A Short History
When the railroad sold its track and warehouse on Peck and Monroe Streets in downtown Fort Myers to the city in 1971, a beautiful library was soon built on part of the property but the old passenger depot next door was allowed to disintegrate.
By 1975 a popular movement was made to convert the dilapidated building into a local museum. With considerable publicity from the local newspaper, a special group of citizens raised over $400,000 to help defray the cost of conversion, the city agreed to accept the remaining responsibility.
The metamorphosis was complete by April of 1982 when the new museum opened its doors to the public and they could roam through the corridors and former waiting rooms of the old passenger depot and view a variety of exhibits that portrayed the story of Fort Myers, from the early days of the Calusa Indians to the Army airports of World War II.
The Southwest Florida Museum of History is located at 2300 Peck Street just one block north of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in historic downtown Ft. Myers and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm to the public.
Housed in the former Atlantic Coastline Railroad depot, the Museum is home to the history of Southwest Florida. Paleo Indians, the Calusa, the Seminoles, Spanish explorers, and early settlers are just a few of the people you will meet as you view our exhibits. An authentic replica of a pioneer "cracker" house, a 1926 La France fire pumper, and a 1929 private Pullman rail car are also part of the tour.
In addition, the museum also houses an extensive artifacts collection detailing early civilization, the Fort, the first settlers, the cattlemen, turn of the century, the military and agriculture, boating and fishing industries in Fort Myers are highlighted as well as a display of 1,200 pieces of depression and carnival glass.
Museum Tour—1—1/2 hours take in the exhibits which trace the history of Southwest Florida from pre-historic times to present day including a visit to a Cracker House and 199 Pullman Train Car (both on the premises) Open Year-round
Traveling Exhibits throughout the year.
Downtown Walking Tour - a 1 1/2 hour guided tour of historic downtown Ft. Myers where visitors will learn the area history through the historic buildings and local legends. Offered December—April
Escorted Day Trips monthly to Florida cultural and historic sites include Miami’s South Beach, the Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Art, St. Petersburg’s Dali Museum and Biltmore Hotel and the Ah Tah Thiki Museum in Collier to name a few. Contact the museum for scheduled trips. Scheduled December — April
Historical presentations include a multi-media and Q & A session. Offered year-round by reservation.
The museum’s Educational Center room accommodates up to 55 people and is available for rent—just $50 for two hours. Groups, organizations and clubs are welcome to rent the enclosed room to suit their schedule.
Museum Archives contain photos, maps, documents are open by appointment for research
A Short History
When the railroad sold its track and warehouse on Peck and Monroe Streets in downtown Fort Myers to the city in 1971, a beautiful library was soon built on part of the property but the old passenger depot next door was allowed to disintegrate.
By 1975 a popular movement was made to convert the dilapidated building into a local museum. With considerable publicity from the local newspaper, a special group of citizens raised over $400,000 to help defray the cost of conversion, the city agreed to accept the remaining responsibility.
The metamorphosis was complete by April of 1982 when the new museum opened its doors to the public and they could roam through the corridors and former waiting rooms of the old passenger depot and view a variety of exhibits that portrayed the story of Fort Myers, from the early days of the Calusa Indians to the Army airports of World War II.
The Southwest Florida Museum of History is located at 2300 Peck Street just one block north of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in historic downtown Ft. Myers and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm to the public.
Housed in the former Atlantic Coastline Railroad depot, the Museum is home to the history of Southwest Florida. Paleo Indians, the Calusa, the Seminoles, Spanish explorers, and early settlers are just a few of the people you will meet as you view our exhibits. An authentic replica of a pioneer "cracker" house, a 1926 La France fire pumper, and a 1929 private Pullman rail car are also part of the tour.
In addition, the museum also houses an extensive artifacts collection detailing early civilization, the Fort, the first settlers, the cattlemen, turn of the century, the military and agriculture, boating and fishing industries in Fort Myers are highlighted as well as a display of 1,200 pieces of depression and carnival glass.
Museum Tour—1—1/2 hours take in the exhibits which trace the history of Southwest Florida from pre-historic times to present day including a visit to a Cracker House and 199 Pullman Train Car (both on the premises) Open Year-round
Traveling Exhibits throughout the year.
Downtown Walking Tour - a 1 1/2 hour guided tour of historic downtown Ft. Myers where visitors will learn the area history through the historic buildings and local legends. Offered December—April
Escorted Day Trips monthly to Florida cultural and historic sites include Miami’s South Beach, the Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Art, St. Petersburg’s Dali Museum and Biltmore Hotel and the Ah Tah Thiki Museum in Collier to name a few. Contact the museum for scheduled trips. Scheduled December — April
Historical presentations include a multi-media and Q & A session. Offered year-round by reservation.
The museum’s Educational Center room accommodates up to 55 people and is available for rent—just $50 for two hours. Groups, organizations and clubs are welcome to rent the enclosed room to suit their schedule.
Museum Archives contain photos, maps, documents are open by appointment for research