Southwest Florida Museum of History, Regional history museum in downtown Fort Myers, United States
The Southwest Florida Museum of History is housed in a former Atlantic Coast Line Railroad depot in downtown Fort Myers and displays items from across regional history. The collections include artifacts spanning from the earliest inhabitants to the modern growth of the city.
The museum preserves evidence of Paleo-Indian occupation and documents the later Spanish exploration and English settlement of the region. These early phases form the foundation for understanding how Fort Myers developed as a community.
The exhibits tell the story of how Native Americans shaped the region, and later how settlers built communities through farming, fishing, and trade. You can see how these activities transformed the landscape and daily life over generations.
The museum is open during daytime hours on weekdays and weekends, with guided tours and educational programs available for groups. Plan to spend a few hours exploring the different exhibition areas at a comfortable pace.
The collection features a restored 1926 fire truck and a former private rail car from 1929, offering rare glimpses into how people moved around and handled emergencies in the early decades. These vehicles tell stories about daily life that most visitors would not find elsewhere.
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