Preserve Real Places, Tell Real Stories: Manatee Village Historical Park's buildings are furnished to display what life was like in early Florida. Our mission is to preserve and share the heritage of Manatee County’s founding period (1840-1918) through our museum and collection of historical artifacts and buildings.
Bradenton, FL
Region(s):
Southwest
County:
Manatee
Type(s):
Other
Long famous for its Key Marco Cat — one of the most remarkable and influential discoveries in North American archaeology — the Marco Island Historical Museum explores Southwest Florida’s Calusa Indians and brings this vanished civilization to life with informative displays and an exciting recreated village scene. Permanent and traveling exhibits trace the settlement of this subtropical island paradise from its early pioneer roots as a fishing village, pineapple plantation and clam cannery, through its explosive growth and development in the 1960s by the Miami-based Deltona Corporation.
Marco Island, FL
Region(s):
Southwest
County:
Collier
Type(s):
History
Escape Naples’ dazzling pace of development for a day and spend a lazy afternoon exploring the history of nearby Everglades City. Once accessible only by boat, this remote frontier trading town took an ambitious new turn in 1923 as the hub of Barron Collier’s personal Southwest Florida real estate empire – with a population of fewer than twelve families. First opened in 1927 as a commercial laundry, today’s Museum of the Everglades dates back to a time when construction of the famous Tamiami Trail was well underway and the tiny settlement of Everglades served as the first County seat. The museum’s permanent and rotating exhibits provide visitors with an in-depth look at over 2,000 years of human history in the area and tell the story of those adventurous enough – and stubborn enough – to settle Southwest Florida’s lush “River of Grass.” Faithfully restored to its original, 1920s Collier-era appearance, the museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is located 35 miles east of downtown Naples.
Everglades City, FL
Region(s):
Southwest
County:
Collier
Type(s):
History
Long hidden on the fringe of Florida’s Gulf Coast and overlooked by developers until well into the 1880s, Naples’ catalyst for settlement finally arrived forty years later when two rival railroads rolled into town within ten days of each other. Set in Naples’ restored Seaboard Air Line Railway passenger station, the Naples Depot Museum welcomes visitors back to the railroading boom days of the Roaring Twenties and explains how generations of Southwest Floridians used technology and transportation to conquer a vast and seemingly impenetrable frontier. Seminole dugout canoes, a mule wagon, antique swamp buggy, restored rail cars and exciting interactive exhibits tell the story of how trade and travel transformed Naples from a napping village of 300 souls into today’s glittering Gulf Coast resort. The Naples Depot Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is conveniently located in downtown Naples.
Naples, FL
Region(s):
Southwest
County:
Collier
Type(s):
History
Palmetto Historical Park includes a 1914 Carnegie Library, 1880 Post Office, 1920 School House,1900 Cottage, a replica Chapel and a Military Museum. Free tours are offered and many community events are held each year. For more information, please visit our website at palmettohistoricalpark.com
Palmetto, FL
Region(s):
Southwest
County:
Manatee
Type(s):
Historic Home
History
The Sebring Historical Society is fortunate to have both an Archives and the Charles F. Weigle House Museum. The Archives has many collections that tells the history of Sebring, Florida and Highlands County. The House Museum was the home of Dr. Charles F. Weigle, a well known Evangelist and Hymn Composer. His best known hymn, "No One Every Cared for Me Like Jesus" was written at this home in 1932. Dr. Weigle and George E. Sebring, Jr., the founder of Sebring, Florida were very good friends living next door to each other.
Sebring, FL
Region(s):
Southwest
County:
Highlands
Type(s):
Historic Home
History
Located on the Highlands County campus at South Florida State College in Avon Park, MOFAC opened in 2001 as both a museum and gallery space; highlighting the best of what Florida has to offer, archaeologically and artistically. Its permanent display space details the chronological history of the state and its people via a timeline of events and artifacts unearthed at surrounding archaeological sites including the Blueberry site and the Goodnow Mound. In addition, the MOFAC gallery and the lower lobby feature 7 exhibits annually, with accompanying receptions and artists’ talks from October to May.
Avon Park, FL
Region(s):
Southwest
County:
Highlands
Type(s):
Art
History
Largest Military in Southwest Florida with over 30,000 sq. ft. and displays from the Revolutionary War to current conflicts. Our displays are accompanied by murals and works of art. We are dedicated to Honoring our veterans, Preserving our Military History and Educating visitors and the community on our Military History.
Cape Coral, FL
Region(s):
Southwest
County:
Lee
Type(s):
Art
History
Other
Tennessee Williams, one of America's foremost playwrights, called the island of Key West 'home' for over thirty years. Tennessee Williams is known as one of the greatest 20th century American playwrights. His works such as The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and many others are classics of the American stage which earned him two Pulitzer Prizes, Tony Awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, as well as many other literary awards. His work reached world-wide audiences in the 1950s when his plays were adapted into motion pictures. His works remain relevant today as his plays continue to be performed and studied internationally. Tennessee Williams visited and lived in Key West from 1941 until his death in 1983. It is believed that he wrote the final draft of Street Car Named Desire while staying at the La Concha Hotel in Key West in 1947. He established residence here in 1949 and in 1950 bought the house at 1431 Duncan Street that was his home for 34 years. He was part of the literary movement that resulted in Key West and the Florida Keys being recognized as the cultural and historical location it is today. Visitors to our city and locals are invited to tour this educational and historic exhibit. They can enjoy and learn about Williams’ literary accomplishments and life in Key West through an extensive collection of photographs, first edition plays and books, rare newspaper and magazine articles, videos, a typewriter used by the author while writing in Key West and other artifacts on display.
Key West, FL
Region(s):
Southwest
County:
Monroe
Type(s):
History
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature is the largest natural history museum on Florida's Gulf Coast, featuring The Planetarium, the Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat, the Mosaic Backyard Universe and a constantly changing lineup of temporary exhibitions — offering something new to discover with each visit!
Bradenton, FL
Region(s):
Southwest
County:
Type(s):
Children's
History
Science