Charlotte County Historical Center
22959 Bayshore Road, Charlotte Harbor, FL 33980
941.629.7278
Upcoming Programs & Events
14th annual Florida Frontier Days Festival being held on March 25-27, 2010 at Bayshore Live Oak Park in beautiful Charlotte Harbor. Each year, area school children, teachers, friends and families gather to experience traditional pioneer entertainment, old-fashioned games, hands-on activities and delicious frontier-style food. Period artisans work their crafts as visitors try their hand at old time activities such as candle-dipping, rug braiding, sock puppets and kite making. Games of sack race, tug o war, or horseshoes entertain as visitors listen to local musicians play traditional folk music. There’s something for everyone at the 14th annual Florida Frontier Days Festival. Admission tor the festival is just $ 3.00 for adults and $ 2.00 for children 12 and under. Call about discounts for schools. All proceeds benefit the Charlotte County Historical Center, its educational programs and exhibits For more information or to join us as an artisan or volunteer call the Historical Center at (941) 629-PAST (7278)
Changing Exhibits
Changing Exhibits focus on particular people, places, events and fascinating subjects
Admission: $2 adult; $1child under 12; includes all current changing & permanent exhibits
Florida Girls, Boys & Their Toys
December 15, 2009 – May 15, 2010
Journey back in time as the Charlotte County Historical Center captures the magical moments experienced by Florida girls & boys as they played with their toys.
Charlotte County: Telling Our Story
is the permanent exhibit which explores the full spectrum of Charlotte County and Florida history in several galleries, telling the rich stories of people living here from ancient times through the post-WWII development boom. Explore our natural history, our early inhabitants, fishing and boating, early explorers, pioneers and settlers, and more. After the hurricanes of 2004, we remodeled these galleries, and we continue to refresh the exhibit with additional historical artifacts every year.
Heritage Oil Paintings by Betty Reese
Fascinating oil paintings of historical buildings county-wide are now a part of our permanent exhibit at the Charlotte County Historical Center. Some of the structures depicted still exist, and others are gone forever. Port Charlotte artist Betty Reese researches each one, then makes it come alive again. She has generously donated all of these original paintings to the County collections.
Bicentennial Time Capsule
During the nation’s bicentennial in 1976, a time capsule was set in place at the old Memorial Auditorium in Punta Gorda, to be re-opened after 100 years. The Auditorium building was damaged beyond repair by Hurricane Charley, but before it was demolished in 2005 we removed the capsule’s two large cylinders from their sand-filled vault for safe keeping. The Bicentennial Time Capsule is on exhibit at the Charlotte County Historical Center, and a special place will be provided for it in the new exhibit being planned for the old Charlotte County Courthouse.
Shopping in Charlotte County
From trading posts and peddlers, to neighborhood general stores and 20th century shopping plazas, local retail business has changed greatly over the years. Alongside the Historical Center’s Live Oak Emporium (museum gift shop) is the Shopping in Charlotte County permanent exhibit, with dozens of artifacts on display from the County historical collections. Did you live here when ladies had to travel all the way to Fort Myers to buy a fancy dress? Historical photographs from the late U. S. Cleveland and the former Charlotte Harbor Area Historical Society complete the picture.
