Calusa Coast is a collaborative effort with cultural institutions from the region to educate people about the archaeology and ethnography of the Indigenous Peoples of Southwest Florida.
THIS YEAR WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE ART OF THE CALUSA!
As anthropologist Frank Hamilton Cushing wrote in his journal in 1896, “In the muck-filled courts of these sea villages I am finding all the arts of the original inhabitants represented with a completeness never before surpassed in such finds as those of the Cliff Dwellers."
Join us for our Calusa Coast events and learn more about these fascinating people.
Our Calusa Coast Partners have come together to offer programs geared towards education and fun. From Marco Island to Pineland, you’ll be sure to find a few events that pique your interests. SEE THE CALUSA COAST EVENTS IN THE TABS TO THE LEFT
Friday, April 4 at 10:30 a.m. at Koreshan State Park “The Calusa – Southwest Florida’s Native Society”
Join us for a fascinating talk about the Calusa, Southwest Florida's ancient native society! Learn about their rich history, unique culture, and incredible achievements. This in-person event will be held at Koreshan State Park, providing a beautiful backdrop for this educational experience. Don't miss out on this opportunity to delve into the past and uncover the mysteries of the Calusa civilization!
Location: 3800 Corkscrew Road. Estero FL 33928.
This special presentation is free with park entry fee and will begin in the Art Hall at 10:30am.
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/koreshan-state-park
Saturday, April 5 at 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Viewing of “Art of the Dig: Wells Sawyer’s Watercolors” Exhibit and Meet the Calusa Coast Team
In keeping with the theme of this year’s Calusa Coast events, IMAG and the Southwest Florida Archaeological Society host a viewing of watercolors painted by Wells Sawyer. Sawyer was an American painter and the primary artist for the famed 1896 Pepper-Hearst expedition to Marco Island that discovered the world-famous Key Marco Cat – and other carvings of the Calusa. Six of Sawyer’s original watercolors depicting the Key Marco artifacts as they were discovered are on loan from the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. In addition, 25 reproductions of his works are on loan for the exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Anthropological Archives and University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
Additionally, you will have the opportunity to meet some of the organizations that are hosting Calusa Coast Events throughout the month
Location: IMAG History & Science Center, 2000 Cranford Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33916
Programs and the exhibit are included with admission to IMAG https://theimag.org/
Friday, April 11 at 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Pineland Monument Park & Calusa Heritage Trail “Calusa Coast Pineland Paddle and Randell Research Center Walking Tour”
Join us at historic Pineland for a leisurely group paddle and walking tour of the Randell Research Center’s Calusa Heritage Trail – a part of the Florida Museum of Natural History. We will launch from the primitive (muddy) access at the Pineland Monument Park. Participants will be able to unload their boats / gear and then move their vehicles to a nearby location. From the launch, we will take a relaxing 90-minute paddle and enjoy the water and wildlife. After returning to the launch, we will be led by a trained docent for a walking tour of the Randell Research Canter’s Calusa Heritage Trail.
Location: Pineland Monument Park – Waterfront Drive, Pineland, FL 33945.
Overflow parking is available at the Calusa Heritage Trail – 13810 Waterfront Drive.
Space is limited and registration is required. Contact Mike Hammond via email at MHammond@LeeGov.com. Limited kayak rental available at Gulf Coast Kayak. Call (239) 283-1125 to rent kayaks. Please bring drinking water, snacks, sunblock, and your kayak / SUP and gear (if you’re not renting from Gulf Coast Kayak).
This program is free. Donations to the Randell Research Center will be gladly accepted. https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/rrc/visit/trail/
Saturday, April 12 at 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Marco Island Historical Museum “Calusa Coast Family Fun Day”
Come learn more about the Calusa Indians’ technology and ingenuity. We will have axe halving and a tools display. There will be a weir pond demonstration, and other crafts and activities will be available.
This is a free, drop-in program! https://colliermuseums.com/event/calusa-coast-family-fun-day
ABOUT THIS MUSEUM
Famous for its Key Marco Cat -- one of the most remarkable and influential discoveries in North American archaeology -- the new Marco Island Historical Museum explores Southwest Florida’s Calusa Indians and brings this vanished civilization to life with informative displays and an exciting recreated village scene. The Marco Island Historical Society was founded in 1994 and is dedicated to discovery, research, acquisition and preservation of the multi-faceted history of the Marco Island-Goodland region. The museum uses a unique exhibits to show Marco Island’s history from the life of the Calusa Indians, the pioneer days of the white settlement, to the mid 1900s land boom, to what it has become today.
