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With so many cultural attractions present throughout Fort Pierce, it may be hard to decide where to go first. One of the most popular parts of Fort Pierce’s cultural landscape is the Sunrise Theatre. Originally constructed in 1923 as a Vaudeville theatre, the historic Sunrise received a 12-million dollar restoration and reopened in 2006. The historic Sunrise Theatre is an exceptional performing arts center attracting national acts like Howie Mandel and The Beach Boys. The A.E. Backus Museum is fresh from a multi-million dollar expansion, which doubled its size, as well as re-imagining of exhibitions and a Museum Store expansion. Housing the nation’s largest public exhibition of artwork by Florida’s preeminent painter, A.E. Backus, the Museum also offers the State’s only permanent multi-media exhibition on the Florida Highwaymen.

The Florida Highwaymen are 26 storied, world-renown African American landscape artists who originated in the City of Fort Pierce. Visitors from all over the United States visit Fort Pierce to experience the Highwaymen Heritage Trail, a self-guided engaging and educational experience that recognizes these mostly self-taught landscape artists who have strong local, state, national and international significance. 

The Zora Neale Hurston Dust Tracks Heritage Trail commemorates the life and times of a world-renown Harlem Renaissance author, anthropologist, storyteller and dramatist, primarily when she lived in Fort Pierce, during the final years of her life.

Residents and visitors can enjoy public art exhibitions that bring museum-quality sculptures and murals to the city’s streets and parks. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as Fort Pierce’s plethora of cultural attractions are one of the hallmarks of the city’s quality of life.