Beaches near Ft Myers - Lovers Key State Park

History of Bonita Springs, Florida
Bonita Springs History

When Florida first became an official Unites States territory in 1821, original settlers in the region of Southwest Florida were deeply entrenched in a series of wars with the native Seminole Indians who inhabited the area at the time. In order to ensure that the region would flourish, the government sent troops to provide protection for the citizens who would be responsible for the building and development of the new territory.

Built along the Caloosahatchee River and acquiring its name from a prominent colonel of the time, Abraham C. Myers, Fort Myers was one of the first operational bases in Southwest Florida during the turbulent time of the Seminole Indian Wars. Eventually after the wars ended and there was no further need for the actual fort, it was disassembled and the materials reused for the construction of what is now downtown Fort Myers.

By 1885 the population of Fort Myers had grown to over 350 people – a significant growth from the original ten families who settled the area originally.

Along with the increase of the population in 1885 another significant event occurred that would change the course of history for Fort Myers. Thomas Edison took a trip along Florida’s Gulf Coast and stopped at Fort Myers. Seeing the beauty of the area Edison decided to relocate and build a home as well as a laboratory along the bank of the Caloosahatchee River. In the years to follow, he became a strong force in the community and the further development of Fort Myers. Today visitors can still tour his home and laboratory and wonder at his many inventions. Edison is credited with the invention of the light bulb, the alkaline battery, the phonograph and the microphone just to name a few of the over 1000 patents in his name.

In the years to follow, another prominent figure in United States history and a close friend of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, became enamored with the area of Fort Myers after visiting Edison one season. Ford eventually purchased the land adjacent to Edison’s and constructed a winter vacation home, which he used when the cold season took over the northern territories of the country.

Much like Ford, other Americans traveled to Southwest Florida when the winter season arrived in the north. Looking for property in which to invest, development in the Southwest region gained momentum when Barron G. Collier purchased over one million acres of undeveloped and untouched swampland. He had the foresight to know that the area would grow leaps and bounds if infrastructure such as roads and railways were built allowing access for both people and products. Collier’s vision was the construction of the first paved road to connect Florida’s two major cities of the time, Tampa and Miami. Opened in 1926 and still known today as the Tamiami Trail (US 41), the road passes directly through Fort Myers and Naples allowing for access to both Tampa and Miami. With the addition of this road, Fort Myers began to flourish and prosper into the city that it is today.

As the years passed, Fort Myers grew along with the rest of Southwest Florida. With more and more people permanently residing in the area, development continued to push further beyond the boundaries of Fort Myers and places including Cape Coral, Fort Myers Beach and Lehigh began to develop.

Also home to Southwest Florida International Airport, Fort Myers has become a hub of transportation for both for domestic and international travelers. With the opening of the new terminal in 2005, the airport can now handle more arriving and departing flights than ever before.

Fort Myers has also become a center for entertainment with something for everyone. The Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, located on the campus of Edison College, hosts a variety of shows and performances ranging from Donna Summer and Natalie Cole to its Broadway Series including the hits Little Shop of Horrors and Thoroughly Modern Millie.

For those who want dinner and a show, be sure to check out The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. This season shows including Cats, Oklahoma and The Sound of Music will all take their turn on the stage. If you’re looking for something unique, take a trip aboard the Seminole Gulf Railway’s Murder Mystery Dinner Train. During a five-course meal, served with fine wines and cocktails, the mysteries unravel and are acted out in between courses. It’s up to you to put the pieces of the puzzle together and solve the crimes that unravel before your eyes on this three and a half hour excursion through Southwest Florida.

Downtown Fort Myers boasts a wide variety of restaurants, bars, galleries, shops and clubs to explore. From burgers and fries at one of the local pubs to gourmet five star restaurants everyone’s tastes can be accommodated. Simply walking through downtown Fort Myers you’re bound to come across the perfect place to sit and socialize or dance the night away in one of the many clubs with some of the areas hottest DJ’s. With so many options to explore residents and visitors alike can see that Fort Myers is a unique blend of both young and old making the city what it is today.