Martyn asked for a tour of the area. As the two men traveled the Inlet and Intracoastal by boat, Martyn was immediately intrigued by the beauty and potential of the area. He bought 86 acres on Jupiter Island where he developed the Jupiter Inlet Colony.

While excavating the site, Martyn's crew unearthed an Indian mound filled with artifacts. Martyn's interest in Indian history led him to research the mound's contents. Later speculation was that the mound belonged to an encampment of Tequesta Indians encroaching on the native Jega Indians. Martyn was convinced of this and named an area he was developing west of the Intracoastal after the Tequesta tribe. That development, now known as the Tequesta Country Club, was later incorporated as the Village of Tequesta.

Tequesta started as one man's vision and has now become a thriving Village with miles of waterfront property. From the serene Loxahatchee River to the breathtaking ocean front homes, residents are drawn to Tequesta by natural beauty.

A mix of quiet single family home neighborhoods and secure condominium complexes attract families, working professionals and retirees to the Village.

Tequesta also has a wealth of cultural and recreational activities for every age. The Village is home to the Lighthouse Gallery and School of Art.

There are plenty of shops, stores and service businesses located in Tequesta along with churches of various faiths. New residents and visitors are greeted with a strong sense of community and a genuine hometown friendliness.

Notable residents

· Joe Namath - Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback

· Ken Kandefer - Pro Adventure Racer; TripleSandBuster King 2011 & outdoor writer

· Tom Rooney - Representative for Florida's 16th congressional district

· Ryan Berube - Olympic Gold Medalist -1996 4x200m Freestyle

· Mark Calcavecchia - PGA Tour golfer

· Olivia Newton-John - Singer and actress

· Steve Marino - PGA Tour golfer

· Perry Como - singer, personality