The Elliott Museum opened Nov. 18, 1961 to incredible fanfare and pomp and circumstance. The opening made national news thanks in large part to a popular picture of four “bathing beauties” in swimsuits playing with a beach ball.  

Festivities featured a five-mile long line of bands, antique cars from all over the nation and floats that paraded from Confusion Corner in downtown Stuart to the Elliott Museum.

Showcasing the 200-plus Elliott family patents and inventions, including Sterling’s quadricycle (which solved many problems plaguing the early four-wheeled automobile chassis), the museum featured the Elliott addressing machines, as well as family items such as the Elliott family’s Stanley Steam car.

According to the Stuart News, the Martin County Commission, acting at the request of the Historical Society, asked that the tolls on the Indian and St. Lucie River bridges be lifted as a public-relations gesture to the thousands of tourists expected to attend the event. Their request was denied so the museum dedication committee made plans to raise the funds for the official vehicles of the ceremony and if possible to pay the way of all eastbound visitors to the ceremonies at the museum.