Southwest Florida Museum of History facts for kids
The Southwest Florida Museum of History (also called SWFLM) is a fun place to learn about the past in Fort Myers, Florida. You can find it in the old part of downtown Fort Myers. It's inside a building that used to be a train station! The address is 2031 Jackson Street. You can visit the museum from Tuesday to Saturday, between 10 AM and 5 PM.
Contents
Discover Southwest Florida's Past
This museum helps you explore the rich history of Southwest Florida. It shows how people lived here long ago. You can see many interesting things from different time periods.
What Can You See Inside?
The museum has lots of cool exhibits. They cover many topics about the area's history. You can learn about the first people who lived here. You can also see how the region grew over time.
Ancient Times: Early People
One part of the museum shows artifacts from the Paleo Indian people. These are tools and items from thousands of years ago. You can also learn about the Calusa and Seminole peoples. These Native American groups lived in Florida for a very long time.
Spanish Explorers and Pioneers
The museum also tells the story of Spanish explorers. They were some of the first Europeans to arrive. You can learn about the early settlers too. These brave people helped build the first towns.
Life in Old Florida
You'll find out about different jobs and ways of life. There are exhibits on cattlemen, who raised cows. You can also learn about the area's military history. The museum shows how farming and fishing were important. These industries helped the region grow.
Special Exhibits to Explore
The museum has some really unique items. You can see a pioneer "Florida cracker" house. This shows how early settlers lived. There's also an old 1926 La France fire truck. It's a big, red fire pumper! Another cool item is a 1929 private Pullman rail car. This was a fancy train car used for travel. In Spanish: Museo de Historia del Suroeste de Florida para niños