They had me at “Free Historic Home Tour, Saturday at 3pm.” I paused on the Facebook post. Hmm… we were already planning to visit an Arts and Crafts Market in Cocoa that day, and a quick Google Maps search showed this home — one I’d never heard of — was only about 30 minutes northeast of where we’d be. Sold.

Where History Meets Wild Florida

Sams Homestead is located within the 880-acre Pine Island Conservation Area. The preserve features seven miles of hiking trails and two kayak/canoe waterways where you can explore pine flatwoods, hammock habitats, and restored salt marsh.

More than 370 species of birds have been recorded here, and it’s common to spot Roseate Spoonbills, Herons, Wood Storks, and Bald Eagles. You may also see alligators, bobcats, river otters, and even manatees.

One word of warning: the mosquitoes are ferocious. If you plan to hike or kayak, wear long sleeves, long pants, and bring plenty of bug spray.

The conservation area is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The Cabin

The twice-weekly tours (Thursdays and Saturdays at 3pm) begin in the original cabin built by John H. Sams (1839–1924) in Eau Gallie (Melbourne) in 1875. John, his wife Sarah, their five children, and his older brother and sister followed his LaRoche cousins from South Carolina to Florida after the Civil War.

They attempted to grow citrus in Melbourne but struggled. While exploring the area, John was drawn to North Merritt Island because, as he put it, “it looked more like South Carolina.”

In 1878, he dismantled his newly built cabin, loaded the sections onto rafts, and floated them up the Indian River to Merritt Island to try again.

The move paid off. The family successfully grew citrus, sugar cane, and pineapples. Their three-room, 600-square-foot cabin became far more than just a home for their family of fourteen.

It served as a schoolhouse until 1883 and hosted Episcopal services before the Sams helped found St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in 1889.

The Second (and Grand) Sams House

Ten years after settling on Merritt Island, John built a second home caddy-corner to the cabin. This house is much grander and a classic example of Florida vernacular architecture.

It features two stories, a wraparound porch, an office and living room on the first floor, and three bedrooms upstairs. John’s sister, Catherine DeVeaux Sams (1830–1911), never married and lived with the family until her death. She was known to play a significant role in both the family’s daily life and their overall success.

The Tour: Worthwhile, But Brief

The tour itself is short and, honestly, a little disappointing from a “house tour” perspective. The cabin is now a single room, though still fascinating — because it’s Brevard County’s oldest standing home.

If this site intrigues you, I’d recommend visiting during regular open hours rather than planning a trip specifically around the tour. Most exhibits focus on the natural habitat and ecology, with some information about the Sams family mixed in.

During the house portion of the tour, only the living room is accessible and furnished with donated period pieces. There are a few family photos on the walls, and the guide shares a bit of the family’s story. The three upstairs bedrooms are currently set up with bunk beds for college students who come to study and work on the land, so there isn’t much to see there.

From Family Homestead to Protected Land

After John’s death in 1924, the homes and property remained in the Sams family until 1996, when the land was purchased and restored by Brevard County’s Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program.

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North Merritt Island was once a seasonal hunting and fishing camp for the Ais Indigenous Americans. A short walk from the Sams Homestead brings you to a sand burial mound created by the Ais tribe.

These mounds, made of shells and sand, were used to hold the remains of loved ones. The mound was excavated in 1895 by archaeologist C. B. Moore, who found human bones near the top but did not excavate the entire site.

In 2009, a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey revealed a bowl-shaped trench and several objects beneath the surface. The EEL Program has chosen not to fully excavate the mound, instead focusing on preservation and protection. Today, the site is quite overgrown as the forest slowly reclaims the land.

This turned out to be a neat, social-media-inspired side trip. I usually discover places through Instagram or Google Maps, but Brevard County has a surprisingly active Facebook presence.

One thing I continue to love about Florida is how much history I’m learning through these small stops — especially about citrus growing. Many different types of people made their fortunes through citrus, and I’ll be sharing more of those stories in upcoming Journeys.

‘til next week, happy exploring!
Kathleen

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