Titusville Beach derives its name from Colonel Henry Theodore Titus who established the town in 1867 on Indian River lands first settled by Douglas Dummitt in the 1820s-1830s from Tomoka where he served as postmaster and sugarcane farmer, becoming one of few planters cultivating oranges with first crop sold in 1828. This Brevard County Space Coast beach evolved from swampland, citrus groves and coastal landscape through September 1, 1961 NASA's initial Merritt Island land purchase supporting Apollo Lunar Landing Program, serving Florida's space heritage when March 7, 1962 Launch Operations Center establishment became independent field center with November 1963 President Johnson designation as John F. Kennedy Space Center, creating Gateway to Space Coast where August 28, 1963 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreement established Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge managing 1,500 species on NASA lands.
The beach offers Space View Park rocket launch viewing less than 15 miles from Kennedy Space Center pads with bleachers, benches and picnic tables along Indian River shore, U.S. Space Walk of Fame monuments honoring space program with mission plaques and original seven astronauts' bronze handprints since July 1994 dedication. Indian River kayak tours provide manatee and dolphin viewing opportunities, while nighttime bioluminescent paddling and beach rocket launch watching create unique outdoor experiences. The park features playground, walking path with scenic Indian River views, sheltered pier, boardwalk, restrooms and gift shop selling space program souvenirs, complemented by downtown location providing anchor point for spacewalk heritage celebrating Kennedy Space Center's transformative impact on the formerly agricultural citrus grove landscape.
Titusville dining includes Dixie Crossroads for famous rock shrimp and seafood served since 1983, Playalinda Brewing Company for craft beers and innovative gastropub fare in historic downtown, and Shiloh's Steak & Seafood for upscale dining with waterfront Indian River views, serving Brevard County's Space Coast community along this Gateway to Space Coast beach where 1961 NASA land purchases transformed Dummitt's 1820s citrus groves into America's spaceport launching humanity to the moon and beyond.
