In 1886 David Gibson first attempted to connect lagoon and ocean at Sebastian. Several failed attempts occurred until 1920, when an effort by Roy Couch succeeded with limited success. After 60 years of dredging and blasting, the inlet was permanently opened in 1948, with the construction of proper jetties and removal of offshore reefs. A Spanish fleet was wrecked in this area in 1715. The site where the survivors camped was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on August 12, 1970, under the title of Spanish Fleet Survivors and Salvors Camp Site. Today, the McLarty Treasure Museum (a part of the park) exhibits artifacts relating to the wreck.