History Unveiled: A Journey Through Time
Ancient Roots and Indigenous Heritage
Long before European explorers arrived, the Calusa people dominated Southwest Florida. These skilled fishermen and traders built a sophisticated civilization along the Gulf Coast, constructing shell mound communities and developing extensive trade networks. Historians believe the Calusa capital may have been located near present-day Fort Myers, making this area significant to indigenous culture for centuries. By the 19th century, the Seminole people had replaced the Calusa in the region, establishing villages and cattle ranches across the Caloosahatchee River basin.
Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León likely visited the area during his expeditions in 1513 and 1521. For the next two centuries, Southwest Florida saw only sparse habitation: Spanish fishermen establishing temporary camps, Caribbean pirates careening their ships in San Carlos Bay and Charlotte Harbor, and occasional pioneers testing the wilderness. British cartographers noted the area on 18th-century maps, but permanent settlement remained elusive in this remote corner of Florida.
- Calusa civilization dominated Southwest Florida for centuries
- Seminole people established presence by the 19th century
- Spanish exploration dates to early 1500s
- Pirates used local bays for ship maintenance in the 1700s
The Military Fort Era
When Florida became a U.S. Territory in 1821, conflict with the Seminole people became inevitable as settlers pushed into traditional hunting grounds. The Second Seminole War brought military operations to the Caloosahatchee River, where Fort Dulaney was established at Punta Rassa near the river's mouth. When a hurricane destroyed that installation in October 1841, the Army relocated upstream to a site they named Fort Harvie.
Renewed conflict in 1850 prompted extensive reconstruction. The post was renamed Fort Myers in honor of Colonel Abraham C. Myers, quartermaster for the Army's Department of Florida and future son-in-law of Major General David E. Twiggs, who commanded Fort Brooke in Tampa. At its peak, Fort Myers became one of the finest and largest installations of the Seminole Wars, featuring more than 50 buildings constructed of hardy yellow pine, a 1,000-foot wharf for ship docking, and a two-story blockhouse that appeared in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. The cleared grounds roughly covered the area bounded by present-day Hough, Monroe, and Second Streets in downtown Fort Myers.
The Third Seminole War ended in 1858 when Chief Billy Bowlegs surrendered, and the Army abandoned the fort. During the Civil War, Union forces briefly reoccupied the installation, but military presence ended permanently when the war concluded.
- Fort Myers named for Colonel Abraham C. Myers in 1850
- Covered approximately 139 acres with 57 buildings at peak
- Featured 1,000-foot wharf and two-story blockhouse
- Abandoned after Third Seminole War ended in 1858
From Trading Post to Town
Captain Manuel A. Gonzalez founded the civilian community of Fort Myers on February 21, 1866. A Spanish-born sailor who had delivered mail and supplies to Union forces during the wars, Gonzalez knew the area well. When the government abandoned the fort, he sailed from Key West and established the region's first trading post near the ruins. He traded tobacco, beads, and gunpowder with neighboring Seminoles, purchasing otter, bobcat, and alligator hides for resale.
A small community formed around the trading post. Settlers dismantled the abandoned fort for building materials; some of the first civilian structures in Fort Myers were constructed with timber from the military installation. The cattle industry drove early economic growth. After the Civil War, Florida beef found a ready market in Cuba. Ranchers herded cattle through Fort Myers to Punta Rassa, where an 800-foot wharf, cow pens, and a few saloons served the trade. Ships bound for Cuba paid one gold coin per cow, roughly $15 at the time.
The town was officially platted in 1876 and incorporated in 1885, becoming the seat of newly created Lee County in 1886. By that time, Fort Myers ranked among the largest towns on Florida's Gulf Coast and had begun attracting winter visitors escaping harsh northern climates.
- Captain Manuel A. Gonzalez founded civilian community in 1866
- Cattle trade to Cuba drove early economy
- Incorporated in 1885 as second-largest city on Florida's west coast
- Became Lee County seat in 1886
Edison, Ford, and the Winter Colony
The year 1885 brought Fort Myers its most famous resident when Thomas Alva Edison discovered the town during a visit. Seeking a healthier, warmer climate for his work, the inventor purchased a 13-acre riverfront site for $2,750 and built his winter estate, "Seminole Lodge". Construction was completed in 1886, and Edison returned each winter for decades, conducting botanical experiments and hosting distinguished guests at his laboratory.
