Mound House hosts state conferences
The Mound House, our island’s “cultural treasure in the making”, was the highlight of two prestigious state conferences. The Mound House hosted the Florida Anthropological Society outdoor reception for about 130 guests on May 7. A rainbow over Matanzas Pass during an awards presentation delighted those in attendance. The following week on May 13, Florida Trust for Historic Preservation conference participants attended a reception on the Mound House grounds.
On hand to welcome the guests and conduct tours were the Mound House staff and volunteers, Town Manager Terry Stewart and Council members Tom Babcock and Alan Mandel.
Museum professionals, academics, preservationists and state officials toured the grounds and the Calusa underground exhibit, which is nearing completion. The rough cut of a seven-minute video, narrated by Mound House Director Theresa Schober, was completed in time for the Florida Trust group who enjoyed learning more about this historic site which dates back 2,000 years. The response from our guests was enthusiastically positive.
Marty Ardren, co-founder of the Trail of Florida’s Indian Heritage and Florida Anthropological Society member noted, “The reception at the Mound House was as lovely as the setting: good food, weather, volunteers a plenty. I’m so impressed with what [the Town has] accomplished so far with the walk-in shell mound exhibit. I’ll look forward to seeing it again when it’s finished. Keep up the good work.”
The Town of Fort Myers Beach, with generous support from the Florida Division of Historic Resources, Florida Humanities Council, Florida Communities Trust and Lee County’s Visitors and Convention Center Bureau, has worked diligently over the past ten years to provide funding necessary to professionally restore the historic house and grounds and to develop the underground exhibit from an actual Calusa shell mound. Through efforts of staff, volunteers, Friends of the Mound House and Town Council, there has been exciting progress to date. Pending action from Town Council regarding parking and landscaping, the underground exhibit will be officially open to the public for tours and will provide a unique cultural experience unlike any other in the world.
According to the study commissioned by the State of Florida’s Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, historic preservation activities in Florida impact the state approximately $4.2 billion annually, through job creation, income generated, increased state product, increased state and local tax collections, and increased in-state wealth. To have a world-class historic facility of this caliber on our island for residents, visitors and students to enjoy is a treasure worth supporting. With $3 million received through grants to date, only $750,000 more is needed to complete the Mound House restoration and capital improvements. We invite your support. Contributions can be made to the Mound House, c/o Town of Fort Myers Beach or to the Friends of the Mound House, P.O. Box 154, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931.
— submitted by Barbara Anderson Hill, who is a member of Mound House Advisory Board (CELCAB) and Friends of the Mound House Board of Directors