ONCE UPON A TIME Experience Southwest Florida’s colorful culture, art and history at these local museums.
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astodons and saber-tooth tigers. Seminole Indians, rugged settlers, brilliant inventors. A fascinating region abundantly supplied by a rich variety of bird, animals and fish living in tropical splendor. Experience all these fascinating aspects of Southwest Florida and more at local museums. Take a break from sun, sand and sunburn and enjoy getting to know this incredible region.
AH-TAH-THI-KI SEMINOLE INDIAN MUSEUM Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki means “a place to learn and remember,” a fitting name for the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Indian Museum, where visitors explore traditional Seminole history and culture through exhibits, artifacts, an art gallery and a recreated village. Located within the Everglades on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, the museum is open daily. Stroll the beautiful, mile-long Cypress Dome boardwalk and explore the Clan Pavilion and the Ceremonial Grounds. View and purchase arts 34
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and crafts at the Seminole Village, a reconstructed version of Seminole tourist camps popular in the early to mid-20th century. Near the end of the boardwalk is the Hunting Camp, which depicts the temporary camps Seminoles built during hunting season. Not all of this Smithsonian-affiliated museum is dedicated to the past. Although Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki curates more than 180,000 artifacts and archival items, it also highlights today’s Seminole artists at the Mosaic Community Art Gallery and celebrates native people associated with the Seminoles at the Nook Gallery.
COLLIER COUNTY MUSEUMS Collier County operates five free, well-curated museums that explore local history through art, artifacts, interactive displays and exhibits. While Collier Museum at Government Center and Naples Depot Museum are located in Naples, consider a short road trip to explore the following
COURTESY EDISON AND FORD WINTER ESTATES
BY LYNN WAALKES
