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Dr. Teed took the name 'Koresh,' the Hebrew translation for Cyrus, meaning shepherd. The colonists believed that the entire universe existed within a giant, hollow sphere. The Koreshans built and operated a printing facility, boat works, cement works, sawmill, bakery, store and hostelry. After the death of Dr. Teed in 1908 at the age of 69, membership of his religious group began to decline. In 1961, the four remaining members deeded 305 acres of their land to the state of Florida as a park and memorial. The Koreshan Unity Settlement Historic District was later added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

When Teed died in 1908, his followers, expecting his resurrection, laid out his body until county inspectors later insisted something else be done. His body was placed in the mausoleum and watched 24 hours a day for his return until 13 years later when the mausoleum with Dr. Teed's remains washed into the sea during a hurricane on October 23, 1921. The only item recovered was the headstone with an inscription that reads, "Cyrus, Shepherd, Stone of Israel".

Left to right - Virginia Andrews, Christine Hamilton, Esther Stotler (standing), Evelyn Bubbett (seated), K.U. president James H. Bubbett, Elizabeth Robinson, Etta Silverfriend, George W. Hunt, Bertha Boomer.