Location: 180 S Heathwood Drive, Marco Island FL 34145
Saturday, April 12 at 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Mound House Ft. Myers Beach “Mound House Archaeology Lab Day”
Dig deeper into the world of archaeology at the Mound House with a Lab Day program in collaboration with the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN)! Go behind the scenes and explore our Artifact Preservation Center, then roll up your sleeves to help sort actual artifacts from our site. You’ll learn the art of scientific illustration, gaining skills used by archaeologists. Perfect for history enthusiasts and budding archaeologists alike, this program offers a unique, behind-the-scenes look at preserving southwest Florida’s past!
The lab is best suited for participants over 12 years of age, children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Register to reserve your spot today! This event is free to attend and includes museum admission. Registration is required. Register at MoundHouse.org or by calling 239-765-0865. https://moundhouse.org/events/list/page/9/?tribe-bar-date=2025-02-03
Location: 451 Connecticut St, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Wednesday, April 16 at 7 p.m. The Southwest Florida Archaeology Society hosts speaker Bob Carr as he presents “Sacred Geography: The Prehistoric Use of Parabolic Dunes in South Florida”
During Bob Carr’s extensive work in south Florida, he directed the documentation of two prehistoric sites associated located on large parabolic (U-shaped or crescent-shaped) dunes. One site is at the Jupiter Lighthouse and the second is in Bonita Springs on the Gulf Coast. Cultural deposits at these sites date back to the Late Archaic Period, 7500 – 500 BCE. Why were these locations so important to prehistoric indigenous peoples? Could these sites have inspired the extensive earthworks of the Belle Glade culture (1000 BCE – 1700 CE)? These questions and more will be addressed in his presentation.
Robert (Bob) Carr co-founded the Archaeological and Historical Conservancy in 1985 and has served as its full-time director since 1999. He was Miami-Dade County’s first County Archaeologist and became the County Historic Preservation Director.
Location: Collier Museum at Government Center, 3331 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, FL 34112
This program is free and open to the public.
Friday, April 18 at 10:30 a.m. Koreshan State Park “The Art of the Calusa: Sacred Art of a Vanished People”
Explore the fascinating world of the Calusa at this intriguing talk hosted by Koreshan State Park. Discover the sacred art of this ancient civilization through intricate carvings, amulets, and other artifacts. Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of a people who once thrived in southwest Florida. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn about the artistry and spirituality of the Calusa. Join us for a day of discovery and appreciation for a vanished people.
Location: 3800 Corkscrew Road. Estero FL 33928.
This special presentation is free with park entry fee and will begin in the Art Hall at 10:30am.
Saturday, April 19 at 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Collier Museum at Government Center “Artifact Excavators Family Day”
We’re digging into history with activities showing how an archaeologist finds artifacts and records the findings in a field journal. Excavate your own “site” and see what’s been unearthed. Learn stratigraphy by making your own edible “dirt cup!” All ages welcome, but best for ages 5-12.
Location: Collier Museum at Government Center. 3331 Tamiami Trail East. Naples, FL 34112
This is a free, drop-in program! Visit CollierMuseums.com to learn more.
Friday, April 25 at 10:30 a.m. Koreshan State Park “A Clash of Cultures: Spanish Relations with the Calusa”
Join us at Koreshan State Park for a fascinating talk exploring the interactions between the Spanish and the Calusa. Learn about the clash of cultures that occurred during this period of history and gain insight into the impact it had on both groups. This in-person event promises to be an eye-opening experience that will leave you with a deeper understanding of the complexities of cultural exchange. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to delve into the past and uncover the stories of these historic encounters.
Location: 3800 Corkscrew Road. Estero FL 33928.
This special presentation is free with park entry fee and will begin in the Art Hall at 10:30am.
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/koreshan-state-park
Saturday, April 26 at 10:30 a.m. Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium
Keynote Address: Nicholas G. Penniman IV presents “The Art of the Calusa”
Nicholas G. Penniman IV retired in 1999 as publisher of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and as senior vice president of newspaper operations for Pulitzer Publishing Company, responsible for 22 daily newspapers from Hawaii to Vermont. A 1960 graduate of Princeton University (Religion), he received an M.A. at Washington University St. Louis (American Studies) in 2000. Penniman has been deeply involved in environmental advocacy - currently as past chair of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, a trustee emeritus of the Everglades Foundation, current board member and chair emeritus of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and past board chair of American Rivers. He has been a member of the Randell Research Center advisory board for almost 20 years.
Location: 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33905
This program is free and open to the public in the Planetarium. https://www.calusanature.org/