Join us for Pioneer Day on Saturday, February 7th from 10:00am - 3:00pm
Primary Parking at St. Luke’s ● Limited Parking at Sams House
$5 suggested donation for parking ● FREE shuttle service running continuously between the two venues
Service Animals Only
St. Luke's Episcopal Church
5555 N. Tropical Trail
Merritt Island, FL
Sams House at Pine Island
6195 N. Tropical Trail
Merritt Island, FL
14th Annual Merritt Island Pioneer Day
February 7, 2026
www.mipioneerday.com
Beginning In the 1870’s the Sams, LaRoche and Porcher families settled in Courtenay, Merritt Island. The families had moved to the area from South Carolina after the Civil War. They founded a congregation as they met in their homes for worship and fellowship. In 1886 the Episcopal Diocese of Florida (founded in
1838) formally recognized St. Luke’s Mission. In 1886 Mrs. Lucy A Boardman of Connecticut offered Bishop John Freeman Young money to build a series of churches on the central Atlantic Coast of Florida. Due to careful stewardship of that money, it allowed an extra church - St. Luke’s - to be constructed in the late
1800’s on land sold donated to the Diocese of Florida. This building was an example of the “pure” form of
the carpenter gothic architecture, which has been described as the most American of church styles.
Since the arrival of the first pioneers St. Luke’s has been a place where Christians gather to worship God, support one another, and
reach out to the community and the wider world in loving service.
www.stlukesmi.org www.facebook.com/stlukesmi www.instagram.com/stlukesmi/
PERRINE HALL: Lunch includes homemade chilis, grilled hotdogs, and loaded baked potatoes.
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Cemetery Quest: Start your quest at the playground to win a prize! For ages 7 and up.
10:15 AM CEMETERY: Guided Tour “Military and Space” highlighting veterans from the Civil War to Vietnam, and a
number of the people behind the scenes of the Space Program.
11:00 AM CHURCH: “How Brevard’s Past in Space can and should shape its Future”: Dale Ketcham, Lifelong Resident
– over 30 years in the Aerospace Industry - The Space Program is why Brevard is what it is. And why we have the
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Playalinda Beach at Canaveral National Seashore. They are not mutually
exclusive but are integrated into the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. Each relies on the other. Challenges await, but the past
can guide us to a healthy tomorrow.
12:00 CHAPEL: Old time hymns played on the organ in our historic chapel.
1:00 PM CHURCH: “U.S. Space Origin Stories and Milestones”: Jamie Draper, Museum Director for the Cape
Canaveral Space Force Museum - Long before astronauts launched to the Moon from KSC, Cape Canaveral was the
nation's launch frontier - the birthplace of America's space and missile programs. Journey through the Cape's
pioneering launch activity during the high stakes days of the Cold War Space Race. You'll hear the real origin stories -
the triumphs, the tensions, and the daring innovations that made Cape Canaveral the launch pad to the stars.
1:30 PM CEMETERY: Guided Tour “Island History” - Stories of locals who cleared the land, built our community, and
launched us into space.
Ongoing Events: Self-guided tour of St. Luke’s Historic Chapel & Cemetery
Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in Sharpes, Sports events in Sharpes, Nonprofit events in Sharpes.
