☰ Menu

Rosemary Cemetery

Rosemary Cemetery

Situated near one of Naples’ busiest intersections, Rosemary Cemetery has piqued interest among Collier County residents and tourist for years. The cemetery has a storied history of relocation, designation, and rededication. More recently, public programming partnership with the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN) has increased community involvement. Advancements in technology are breathing new life into the cemetery. This month we are pleased to welcome Amanda Townsend – Director of Collier County Museums, Jennifer Guida – Curator of Collections for Collier County Museums, and Rachael Kangas – Public Archaeology Coordinator, SW Region of FPAN as we discuss the history of Rosemary Cemetery and how the steps taken to care for this historic property.

The transcript for this episode can be found here.

Read More about Rosemary Cemetery

What You Do

An essential part of our Collier County Museums team are the museum assistants! They’re responsible for many of the day-to-day operations that help keep our museums in tip-top condition, they assist with educational programming and exhibit creation, and they even gather content for our social media! In this episode, we talk with a few of our assistants to get the inside scoop on what their jobs are all about.

Read More about What You Do

Budd Observation Train Car

Naples Depot Museum Manager Lisa Marciano and Curator of Education Joy Murphy discuss the newly restored Budd Observation Train Car on this episode of The Stories We Tell. This car was built for the Seaboard Air Line Railroad company in 1947. Learn about the history of this car and the work it took to restore it to its original condition.

Read More about Budd Observation Train Car

The Pirates of Southwest Florida?

Ahoy Matey…or maybe not. Local lore tells of pirates in southwest Florida, but are they tall tales or real people? In this episode, we welcome Thomas Lockyear, Manager of the Museum of the Everglades in Everglades City, as he talks about the research he’s conducted into local pirate stories. Learn what’s fact and what’s fiction and who may have been real and who’s probably a legend. This episode may have you saying “blimey, I didn’t know that!”

The transcription for this episode can be found here.

Read More about The Pirates of Southwest Florida?

Florida Cowboys

In this episode we explore Florida’s cowboy and cattle ranching history with Florida native, and lifelong rancher, Clint Raulerson and Florida anthropologist, Theresa Schober. Aside from the history of cattle ranching here in southwest Florida, Cline discusses the changes to the cattle industry that have occurred thanks to modern technology.

The transcription of this episode can be found here.

Read More about Florida Cowboys

Black Seminoles

The term Black Seminoles is often used to describe people of African descent who joined with or married into the Seminole Tribe in Florida. Is this a correct term? If so, is the term being applied to the correct people? Recorded on location at the Blanchard House in Punta Gorda, host Joy Murphy – Curator of Education is joined by Dr. Martha Bierda – Director of the Blanchard House and Jaha Cummings – Punta Gorda City Councilman, as they discuss the history of Black Seminoles.

The transcription of this episode can be found here.

Read More about Black Seminoles

African American Folk Medicine

In the early days of African-American history and culture, medicine was often developed from traditions brought over from Africa. The knowledge of the uses of different plants to create healing balms, salves, and teas were often the only medication enslaved people had access to. These medicines kept them healthy or brought them back to health in times of illness. Many of these traditions remain in use today in both homeopathic medicine and traditional western medicine. Recorded on location at the Blanchard House in Punta Gorda, Host Joy Murphy- Curator of Education is joined by Dr. Martha Bireda – Director of the Blanchard House and Jaha Cumming – Punta Gorda City Commissioner to discuss traditional African/African-American folk medicine.

The transcription for this episode can be found here.

Read More about African American Folk Medicine