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Tuesday 10am - 2pm Wednesday 10am - 2pm Thursday 10am - 2pm Saturday 11am - 5pm

Bonita Springs Historical Society

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Bonita Springs Historical Society

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Historic McSwain Home Museum & Gardens
Downtown Bonita Springs walking history tours
Operated by the Bonita Springs Historical Society

Bonita Springs has long been inhabited. Archaeological discoveries place people here about 8000 years ago and mound building was well underway by 4000 years ago. By the time Ponce de Leon sailed along our beaches and first made contact with the Calusa Indians in 1513, this area was home to thousands. Native American village remains and mounds attest to their centuries of prosperity. However, within a couple of centuries, the once mighty Calusa Chiefdom was decimated by European diseases and slave trading. In the 1870’s, Army Corps of Engineers’ surveyors mapped remote Southwest Florida and pitched camp along the upper Imperial River. After the crew left, the area, and later community, became known and recorded on maps as “Survey”. The river became known as “Surveyor’s Creek”. Over the years, Survey developed from a scattering of homesteaders into a village. In 1901, a Post Office was opened, and in 1910 the two-story, Eagle Hotel was in business catering to visitors attracted to the unspoiled area’s bounty of hunting and fishing. Later, developers decided that the name, “Survey”, lacked sales appeal, so the town was renamed “Bonita Springs”; Indian Spring Branch became the “Oak River”; and Surveyor’s Creek was renamed the “Imperial River”. In the early 1920’s, Barron Collier, wanting to expand his empire, extended his Fort Myers-Southern Railroad south to include Bonita Springs. This, along with the completion of the new Tamiami Trail in 1928, brought another land boom to the area. During this period, Bonita Springs was briefly incorporated as a city. Later, roadside attractions enticed visitors to stop in Bonita Springs. The first major tourist attraction to open was the Everglades Reptile Gardens in 1936. This roadside tourist attraction, featuring local and exotic animals, helped put Bonita Springs “on the map”. The Everglades Wonder Gardens is one of the few remaining historic resources of this type in Florida. Also, on December 27, 1957, the Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Track was opened in the city. Bonita Springs remained a quiet, small town for decades. But, as the years passed, the rush to build was about to start. With the advent of air conditioning, the opening of Interstate 75, a nearby major airport, along with the new US 41 bypass, the growth in population by the 1980’s and 90’s ushered in shopping malls, modern office facilities, and golf courses. In 1999, residents voted to incorporate Bonita Springs for the second time. Today, the City of Bonita Springs is an attractive, affluent area with beautiful beaches, fine restaurants, excellent recreational facilities, and beautiful homes. It’s hard to realize that, a little more than three generations ago, the roots of this thriving community were a scattering of homesteaders’ shacks by a creek in the backwaters of nowhere – in a place called Survey.

11/03/2026

11/02/2026

Know your history…

The Bonita Banner was founded in 1958 by Bob
and Janet Parrett. Its handwritten edition was on Sept. 10, 1960, after Hurricane Donna destroyed the offices. Bob Parrett took pen in hand and wrote the Banner.

11/01/2026

Catch a sunset at Barefoot Beach.

Stick your toes in the sand at Little Hickory Island.

Before it was Bonita Beach, it was 'Fiddlerville'. Not exactly a name you’d put on a postcard. The island earned it honestly though. Thousands of tiny fiddler crabs once covered the shell-strewn shoreline, each one waving its single oversized claw like it was in charge.

Eventually someone decided “Bonita” sounded a little more inviting and borrowed the name from the town across the bay. The crabs didn’t vote.

Today it’s beach chairs, shelling and some of the best sunsets in Southwest Florida. Look closely at the waterline though. The original residents are still there.

Bring a chair. Stay for the pink sky. Say hi to the fiddlers.

📸 BSHS Archives. Photo says 1930.

10/31/2026

Something special this Thursday, November 5! 10AM-12PM

Join Sue Villanova, creator of Broken Beach Art, at the Historic McSwain Home Museum & Gardens to turn imperfect shells into beautiful ornaments using decoupage. (You will take home your creation). Choose from holiday and coastal designs as we talk shells, explore curious beach finds and share stories.

Sue’s handmade art will also be available to purchase for yourself or as a special gift.

Please register here⁠ to join us! bonitaspringshistory.org

10/31/2026

Hello Bonita! Our little blue house and grounds are closed today. Thank you for helping us protect the Historic McSwain Home. 🙏Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable evening with family and friends! 🎃

10/30/2026

Meet the locals. The feathered ones.

Everglades Wonder Gardens has been here since the 1930s. Ask our docents on Saturday at the Historic McSwain Home about the Piper Brothers, visit local history landmarks. Flamingos, gators and the oldest Florida vibes in town. Bring the kids or bring yourself.

Historic McSwain Home is at 27451 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs
Open House - Saturday 11Am-5Pm

10/29/2026

Tomorrow at 11AM | Our Speaker Series Continues 🌴

Next in our Speaker Series, Byron is sharing what it was like growing up here. The people, the places and how much has changed along Old 41. And Linda Liles will bring her guitar for a special pioneer song.

This one is personal. Come hear it firsthand.

🗓 Thursday, October 29 at 11AM
📍 Historic McSwain Home, 27451 Old 41 Road
🎟 Tickets at bonitaspringshistory.org/event

Seating is limited so grab yours early.

10/29/2026

What was on the menu in Bonita Springs years ago? And what’s on your plate today?

Food is part of our town’s story. What people grew, caught and cooked tells us something about life here before we had so much choice.

Today, we can try flavors from around the world right here in Bonita. Behind many of those meals is a local restaurant owner sharing a little of their own story.

What do you remember eating out in Bonita years ago? And where do you love to eat now? Give your favorite local restaurant a shout-out.

10/28/2026

See you tomorrow. You may purchase your ticket on our website at bonitaspringshistory.org (go to events tab) or go here https://www.bonitaspringshistory.org/event-details-registration/flashbacks-of-downtown-bonita-presented-by-byron-liles

10/28/2026

COMING IN DECEMBER - MAHJ at the McSwain!!

This December we WELCOME Naples Mahjong to this beautiful historic home. You can fill out the attached form to be notified when tickets go live!!

Limited seats will Sell Out Fast!!

We have 2 beginner tables!!!

**➡ https://forms.gle/AkRoWNqqC2NMSc368

**Filling out this form does not guarantee your ticket.

Address

27451 Old 41 Road
Bonita Springs, FL
34135

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 2pm
Wednesday	10am - 2pm
Thursday	10am - 2pm
Saturday	11am - 5pm

Telephone

(239) 992-6997

Website

http://www.BonitaSpringsHistoricalSociety.org/, https://www.bonitaspringshistory.org/event, https://www.tripadvisor.com/

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