Fort Myers & Sanibel
South Gulf Coast of Florida

The Fort Myers and Sanibel areas are rich in history, from the dark times when notorious pirates pillaged the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, to a more enlightened era when local residents, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, dreamt up inventions that would change the world. Fort Myers was originally built on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River as a base of operations during the Seminole Indian Wars. Named after Colonel Abraham C. Myers, the fort was abandoned in 1858 before being reoccupied by Federal troops in 1863 during the Civil War. The fort was finally dismantled in 1876 and its wood was used in the construction of the fledgling town. Farming was the backbone of the early community - cattle were loaded onto schooners and steamers bound for Cuba and, on the nearby Sanibel Island, tomatoes, avocados and castor beans were cultivated.

VISIT THE HOMES OF EDISON AND FORD...
The town expanded, and in 1885 was visited by Thomas Edison, who came to Fort Myers to recuperate after suffering exhaustion. He fell in love with the area, building his summer home and laboratory, Seminole Lodge, on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River. His life and works are celebrated each February during the Edison Festival of Light which culminates in the Grand Parade of Light. Edison’s close friend, Henry Ford, soon followed, setting up house next door. In fact, it was Edison’s encouragement that convinced Ford to quit his job and devote all his attention to realizing his dream of building a gasoline driven automobile! Both homes are open for the public to visit, offering a fascinating insight into these influential figures.

PIRATES ONCE DARKENED THESE SHORES...
Sanibel and Captiva have a somewhat darker history - the infamous pirates, Black Caesar and Gasparilla both had bases in the area. Henri Caesar turned to piracy in 1805 when, during a slave revolt in Haiti, he, along with a group of fellow slaves stole a ship and began harassing Spanish ships in the waters around Cuba. He relocated to the Gulf of Mexico in 1812 after the British increased the number of warships they had in the waters around Cuba. He was allowed to settle on Sanibel Island by Gasparilla, who used Caesar's camp as added protection in the south. Jose Gasparilla is thought to have fought and plundered over 400 ships during his 38 year residence in the area and his main camp was located near what we now know as Fort Myers. It is thought that he took many of the women he captured as personal concubines - those who were from wealthy families were held in a prison built on 'Isle de los Captivas', or Captiva Island, where they were held for ransom. Black Caesar raided this camp in 1817, taking some of Gasparilla’s women for himself - revenge was swift and Gasparilla drove Black Caesar to Florida’s east coast with such ferocity that the majority of his treasure was left behind, never to be reclaimed. Gasparilla's reign of terror came to an end in 1891, when he attacked a helpless looking British Ship which turned out to be the heavily armed American warship, the USS Enterprise. His ship was heavily damaged and not wanting to be captured, Gaspar wrapped himself in the anchor chain and dived to his death on the ocean floor.

AN UNSPOILT PARADISE...
Today, the Lea Island Coast offers white sandy beaches, exotic wildlife, lush vegetation and incredible sunsets. Sanibel and Captiva really are a paradise found - the city government, concerned about over development, introduced land use restrictions in 1974. The islands continue to grow and development is carried out in a managed way, with the most noticeable benefit being that no building is higher than the surrounding palm trees. The islands are known for their shells, with more than 200 varieties to be found on the sandy beaches, especially after high or low tide. Shelling is a wonderful excuse for visitors and locals alike to perform the 'Sanibel Stoop' or the 'Captiva Crouch' as they move up and down the beach, gathering shells. A word of warning to budding shell collectors - there is a law forbidding removal of live shells from the beach, with penalties ranging from a $500 fine to a prison sentence!

A WILD LIFE SANCTUARY...
Nature lovers should stop off at the J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge, where, depending on the time of year you visit you will be able to see migrating songbirds, roseate spoonbills, alligators and other exotic species. You have the choice of driving, biking or walking through the sanctuary. Alternatively you can take the narrated tram tour but go slowly and keep your eyes open if you want to see some of the more elusive residents.

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