McLarty Treasure Museum explains the shipwreck story behind the Treasure Coast name. The museum stands near the stretch of shoreline where ships from the 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet wrecked in a hurricane, scattering silver, gold, and cargo along the coast.
It is a small stop, but the setting gives it weight. Look out at the surf after seeing the exhibits and the story becomes less abstract: this was a dangerous shore long before it became a beach drive.