STUART, Fla. — The Elliott Museum in Stuart is bringing Florida history to life with a collection that ranges from classic cars and early bicycles to art and stories from the Treasure Coast.
But behind the exhibits is a piece of technology that may be just as fascinating as the cars themselves: a one-of-a-kind boomerang system that parks classic automobiles on multiple levels.
For car enthusiast Jim Serra, the museum is a place where people can appreciate some truly special rides.
“This is a 1957 Chevy. It’s a Bel Air, convertible,” Serra said.
Serra often drives his convertible to the Elliott Museum, where car enthusiasts from across Florida come to see the collection and spend time talking about automobiles.
“Well, it’s kind of unique,” Serra said of the museum. “And the fact that it has so many cars on display, you’ll probably get to see that later when you go inside.”
Inside, visitors can see decades of automotive history, including vehicles with special ties to Florida, and even a 1931 Ford Model school bus that once transported children.
But what makes the Elliott Museum particularly unique is not just what’s on display — it’s how some of the vehicles are stored.
The museum uses a robotic “boomerang” system to lift and park cars, allowing them to be stored on multiple levels while making efficient use of the museum’s vertical space.
“There were four of them built originally. This is the only one still online to this date,” said Jim Butterworth, director of facilities for the Historical Society of Martin County.
Butterworth operates the system, which can bring a visitor’s selected vehicle down for a closer look.
As the car moves into position, visitors get a unique perspective.
“(A) 360-degree view of the vehicle as it comes down,” Butterworth said.
The boomerang is part of a collection that includes 55 classic cars, but automobiles are just one piece of what visitors can find at the museum.
Jes Robinson, creative and collections director for the Elliott Museum and Historical Society of Martin County, described the place as eclectic.
“There’s a variety of something for everyone here at the Elliott Museum,” Robinson said. “From baseball to classic cars to local history, to our fresh and engaging exhibits that are changing up at least three times a year.”
Visitors can explore art exhibits, see some of the world’s earliest bicycles and learn about Stuart’s history as a destination for bootleggers and rum runners.
“Stuart has a tradition of bootlegging and rum-running due to our proximity to the Bahamas,” Robinson said.
Innovation also plays a major role in the museum’s story.
Prominent inventor Sterling Elliott and his son, Harmon, helped inspire the museum and its focus on invention and discovery.
“Between them they have almost 200 patents, mostly based on their hobbies,” Robinson said.
From classic cars and boat technology to art and the people who helped shape Florida’s Treasure Coast, the Elliott Museum offers visitors a look at the area’s history from a variety of perspectives.
Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 6 to 12. The museum is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On the second Saturday of every month, classic car owners bring their prized rides to the museum for Cars & Coffee.