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The Heritage Center
and
Indian River Citrus Museum

A Legacy of Community and Connection
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The story of the Heritage Center began in 1935 when the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) funded labor costs, and the City of Vero Beach covered materials to build the first Community Building. Constructed in just three months, this historic landmark has been a centerpiece of community life ever since.

During WWII, the Heritage Center transformed into the Servicemen’s Center, hosting elegant USO-era dances with live music and romance in the air. Many locals share fond stories of grandparents who met at these iconic events.

After the war, the building became a true community hub, hosting dances, gatherings, and art classes. Later, it served as the Physical Arts Center, with a ballet studio and art spaces. After a new community center was built in the 1960s, the building fell into such disuse and disrepair that some say the only thing holding it together was the termites. The City was ready to demolish the building. Concerned citizens, led by the Indian River County Historical Society and Millie Bunnell fought to save it. In 1993, the Heritage Center was fully restored and placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, the Heritage Center is stewarded by Vero Heritage, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit that operates and maintains this historic gem at no cost to the City. The venue hosts weddings, fundraisers, community events, and houses the unique Indian River Citrus Museum, a tribute to the region's citrus legacy.

With its rich history and lasting significance, the Heritage Center continues to be a cherished gathering place where people create meaningful memories—because this place truly matters.

Make a lasting impact and DONATE today.

Historical Photos

Museum Photograph

Photos of citrus workers, groves, processes, and pioneer families.

Artifacts

Museum Artifacts

Artifacts include citrus tools, photos, signs and original advertising prints.

Displays

Museum Displays

The Indian River Citrus Museum features attractive, informative, easy-to-access displays.

Gift Shop

Citrus-Related Items For Sale

Our gift shop features exclusive FL-made items. For a preview of gift shop items, such as original citrus crate labels, citrus products and other souvenirs, Click Here.

Vero Heritage Citrus Label Tour

Picture collage of citrus labels, tour signs, and an orange with an excited expression.

Vero Heritage is establishing the “Vero Heritage Citrus Label Tour” (modeled after what has been successfully done in Polk and Manatee Counties). This art in public places heritage tour explores the historic marketing portion of citrus though artistic labels that once adorned the wooden shipping crates. As of Summer 2022, we have three signs in Historic Downtown Vero Beach. Look for more signs throughout Indian River County soon!

Download a family-friendly scavenger hunt here.

If you have trouble accessing this file, please contact us.

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YouTube

Watch These doors opened and greeted their very first guests in 1935! on YouTube

Video Captions

Though the surroundings looked quite a bit different and the building went by an entirely different name these doors welcomed their first guests in 1935. And much like today they welcomed all manner of civic events, special gatherings, dances, and events during World War II.

These doors welcomed the servicemen stationed here at the Vero Beach Naval Air Station. Over the years this became known as the Servicemen Center, a welcome diversion to military life.

During those years a few new doors were added. This door opened to a lounge for our servicemen and women and later welcomed eager dance students.

Since 1993 this door has welcomed guests from all over our country and even the world to the Indian River Citrus Museum.

In the early 1990s there were serious discussion about demolishing this building. Led by Millie Bonnell, the community rallied behind her to protect and save this building from demolition. The building was saved, restored and placed on the national register of historic places.

We now call this building The Heritage Center. It has endured a war, multiple economic recessions, multiple storms, even the threat of demolition and these doors
always reopen to welcome the community.

The non-profit, Vero Heritage Inc., keeps these doors open thanks to donors like you. Thank you so much for your continued support!

Promoting and Preserving Our Local Heritage

Florida Humanities

Thanks in part to CARES Act and ARP Act funding through Florida Humanities, Vero Heritage Inc was able to continue to offer important programs to our community. We are deeply appreciative of the support.

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