Located in a five acre historic park, the Collier County Museum features native Florida gardens, wildlife exhibits, a Calusa Indian camp, two historic Naples cottages a restored 1910 steam locomotive, vintage swamp buggies and an archaeology lab.Journey back in time and learn about prehistoric mastodons, fierce saber cats, Calusa and Seminole Indians and the earlier pioneers who wrote the history of Collier County.The museum offers over 10,000 square feet of displays, a traveling exhibit room, lecture hall and gift shop.
3301 Tamiami Trail East Naples, Florida 34112 (239) 774-8476
Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and originally home to cattleman Robert Roberts, this 15 acre living history museum provides a rare glimpse into the daily working life of a 1900s pioneer homestead and citrus grove.
Learn about the early cow hunters, pioneer families and ranchers who tamed this vast wilderness on the edge of the Everglades and Big Cypress swamp.Exhibits, original buildings and living history programs bring the early days back to life.
Palm Cottage was built in 1895 by Walter Haddeman and is the second oldest home in Naples. Located just one block east of the Naples Pier in Old Naples, it is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.The walls and foundations are constructed with tabbie mortar which is produced by burning the local sand and sea shells and then mixing the results with lime and seawater to produce mortar.
After the death of Mr. Haldeman, it was sold to Walter O. Parmer in 1916 who gave it the name Palm Cottage.During the ?40s, Palm Cottage hosted such guests such as Gary Cooper, Robert Montgomery, and Heddy Lamar.The house was restored in 1996 at a cost of over $300,000.00 and today is operated as a museum by the Collier County Historical society.Furnished with original 19th century furniture and period photographs, it is open daily for tours.
137 12th Ave S Naples, FL 34102-7002 (239) 261-8164
Museum of the Everglades
Located in Everglades City, visit the Museum of the Everglades and explore the history of Collier County.Dating back to when Everglades City was a small settlement of fewer than 12 families, the beginning of Barron Collier´s real estate empire and the construction of the Tamiami Trail, the museum provides visitors with a look back at over 2,000 years of human history and tells the story of the pioneers who were stubborn enough to settle Florida´s last frontier.
First open in 1927 as a commercial laundry, the museum has been fully restored to its 20´s appearance and is listed on National Register of Historic Places.
Return to the roaring days of yesterday at Naples Depot Museum.Located in Naples first passenger train station in Olde Naples and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the museum recreates the railroading days of a bygone era.Restored railroad cars and fascinating exhibits and historic artifacts tell the story of how travel and trade transformed Naples from a sleepy village to today´s Gulf Coast paradise.
There is also an extensive model railroad layout and miniature train rides for the kids.
