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Best-selling South Florida author Randy Wayne White spent 13 years as a full-time fishing guide out of Tarpon Bay on nearby Sanibel Island. He had run over 3,000 paid charters ranging from Fort Myers to Flamingo when government regulations closed the bay he guided from to motorized craft. With a wife and two young sons to support and his livelihood in jeopardy, he set out to write the great American novel – and succeeded. It was 1989.
Combining his passion for Florida history with his knowledge of coastal waters, the local culture and experience with the people and places that make the region so unique, Mr. White created a protagonist for his story – Marion “Doc” Ford. A former national security agent turned marine biologist who was simultaneously relatable, likeable, and still deadly when necessary. 27 books later, the Doc Ford series is still going strong.
The action in Randy Wayne White’s books crisscrosses the state (and sometimes the globe) but the Everglades remain at the heart of many of his stories. Many readers recognize locations described in the novels and often see local personalities reflected in the books’ characters. New visitors to the area have already learned about the challenges facing what remains of “old Florida” through Mr. White’s writings when they arrive and immediately feel connections with both the people and the land.
Our new temporary exhibit, Randy Wayne White’s Everglades, celebrates and explores those connections and the author whose work brings the REAL Florida to life.
All Collier County Museum locations offer free admission.
Phil Fisher says, “I like to think of my paintings as a sanctuary for those who feel anesthetized by technology.” Phil has been painting in Naples, in watercolors and oils, for the past 53 years. The majority of his work is done “plein air,” so he has a visual preference for landscapes. This exhibit will feature Phil’s paintings of beloved Naples locations, as well as commissions now part of the Collier County Museum collection.
All Collier County Museum locations offer free admission.
Meagan Watkins, a local Immokalee photographer and cattlewoman, has spent the last few years cataloguing and photographing the animals, women, and men that help shape our landscape and local economy on ranches throughout Southwest Florida. Come see and learn about Florida ranching through pictures and stories, as told by someone who lives it.
All Collier County Museum locations offer free admission.
This exhibit delves into the fascinating history behind Marco Island’s Mackle-built model homes, which can be traced back to the post-World War II “Florida House” crafted by builders and developers hoping to entice Northerners to the Sunshine State. Constructed during the modern development of Marco Island by the Deltona Corporation from 1965 through the 1970s, these 72 diverse models were designed, inside and out, to embody the elegant tropical living the Mackle Brothers envisioned for the “crown jewel” of their planned communities.
All Collier County Museum locations offer free admission.
What do Neapolitans make for dinner? Reservations! Dining out has been a local tradition since 1888, when construction crews building the Naples Hotel ate outdoors in what The Naples Company called “the largest dining room in Florida.” Over the decades the Naples food scene has been made complete by dive bars, family-friendly eateries, and purveyors of haute cuisine—which one was your favorite? This local’s only summer treat will fill your plate with delicious memories of beloved area restaurants.
Venture backstage into the golden age of Hollywood in this exhibition that explores the photography of Bob Willoughby. Widely recognized as a pioneer of photography in the 20th century, Willoughby was the first outside photographer invited by studios to take photos on film sets. Take a nostalgic look at some of the most renowned actors and actresses on the sets that made them famous: Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, Katherine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn, and more.
A Program of ExhibitsUSA, a national division of Mid-America Arts Alliance, and The National Endowment for the Arts.
Every year Museum of the Everglades collaborates with our local school – one of the last two K-12 public schools on a single campus in the state of Florida – to create an exhibit that celebrates a specific aspect of this unique community. Students submit artwork, photos, videos, stories, interviews and more to help us share a part of the character and history of the area with visitors from around the world. A contest with cash prizes is held with a variety of categories open to currently enrolled students of all ages.
This year we have challenged them to share stories of the Everglades area they might have heard growing up that might stretch the truth or push the boundaries of belief. This includes myths, legends, tall tales and ghost stories, but also legendary acts or accomplishments by colorful characters from the region’s past – including ancestors and family members. Our goal is to broaden the understanding of our community and its unique culture by sharing its distinctive folklore through creative, artistic, and literary expressions composed by our local students.
The exhibit will be augmented with historic information and established traditional stories that provide context for the creative responses the students have submitted.
Join us for our second annual art fair! An extraordinary celebration of artistic vision and self-expression, this exhibit is dedicated to showcasing works that capture the duality of internal and external perspectives—pieces that mirror the artists themselves and the world around them.
August 19 – November 8
“As I went there [to Goodland] day after day painting away, I got to thinking that I’m recording and documenting what exists not like a photographer but with my own impressions and expressions.” Immerse yourself in the dynamic atmosphere of Goodland, Isles of Capri, and Marco Island through Donald Sunshine’s lively plein-air paintings from the Marco Island Historical Society collection. Sunshine, Professor Emeritus of Architecture at Virginia Tech and Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, is an award-winning architect, artist, and author. His distinctive style masterfully combines architectural sketching with watercolor techniques.