Collier County Museums

01/06/2026

Summer has officially arrived at Collier County Museums!

We’re kicking off the season with a lineup packed full of family‑friendly fun, from tasty treats and engaging lectures to hands‑on educational adventures. And don’t miss our Schools Out, Museums Are In programs for K–12 students, designed to keep curiosity alive all summer long!

We have 5 museums across Collier County so come by and discover the rich heritage and history of Florida's Paradise Coast.

⭐Collier Museum at Government Center
⭐Naples Depot Museum
⭐Museum of the Everglades
⭐Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch
⭐March Island Historical Museum

Admission is always free.
Visit us at www.colliermuseums.com for location addresses and hours of operations.

30/05/2026

Wrapping up May at Collier County Museums has us excited for all the summer events, exhibits, and programs on the way! But before we dive into the season ahead, let’s take a moment to look back at some of the wonderful moments May brought us.

The Battle of the Paddle: The Great Dock Canoe Race exhibit made its debut on May 9th and kicked things off with an opening reception on May 8th at the Naples Depot Museum.

Also on May 9th, The Immokalee Pioneer Museum celebrated the completion of the Garden and Grove restoration project with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Guests were able to experience the recreation of Mrs. Sara Roberts' vegetable garden and the planting of 140 citrus trees.

The Marco Island Historical Museum was awarded the 2026 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award, placing it among the top 10% of attractions worldwide! This incredible honor wouldn’t be possible without our amazing visitors.

Museum of the Everglades Manager Thomas Lockyear prepares a newly acquired artifact for display: Sheriff Lewis Thorp's 1926 C**t Army Special revolver, a tangible link to Collier County's Prohibition-era history. We are grateful to Dane and Miles "Rocky" Scofield and the Collier County Sheriff's Office for making this remarkable piece of local history available for visitors to experience.

And at Collier Museum at Government Center, our Preschool Program was all about Farming! The kids shucked corn, learned about life on the farm and even took home their own magnolia & tomato plants.

As we step into June, come by and connect with history at Collier County Museums. For more information on events and exhibits, visit us at www.colliermuseums.com

30/05/2026

Loving this fantastic feature on the Marco Island Historical Museum and Museum of the Everglades!

Catch Museum Manager Thomas Lockyear’s great interview at the 23:48 mark.

Thank you thefloridachannel.org for covering Florida Crossroads: Florida Trail Towns: Gulf Coast.

https://thefloridachannel.org/videos/florida-trail-towns-gulf-coast/

Launched in 2018, Florida Trail Towns is a state program that helps communities boost tourism and promote recreation by highlighting regional trail

29/05/2026

For this we’re going back 60 years to 1962 when Naples was still undergoing major development.

This photo, taken above what is now Lowdermilk Park, shows the development of commercial beach front property in the early years of Naples to what it is now. In the background is Doctor’s Pass which connects the Gulf to Moorings Bay.
Throughout the image are sets of luxury condominiums, namely, the Harbour Club and La Tour Rivage. The Edgewater Beach Hotel can be seen under construction in the center, which didn’t open until 1963. Originally, they were advertised as an apartment resort but opened as an apartment hotel with the Man-O’-War Restaurant and Lounge included in the space. The Edgewater Beach Hotel recently sold for $55 million in 2013.

29/05/2026

So excited to see all the submissions and participation. Due date for submissions has been extended to June 13, 2026 (in person drop off) and June 14, 2026 (via online link). 🇺🇸

28/05/2026

Why does the Marco Island Historical Museum have a free family fun day each year called Pirate Day? ☠

Did you know that the 10,000 islands have a host of legends about scurvy pirates? Near Marco Island, on Panther Key, a “pirate” by the name of Juan Gomez lived and entertained guests visiting him there with tales of meeting Napolean Bonapart, serving as cabin boy for the pirate Jose Gaspar (Gasparilla), and also serving with Zachary Taylor at the Battle of Okeechobee during the Second Seminole War.
Born in 1778, Gomez died in 1900 which means if the date of his birth is accurate, he was 122 years old!

