Ft. Pierce Inlet State Park’s half-mile stretch of white sand is not just another sunny Florida beach. During World War II, it was the birthplace and training ground for U.S. Navy Frogmen, forerunners of today’s Navy Seals. Here, many of the 140,000 personnel stationed in the area practiced for the D-Day invasion of Europe. “Dynamite Point” earned its name from the activities of the Navy Underwater Demolition Team. The park, located in St. Lucie County, consists of two separate sections. The smaller part, the state park, borders the north shore of Ft. Pierce Inlet and fronts on the Atlantic Ocean. The other part is the larger Jack Island Preserve, which is 1.5 miles north of the park. Together, they offer not just history, but a chance to discover eight biological communities typical of the barrier islands that line Florida’s east coast.

Ft. Pierce’s military connection dates back further than World War II. It was named for the U.S. Army fort built in 1838 during the Second Seminole War by Lt. Col. Benjamin Pierce. The fort was reached from the ocean through the old Indian River Inlet, a natural waterway located just northeast of Jack Island. When this inlet closed in the early 1900s, a man-made inlet was cut at its present location in Ft. Pierce.