Southwest Florida Museum of History facts for kids

The Southwest Florida Museum of History is in an old train station.

You can see a real train car at the museum!

The Southwest Florida Museum of History (sometimes called SWFLM) is a cool place to learn about the past in Fort Myers, Florida. It's located right in the old part of downtown Fort Myers. The museum building itself is pretty historic! It used to be a train station for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. You can find it at 2031 Jackson Street, which is just one block south of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday, usually from 10 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon.

Discovering Southwest Florida's Past

This museum is packed with interesting things that tell the story of Southwest Florida. You can explore how people lived here long, long ago. Imagine what life was like for the very first people, called Paleo Indians, who lived in this area thousands of years ago.

Ancient Peoples and Early Settlers

The museum has special displays about the Calusa and Seminole peoples. These were important Native American groups who lived in Florida for a very long time. You can learn about their cultures and how they used the land. The museum also shares stories about the first Spanish explorers who arrived in Florida. Plus, you'll find out about the early settlers who came to build new lives here.

Life in Old Florida

Ever wonder what it was like to be a cowboy in Florida? The museum has information about the cattlemen who worked here. You can also learn about the history of farming in the region. Since Florida is surrounded by water, there are exhibits about boating and fishing too. These industries were, and still are, very important to the area.

Amazing Things to See

The museum has a fantastic collection of items from the past. You can see old antiques and beautiful decorative arts. One of the coolest things is a pioneer "Florida cracker" house. This shows you what homes looked like for early settlers in Florida. They also have a huge 1926 La France fire truck, which is a real classic! And don't miss the 1929 private Pullman rail car. It's like stepping back in time to see how people traveled in luxury on trains.

External Links

• Southwest Florida Museum of History website

See also

In Spanish: Museo de Historia del Suroeste de Florida para niños