Southwest Florida Museum of History

Fort Myers, Florida: Located in a restored train terminal in the heart of downtown, the Southwest Florida Museum of History takes a detailed look into the past of Southwest Florida. Begin in the days when large animals ruled the land and take a look into the lives of those who came to call the region home including Native American’s, Florida Crackers and those who live here today.

The dream of the museum began in the 1970’s when the Atlantic Coastline Railroad closed their Fort Myers depot. The depot became neglected until a group of local citizens raised money to restore the depot to house a museum. In April of 1982, the museum opened to the public.

Today guest to the museum can tour the history of Southwest Florida inside the restored train depot. As you enter the depot, you begin your tour with Paleo Florida. Here you learn about the large animals that roamed Florida during the day of the dinosaurs. There are skeletons of a giant sloth and saber tooth tiger as well as other large animals that lived here during this era.

The next display is dedicated to one of the most renowned residents of the region, the Calusa Indians. See how the Calusa tribe chose to bury their members in a freshwater burial and take a look inside a Chickee hut at the tools and items that helped the tribe with everyday life.

As you leave the Chickee hut, you enter the realm of the Spanish explorers. Learn about Juan Ponce de Leon’s explorations and see a Spanish cannon.

The Spanish did not stay long and the next resident of the region was the Seminole tribe. The Seminoles ruled the region through the 18th century.

As you continue through the halls of the depot, the next exhibit tells the story of Fort Myers. Here you learn about the fort, where it was located and who it was named after. The army fort located along the river near present day downtown was named after Colonel Abraham Myers of the US Army.

A short stroll past the fort and you enter the world of early Southwest Florida, a region that survived on the three C’s; cattle, citrus and cane. Much of the early history of the region was dependent on agriculture. Learn how the original term Florida Cracker developed from the crack of the whip that moved the cattle along. Also see the impact of citrus and sugar cane on the local economy.

Then move further down the timeline into the turn of the century. During this time, the region grew from a cattle town into a commerce center. On display in the exhibit are some of the items of this time period including the iron lung, a telephone operator’s switchboard and a diorama of First Street during this period.

After taking a stroll down First Street, step into the world by the water. As the region became more developed, residents began to take advantage of the abundance of marine activities like fishing and boating. Some of the regions coastal areas are among the best fishing places in the world. Learn about the types of fish found here and the impact the marine life has had on southwest Florida.

The next gallery pays a tribute to the regions public safety professionals. See the Fort Myers Fire Departments 1926 American La France pumper as well as equipment from the fire service and emergency medical services. There is also a memorial to fallen police officers and a September 11 memorial.

As you finish the Firehouse exhibit, the next room is the Special Exhibit Hall. This portion of the museum is used for traveling displays. During our visit, the museum was hosting a gallery of photos by Clyde Butcher. His black and white photography showcases the splendor of the Everglades.

The last exhibit inside the museum was the War and Fort Myers exhibit. Even though the original fort was no longer used after the Civil War, the armed forces remained a integral part of the local area. The military used Page Field Airport as a base and had over 20,000 troops station in Fort Myers during World War II.

From here, the tour continues outside with the Cracker House. The house is a replica of a house that was built in LaBelle during the early 1900’s. This type of structure was typical of early Floridian homes. They were usually built from pine and featured raised floor and high pitched roof to help control the heat and keep the pests out. They were typically built shotgun style with a front and rear door in line with each other to allow the air to pass through the home.

The final exhibit of the museum is the Esperanza Rail Car. It was the longest of its kind and was one of the last built by the famous Pullman Standard Car and Manufacturing. At 83 feet in length and featured a lounge, three staterooms, dining room and servants quarters. The luxurious car was outfitted with Cuban Mahogany wood and brass accents throughout the car. The car changed owners and names throughout its history but was given to the City of Fort Myers during the city’s 100th birthday celebration.

In addition to the permanent exhibits, the museum also features other special events and tours. Every Wednesday and Saturday, museum staff takes visitors on a 1 1/2 hour walking tour of downtown Fort Myers. The museum also sponsors day trips to other attractions throughout the state, a quarterly Night at the Museum Author’s Evening and a USO inspired gala in January.

The Southwest Florida Museum of History cover the history of Charlotte, Collier, Glades Hendy and Lee counties.

Click on the photo above to visit my Southwest Florida Museum of History photo gallery.