Edison loved Fort Myers so much that he convinced his close friend Henry Ford to become his neighbor. In 1916, Ford purchased the adjacent property and built "The Mangoes" as his winter retreat. The two inventors spent winters together, often joined by Harvey Firestone and John Burroughs. Their presence elevated Fort Myers from a remote cattle town to a destination associated with innovation and American industry.
Edison contributed directly to the city's development. He proposed electrifying the town and conducted experiments on local flora, including extensive bamboo research for use in light bulb filaments. The famous royal palm trees lining McGregor Boulevard were planted during this era, earning Fort Myers its enduring nickname: "City of Palms".
Today, the Edison and Ford Winter Estates encompass 20 acres of historical buildings, botanical gardens, and museums. The 1928 Edison Botanical Research Laboratory and the 15,000-square-foot Edison Ford Museum draw visitors from around the world, connecting modern Fort Myers to its legacy of innovation.
- Thomas Edison built Seminole Lodge in 1886
- Henry Ford purchased adjacent property in 1916
- Harvey Firestone and John Burroughs were frequent visitors
- Royal palms planted along McGregor Boulevard created "City of Palms" identity
- Edison and Ford Winter Estates now encompass 20 acres open to public
Boom, Bust, and Resilience
The arrival of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad on May 10, 1904, transformed Fort Myers. Improved access brought tourists, settlers, and investment. The city paved streets, developed residential neighborhoods including Edgewood, Wardwood Grove, and Dean Park, and constructed the Bradford Hotel to accommodate visitors. Mediterranean Revival architecture, which typifies Florida during the 1920s, defined commercial and residential construction throughout the city.
The 1920s brought "Boom Time" to all of Florida, and Fort Myers shared in the prosperity. Elaborate homes and commercial buildings rose throughout the city. But the boom collapsed when hurricanes, poor publicity, and inadequate planning combined with the onset of the Great Depression to halt development across the state. Fort Myers suffered along with the rest of Florida, though some elegant buildings were completed during the lean years, including the Federal Building in 1933 and the Edison Bridge, which improved travel connections to the north.
The Works Progress Administration contributed to Fort Myers' infrastructure, including the Yacht Basin originally designed for Sarasota. Mayor Dave Shapard traveled to Washington and successfully transferred the project to Fort Myers, where construction began in 1936.
- Atlantic Coast Line Railroad arrived May 10, 1904
- 1920s boom brought Mediterranean Revival architecture
- Great Depression and hurricanes ended boom period
- WPA projects including Yacht Basin improved infrastructure
Modern Growth and Recovery
World War II brought renewed growth as military personnel trained in the area. In the decades following the war, development spread east and west along the Caloosahatchee River and south along Cleveland Avenue. The city was known as "Cowtown" until the 1960s and 1970s, when northern retirees and families discovered its temperate climate, natural amenities, and affordable land.
Cape Coral, connected to Fort Myers by two bridges, emerged as a planned community in the late 1950s and grew to become the largest city between Tampa and Miami on the Gulf Coast. Lehigh Acres developed from 18,000 acres acquired by Lee Ratner in 1954. Southwest Florida International Airport opened in 1983, replacing the constrained Page Field and providing modern commercial air service that accelerated regional growth.
Hurricane Ian struck Southwest Florida on September 28, 2022, causing catastrophic damage to Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island, and surrounding communities. The storm tested the region's resilience, but recovery efforts have been remarkable. Beaches have reopened, businesses have rebuilt, and the community has demonstrated the determination that has defined Fort Myers since its founding. The area continues to grow, with new construction visible throughout the region and population projections remaining strong.
Fort Myers has evolved from a military outpost to a cattle town, from a winter retreat for inventors to a modern metropolitan area, while preserving the historic districts, architectural heritage, and community character that connect residents to the past. Walking through downtown Fort Myers today, you pass buildings that witnessed Edison's experiments and Ford's visits, streets shaded by palms planted over a century ago, and a riverfront park where the original fort once stood.
- Post-WWII growth transformed the region
- Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres emerged as major communities
- Southwest Florida International Airport opened 1983
- Hurricane Ian recovery demonstrates community resilience
- Four designated historic districts preserve architectural heritage
