Foosaner Art Museum Presents Panama Treasures Nov. 10

MELBOURNE, FLA.—The Florida Institute of Technology Foosaner Art Museum will host a slide lecture presented by undersea explorer Robert Marx, titled “Panama Treasures,” on Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the museum’s Harris Auditorium. The presentation, which highlights Marx’s adventures in Panama, blends real-life adventure and colorful history with the thrill of discovery.

Marx will describe his adventures of finding wrecks on both sides of the Isthmus of Panama as well as five ships of Henry Morgan. He will also share tales of finding golden Indian artifacts in Panama’s many lakes, diving for gold nuggets in rivers and locating a sunken city.

Marx is a pioneer American scuba diver and internationally recognized underwater archaeologist. Starting as a diving specialist in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1953, he has made over 5,000 dives since. His experience has borne fruit in 900 articles and reports, and 62 books on history, archaeology, shipwrecks and exploration.

“Almost all of my life has been devoted to the field of underwater archaeology. The focus of my research has mainly been on the Spanish treasure fleets, shipwrecks, naval warfare, ship construction, pre-Columbian voyages to the New World and the history of diving and salvage,” said Marx.

Since 1960 he has worked in the archives and libraries of more than 40 countries and spent over two years in the Archivo de las Indias in Seville, Spain, the main repository for researching Spanish maritime shipping and trade.

Marx was decorated a Knight Commander in the Order of Isabella the Catholic by the Spanish government for his re-enactment of the “Nina II” of Christopher Columbus’ first voyage of exploration.

The Foosaner Art Museum is located at 1463 Highland Ave. in the Old Eau Gallie District of Melbourne. Its hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sunday 1-5 p.m. General admission is $5; $3, seniors; $2, children and students with I.D.; free for museum members, Florida Tech faculty, staff and students with I.D. Thursdays are free for everyone.

Special rates and tours are available for groups of eight or more. For more information, call (321) 242-0737 or visit http://www.foosanerartmuseum.org/.

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