Florida's east coast first house of refuge was constructed on this site and later became part of the U.S. Lifesaving Service. Built about 20 miles apart along the desolate coast, houses of refuge provided food, shelter, and a safe haven for shipwrecked passengers and crews. They were built exactly alike and included a main house, a cistern, and a boat house. John Houston was the first keeper, and keepers had to be physically sound and able to read and write. In 1915, the Life Saving service became the U.S. Coast Guard. The house was destroyed by fire in January 1917 and replaced by a building that was removed in 1936. The Cost Guard closed the station in 1929. During World War II, the Coast Guard reopened the station and built a 40-foot observation tower to watch for submarines. This 8 acre site was transferred to the City of Vero Beach by the Federal Government in 1950, and the Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycee's) began development of the park in 1956.