Rooted in History and Culture
Boca Grande, @adventureseekingmomma
Roll back the tides of time and discover 12,000 years of Fort Myers’ storied past through artifacts, gardens, murals and more. From the shell mounds of the Calusa people to Thomas Edison’s botanical laboratory, history comes alive here, even in the most unexpected places.
Explore Our Fascinating History
Explore the points of interest on the map: Click or tap on the plus signs to dive deeper into local historical attractions.
History Tours
True Tours
From little-known stories of Fort Myers’ colorful past to late-night walks through old cemeteries, True Tours offers a close look at the area’s layered history. Join a guided River District History Tour to learn about characters that shaped the city; explore symbolism and architecture on the Stones Cemetery Tour; or seek out local lore on the Haunted History Tour.
Bonita Springs Historical Society Tours
Walk through the heart of Bonita Springs with guides who bring its early days into focus. The Bonita Springs Historical Society leads tours beginning at the Historic McSwain Home & Gardens. Surrounded by a living food forest and lush gardens that attract beautiful butterflies, volunteers share stories of homesteaders, river life and the growth of the community.
Self-Guided Tour of Boca Grande
The Florida Stories app offers an interesting self-guided tour of the island town of Boca Grande, which has roots as a railroad community. The walking tour leads from the Community Center (once the Island School), to the railroad depot and Gasparilla Inn, then along Gilchrist Avenue, ending at the History Center. The impressive banyan trees, known for their unique sculptural trunks and long aerial roots will be a highlight of your adventure!
Captiva Historical Society Walking Tour
Explore Captiva Island's pioneer past on a self-guided walking tour created by the Captiva Island Historical Society. The tour includes 12 stops, including a historic cemetery, the Captiva Chapel-by-the-Sea, several historic homes and cottages, and the History Gallery at the Captiva Memorial Library, where you can see a replica of the mailboat Santiva that serviced local islands before bridges allowed access by land.
Explore the Arts in Our Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods
Art and culture in Fort Myers is a mix of visual and performing arts, with hidden gems around every corner. Here, you can experience art, music and live performances on an intimate scale.
Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center
It’s hard to miss the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in Fort Myers – framed by stone columns, the historic building feels like a work of art itself, with script cast across its walls by illuminated, lantern-like sculptures. Inside, an ornate ceiling crowns galleries where art changes each month.
Climb to the rooftop sculpture garden for skyline views, then settle in for a concert as classical music or swinging jazz rise into the night air.
Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, Fort Myers
Alliance for the Arts
Whether you’re an artist or simply culture-curious, Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers invites you to create and explore. Situated on a 10-acre campus, the Alliance offers year-round art exhibitions, live theatre, concerts, film screenings, classes, workshops, festivals and a vibrant outdoor market. For more than 50 years, the Alliance has welcomed residents and visitors alike to experience, create, and celebrate the arts in an inclusive and inspiring environment.
BIG ARTS
Sanibel's BIG ARTS brings together artists of all disciplines through live performances, arts education, films and lectures that invite visitors to join in the conversation. On your visit, be sure to check out the gift shop, where handcrafted ceramics, home décor and jewelry by local artists offer a meaningful way to take a souvenir home with you.
Arts Bonita
Arts Bonita is an inspiring place to learn, create or see a live show. See traveling exhibitions in its galleries, as well as professional theater and live music in two intimate performance spaces. Here, you can sign up for workshops that span a wide range of mediums, from ceramics and fiber to glass, inviting artists at every experience level to explore something new.
Toronzo Cannon at Arts Bonita
Pine Island’s Painted Poles
A drive down Pine Island Road in the tiny town of Matlacha is sure to turn heads. That’s because, between the equally bright building facades, electrical poles have been transformed into colorful works of art – hand-painted with underwater scenes, coastal birds and vibrant flowers.
This more than 20-year tradition adds an unexpected bit of whimsy to everyday roadways. Matlacha’s poles have endured hurricanes and hardship, standing as bold symbols of the creativity and resilience woven into Fort Myers’ coastal communities. See a digital guide telling the story of the painted poles.
Murals
Fort Myers invites you to celebrate art and neighborhood pride by touring its collection of outdoor murals scattered throughout many communities. Each mural invites you in with interactive details – from beach vistas to blooming gardens. Strike a pose, snap a photo and watch select murals come to life through augmented reality.
Tip: To explore more than 100 public pieces, visit app.otocast.com, search Fort Myers, and tap “Visit” to follow the map and discover what’s nearby.
Local Galleries
Art lovers will want to explore the studios and galleries that are tucked throughout the Fort Myers area. In Matlacha, colorful storefronts like Island Flair Gallery Boutique invite you to wander and discover hand-crafted treasures, while whimsical spots such as Lovegrove Studios (with locations in Matlacha and Fort Myers) offer unexpected surprises. On Sanibel and Captiva, you can explore artist co-ops that showcase island-inspired work shaped by the area’s coastal beauty.
Bat House Park, Matlacha
Florida Repertory Theatre, Fort Myers
Theaters and Performing Arts Centers
When the sun sets over the Gulf, another kind of magic begins. Fort Myers' stages invite you to settle into a story, whether at the Florida Repertory Theatre, an award-winning regional theatre known for powerful productions, or at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, where live performances and dining combine for a unique experience.
Find more inspiration through experimental playhouses, as well as the Gulf Coast Symphony, the Gulfshore Opera and the highly respected Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW, featuring touring Broadway productions. Be sure to check out the calendar at the Music & Arts Community Center (MACC), where the Gulf Coast Symphony offers a mix of classical works and jazz, as well as a theater series.
Arts Events
On special evenings, our streets can feel like an open-air gallery. Lights glow inside studios, music drifts down art-lined sidewalks and artists step outside to share their work. The Downtown Fort Myers Art Walk returns on the first Friday of each month, inviting you to meet local artists, browse more than 70 vendors and watch live demonstrations. In Cape Coral, the seasonal Music & Arts Fusion Walk pairs live blues with locally made art works for an evening of conversation, inspiration and good beats.
Fort Myers Art Walk
ArtFest Fort Myers
American Sand Sculpting Championship, Fort Myers Beach
Kristian Bush & Gulf Coast Symphony at Florida Repertory Theatre, Fort Myers
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