Everglades Museum
This area means a lot to Nancy and me. Nancy's Dad owned a motel in Fort Myers when she was a kid and US
41 was the major North South artery along the Western side of Florida. Many of the guests at Nancy's Dad’s motel
were either coming or going to Miami over US 41. It was part of the life of Fort Myers. My Grandfather celebrated
the opening of US 41 in 1923 when it was called the 8th wonder of the world. I went on many camping trips into
this area of the everglades including some survival hikes where we took no foods for a week and did quite well. I
have laid there in my jungle hammock and heard the cry of panthers. Florida was much different in that era. No air
conditioning and no effective mosquito repellant. The real boom in South Florida didn't start in earnest until 1960
after hurricane Donna. When I went to high school, we had one white high school in the county and one small
black high school. Now there are 16. Everybody knew everybody and it was hard for a kid to get away with
anything. I worked at my granddad’s drug store as a soda jerk and knew all of the businessmen as they came in
for coffee. This area of the everglades is definitely different than the eastern side that we also visited.
41 was the major North South artery along the Western side of Florida. Many of the guests at Nancy's Dad’s motel
were either coming or going to Miami over US 41. It was part of the life of Fort Myers. My Grandfather celebrated
the opening of US 41 in 1923 when it was called the 8th wonder of the world. I went on many camping trips into
this area of the everglades including some survival hikes where we took no foods for a week and did quite well. I
have laid there in my jungle hammock and heard the cry of panthers. Florida was much different in that era. No air
conditioning and no effective mosquito repellant. The real boom in South Florida didn't start in earnest until 1960
after hurricane Donna. When I went to high school, we had one white high school in the county and one small
black high school. Now there are 16. Everybody knew everybody and it was hard for a kid to get away with
anything. I worked at my granddad’s drug store as a soda jerk and knew all of the businessmen as they came in
for coffee. This area of the everglades is definitely different than the eastern side that we also visited.
A juvenile panther that was killed on US 41 by a car.
Hoot owl
A Florida rattle snake. I have eaten these before , but no more.
Cotton mouth water moccasion. I kill 3 of these when building my dock
and can vouch for the cotton mouth.
and can vouch for the cotton mouth.
Red shouldered hawk
Squirrel
The Yankees are always thrilled by the alligators. We see them every day in our lake.
Nancy and I have been involved with US 41 lot in our youth. I used to
control a stoplight on it as a patrol boy.
control a stoplight on it as a patrol boy.