EXHIBITS LISTINGWWW.SWFLMUSEUMOFHISTORY.COM
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PERMANENT EXHIBITS:
During the reign of the dinosaurs, Florida was covered by a shallow sea. Global sea levels were elevated due to higher temperatures melting polar ice caps. The resulting Florida seas were roamed by enormous sea animals such as the Basilosaurus and Megalodon as depicted in this exhibit.
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The Calusa were builders, during their reign that lasted into the early 1700s, they transformed the landscape of Southwest Florida by building hundreds of shell mounds, altering the waterways and constructing canal highways that connected the coasts. The diorama in this exhibit provides an overview of Calusa lifestyle along with the many tools, artifacts and displays
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Finding no natural source of gold the Spanish lost interest in Florida and with the exception of a few trading posts and fishing camps, had little influence in 17th & 18th century Florida. It was during this time, that the Seminole Indians established their presence in the peninsula. Not native to Florida, the Seminoles migrated into the area from their ancestral homes in the Creek nations.
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Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon became the first European to see the Florida peninsula in the spring of 1513. He was immediately enamored by the beauty of this land giving it the name, la Florida. His exploration brought him around the peninsula and into a protected harbor on the west coast of Florida by 1521.
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In this display, you can see a model and diorama of the Fort built in 1850. The Fort was named for Col. Abraham Myers who was engaged to the daughter of Gen. Twiggs, then leader of the United States armies in Florida. Though Col. Abraham Myers never saw the Fort or town, named in his honor nor did he serve in Southwest Florida, his name continues to be representative of the area today.
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Cattle make up the first of what are referred to as the 3 Cs of Florida agriculture: Cattle, Citrus and Cane. Like cattle, citrus and cane were Spanish imports during their occupation of Florida. The Citrus industry continues today to be the most recognized of Florida agricultural industries and the orange has become a symbol of our state.
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By the beginning of the 20th century, the small cattle town of Fort Myers had blossomed becoming the center of cultural and economic Southwest Florida. In 1884, the town celebrated the arrival of its most famous winter resident, Thomas Alva Edison.
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The arrival of the railroad in 1904 connected Fort Myers to the rest of the United States for the first time. By 1923, rail travel had grown so much in Fort Myers that the city needed to construct a new depot. The new Atlantic Coast Line Train Depot was completed in 1924 and would serve thousands of passengers until its decommissioning in 1971. The last passenger rail service left Fort Myers in 1971 although a commercial rail is still in use today.
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Capitalizing on the area’s rich marine life, boating and fishing provided plentiful seafood, shells and fed tourism as visitors find through this exhibit area.
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You will find a 1926 France LaPumper, several artifacts and displays of fire fighting equipment and insignia and a tribute to their fallen comrades on 9/11. During World War II, over 20,000 service men and women were stationed at both bases tripling the population of Lee County which had only 10,000 permanent residents at the time.
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The Esperanza is an 83-foot 101 ton private rail car that was the height of luxury back in 1929 transportation. It features three state rooms, a lounge, a private dining car and a galley kitchen and servants quarters. Filled with brass fixtures and Cuban mahogany, the train car remains a favorite among museum visitors.
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Built in the late 1800s and early 20th century, these homes were single room homes of the early cattlemen dubbed ‘crackers’ for the sound their whips would make when rustling cattle. Their features include sloped roofs (for rain), elevation (for flooding and heat circulation) and front porches.
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The park on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (MLK) in front of the museum was planted to enhance the landscaping along MLK and around the City Museum and since the City is known as the City of Palms, the Beautification Advisory Board wanted to create an educational palm park.
EXHIBITS LISTINGWWW.SWFLMUSEUMOFHISTORY.COM
Switch Thumb
-
PERMANENT EXHIBITS:
During the reign of the dinosaurs, Florida was covered by a shallow sea. Global sea levels were elevated due to higher temperatures melting polar ice caps. The resulting Florida seas were roamed by enormous sea animals such as the Basilosaurus and Megalodon as depicted in this exhibit.
-
The Calusa were builders, during their reign that lasted into the early 1700s, they transformed the landscape of Southwest Florida by building hundreds of shell mounds, altering the waterways and constructing canal highways that connected the coasts. The diorama in this exhibit provides an overview of Calusa lifestyle along with the many tools, artifacts and displays
-
Finding no natural source of gold the Spanish lost interest in Florida and with the exception of a few trading posts and fishing camps, had little influence in 17th & 18th century Florida. It was during this time, that the Seminole Indians established their presence in the peninsula. Not native to Florida, the Seminoles migrated into the area from their ancestral homes in the Creek nations.
-
Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon became the first European to see the Florida peninsula in the spring of 1513. He was immediately enamored by the beauty of this land giving it the name, la Florida. His exploration brought him around the peninsula and into a protected harbor on the west coast of Florida by 1521.
-
In this display, you can see a model and diorama of the Fort built in 1850. The Fort was named for Col. Abraham Myers who was engaged to the daughter of Gen. Twiggs, then leader of the United States armies in Florida. Though Col. Abraham Myers never saw the Fort or town, named in his honor nor did he serve in Southwest Florida, his name continues to be representative of the area today.
-
Cattle make up the first of what are referred to as the 3 Cs of Florida agriculture: Cattle, Citrus and Cane. Like cattle, citrus and cane were Spanish imports during their occupation of Florida. The Citrus industry continues today to be the most recognized of Florida agricultural industries and the orange has become a symbol of our state.
-
By the beginning of the 20th century, the small cattle town of Fort Myers had blossomed becoming the center of cultural and economic Southwest Florida. In 1884, the town celebrated the arrival of its most famous winter resident, Thomas Alva Edison.
-
The arrival of the railroad in 1904 connected Fort Myers to the rest of the United States for the first time. By 1923, rail travel had grown so much in Fort Myers that the city needed to construct a new depot. The new Atlantic Coast Line Train Depot was completed in 1924 and would serve thousands of passengers until its decommissioning in 1971. The last passenger rail service left Fort Myers in 1971 although a commercial rail is still in use today.
-
Capitalizing on the area’s rich marine life, boating and fishing provided plentiful seafood, shells and fed tourism as visitors find through this exhibit area.
-
You will find a 1926 France LaPumper, several artifacts and displays of fire fighting equipment and insignia and a tribute to their fallen comrades on 9/11. During World War II, over 20,000 service men and women were stationed at both bases tripling the population of Lee County which had only 10,000 permanent residents at the time.
-
The Esperanza is an 83-foot 101 ton private rail car that was the height of luxury back in 1929 transportation. It features three state rooms, a lounge, a private dining car and a galley kitchen and servants quarters. Filled with brass fixtures and Cuban mahogany, the train car remains a favorite among museum visitors.
-
Built in the late 1800s and early 20th century, these homes were single room homes of the early cattlemen dubbed ‘crackers’ for the sound their whips would make when rustling cattle. Their features include sloped roofs (for rain), elevation (for flooding and heat circulation) and front porches.
-
The park on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (MLK) in front of the museum was planted to enhance the landscaping along MLK and around the City Museum and since the City is known as the City of Palms, the Beautification Advisory Board wanted to create an educational palm park.
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