04/23/2026
Pelican Island is why every National Wildlife Refuge in America exists. 🐦
Teddy Roosevelt created it in 1903 — the first federal bird
reservation, sitting right here in the Indian River Lagoon
off Sebastian.
What most Sebastian residents don't know?
Pelican Island wasn't a one-off. By the end of his presidency,
Roosevelt had established 54 MORE — a total of 55 reservations
and preserves that became the entire National Wildlife Refuge
System.
All of it traces back to our coast.
That's one question out of 112 in Sebastian's Town Beacon — the
daily trivia game about YOUR town's real history. Play today's
beacon and you're entered in tonight's Sebastian Genesis
Giveaway 🪙
Can you score 40%+ and claim your entry?
🔗 digitaltowns.app/sebastian