So be sure to bring your best AAARRGGGGHHHH!!! and save the date for our Pirate Day at Marco Island Historical Museum on June 19, 2026.

When: June 19, 2026
Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Where: Marco Island Historical Museum
180 South Heathwood Drive Marco Island, FL 34145

27/05/2026

Swamp Buggy Heritage!

The Swamp Buggy is a unique Collier County tradition. Ed Frank crafted the first swamp buggies from old car chassis, tractor tires, and even spare aircraft parts. It was built specifically to traverse the rugged, swampy terrain of the Everglades and the woods surrounding Naples.

The Tumble Bug was an early buggy built from an old 2-wheel drive Ford truck that was once used as a Borden milk truck in Fort Myers. Paul Frank raced the Tumble Bug in the Swamp Buggy Races and would also ride in the Swamp Buggy Race Parade. It got its name “Tumble Bug” by its ability to do wheelies or balancing on its rear wheels.

The first official Swamp Buggy Race was held at an old potato patch near Radio Road in Naples. The site was chosen because the muddy ground was pure marl, the sedimentary rock formed from fertilizer that was used when it was a potato patch, and it was very easy for a swamp buggy to become stuck. This was perfect for the swamp buggy racers, as they could test out their vehicles in conditions similar to what they would experience in the Everglades and see whose vehicle was truly the best-built buggy.

Phot Credit: Courtesy of G.H. Peter Frank

25/05/2026

The Collier County Museums will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2026, in observance of Memorial Day.

Today, we honor and remember all those who bravely gave their lives in service to our nation.

We will reopen on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, from 9 am to 4 pm Admission is free.

Visit https://www.colliermuseums.com for more information regarding all five Collier County Museums.

22/05/2026

On May 22, 1994, filming began in Everglades City for a major motion picture with a star-studded cast. Featuring the legendary Sean Connery pitted against Lawrence Fishbourne with an unnerving cameo role by Ed Harris, the film is an intensely dark thriller with more twists and turns than the Turner River.

While the action takes place in the fictional “Everglades County” and scenes ostensibly set in “downtown Ochopee” were actually filmed on First Street in Ft. Myers, there are enough local landmarks shown (if only for a second or two) to confirm the location as Everglades City.

Local residents remember one of the old Everglades School buildings scheduled for demolition being used for interior shots where Connery’s character interviews Harris as death row murderer Blair Sullivan (image top right).
The first high school in Everglades City was built in 1926, added to school he built in 1923 (image bottom right) with the first graduating class numbering exactly one student.
Today, Everglades City will see its one hundredth graduating class accept their diplomas: a total of eleven seniors one hundred years later.

Visit Museum of the Everglades to learn more about the surprisingly long list of Hollywood productions filmed in and around the area as well as the unique history our local school – one of two remaining K-12 public schools on a single campus in the State of Florida.

Museum of the Everglades, along with the four other Collier County Museums, is open Tuesday through Saturday 9am to 4pm. Admission is always free.

22/05/2026

Are you ready for Retro Game Night at the Naples Depot Museum?

Bring your own blanket and revisit your childhood game closet with the following retro games: Twister, Monopoly, Trouble, Sorry! Uno, Simon, Yahtzee, Chutes & Ladders, Battleship, Operation, Clue, Candy Land, Guess Who? and The Game of Life. Have a favorite game that is not listed? You’re always welcome to bring it to add to the fun!

Play games and enjoy the ice cream sundae bar, provided by Dairy Queen of Downtown Naples, all free! All ages are welcome.

Bring friends and family and join us TONIGHT at Naples Depot Museum.

🗓 Tonight
⏰5:00 pm- 8:00 pm
📍Naples Depot Museum
1051 Fifth Avenue S, Naples, Fl, 34102