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USDIMPS NRNP Registration Form Jungle Trail Indian River County, Florida Page 14 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES CONTINUATION SHEET Section 8 Page 8 (Narrative Summary of Significance, Continued) Statement of Significance The remaining 7.5-mile segment of the Jungle Trail is significant at a local level under Criterion A of the National Register, association "with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history." Jungle Trail, built in the 1920s-1930s is associated with the early settlement and development of Orchid Island in Indian River County. Like many parts of southern Florida, the history of permanent settlement and development are recent, dating from around the end of the nineteenth century. By 1910 the island still only had a meager population around 126 people. The Jungle Trail, incorporating older road segments (e.g., Orchid-Narrows Road), trails, and grove roads, was authorized and constructed by the county government in order to encourage expanded settlement of the under-utilized barrier island. The road allowed for expansion of commercial citrus groves, which thrived on the island due to localized soil and climate conditions. The numerous archaeological sites on the island probably helped enrich sandy dune soils and also were used for fill to build the roadbed in some places. The first citrus groves on Orchid Island survived the devastating frosts of 1894-1895, which certainly helped to increase the desirability of the barrier island. Indian River citrus became well known by the mid-twentieth century due to research and promotional advances by island growers, like A.B. Michaels. Michaels and his company, Deerfield Groves, were instrumental in construction of the Jungle Trail, and helped secure right-of-ways, as well as provided equipment and materials. The chronology of Jungle Trail indicates that, despite the earlier reliance on boat transportation, by the early twentieth century the primary means of transport for individuals and smaller commercial ventures was overland. This is probably due, in part, to the proximity of the Florida East Coast Railway line on the mainland and the erratic nature of the inlets, which often closed. Interestingly, the railroad also brought many of the settlers who would become prominent in the county. By the time the road was completed it was linked by three bridges to the mainland, allowing easy transport of fruit to packing houses and the railway. Jungle Trail also provided access to the Sebastian Inlet, where a small fishing hamlet developed, complementing the citrus industry that was beginning to dominate the area by the mid-1930s. In this regard, the Jungle Trail is part of the"farm-to-market"road system that was emerging during this time period (circa 1920). Kaszynski(2000:42)notes that in the South, the"Good Roads Movement"was urging state governments to build local roads to aid in movement of farm products to market destinations and other distribution hubs. In this same sense, the intent of the Indian River and St. Lucie county commissioners that designated the road alignment in the 1920s reflects the broader desire of local and state governments of this period, especially in the South, to increase accessibility in rural areas in the early twentieth century(Preston 1991). The timing of the authorization and construction of the Jungle Trail by the county government is closely tied to the history of road building in the State of Florida. Statistics cited in an State Road Department pamphlet indicate an increase from 73,914 cars and trucks registered in 1920 to 492,431 registered in 1940 (Florida State Road Department 1941:viii). In 1916, the United States Congress authorized the Federal Aid Road Act that provided funds to states for road building (Division of Highway Planning 1939:17; Kaszynski 2000:52-53). By 1921 the state legislature amended the Motor Vehicle Registration Act to provide revenue to counties for their own road building endeavors. The construction of roads and bridges in the Indian River area during this period is likely tied to this legislative act(Division of Highway Planning 1939:12). This act was amended again in 1931, when the legislature authorized the State Board of Administration to use revenue from a 3 cent per gallon gas tax to reimburse counties for state roads they had built and maintained. While Jungle Trail was originally constructed to encourage settlement and expansion of agriculture on Orchid Island, the trail became a popular tourist route in the 1940s. Visitors to the barrier island stopped at local attractions like the Driftwood hotel, the Jungle Treasure House, citrus groves and recognized the scenic quality of the dirt road that wound along the edge of the Indian River lagoon through maritime hammock and orange groves. A tourist survey conducted in 1938 indicated that many motoring tourists were attracted to Florida's climate and beaches, but also were interested in the citrus industry(Works Progress Administration 1939:5-6). Interestingly, tourist advertisements for the Indian River area closely resemble the colorful fruit crate labels associated with the Orchid Island growers (LaHurd 1995). The Jungle Trail