Big news is making waves at the House of Refuge Museum.
Our immersive installation, The Tempest, has been featured in the news, introducing thousands of readers to one of the most powerful new experiences on Florida’s Treasure Coast.
The featured photograph, captured by Crystal Vander Weit of TCPalm, beautifully illustrates exactly what we hoped guests would experience when they entered this space: wonder, curiosity, and a deeper connection to the stories of survival that define the House of Refuge.
In the image, 7-year-old Ryder Peshek reaches toward the crashing waves depicted in the installation, completely immersed in the experience. It is a reminder that history isn’t just something to read about. It is something to feel.
What is The Tempest?
Created as part of the House of Refuge’s recent restoration and reopening, The Tempest transports visitors into the heart of a violent ocean storm.
As reported in the article: “The installation brings visitors inside the fury of an ocean storm with sound and a 50-by-60-foot mural created by local artist Ralph Papa.”
Guests walk through an environment filled with:
- The crashing of waves
- Rolling thunder
- Wind rushing through rigging
- The strain and cracking of a vessel fighting to survive
- A breathtaking 50-foot by 60-foot mural by acclaimed local artist Ralph Papa
Rather than simply telling the story of the House of Refuge, The Tempest invites visitors to experience the urgency and danger that sailors faced along Florida’s unforgiving coastline.
A Restoration Worth Celebrating
The news feature also highlighted the remarkable restoration of the historic 1876 House of Refuge. The beloved landmark officially reopened on May 23 following months of preservation work that included:
- Revitalizing the main deck
- Structural improvements throughout the building
- Careful restoration of historic elements
- The addition of exciting new interpretive experiences like The Tempest
The result is a museum experience that honors the past while engaging today’s visitors in entirely new ways.
Come Experience It for Yourself
Seeing The Tempest featured in the news is incredibly exciting, but photographs only tell part of the story.
You have to hear the thunder.
You have to feel the tension.
You have to stand beneath the towering mural and imagine what it was like for those battling the sea with the House of Refuge as their only hope.
Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning to rediscover this treasured landmark, The Tempest is an experience you won’t soon forget.