DATES TO REMEMBER

From November to April, our regular meetings include:

Board Meeting, 10 am, every First Monday of month at Society Headquarters on S Riverside Dr. All members are welcome to attend.

General Membership Meeting, 10 am, every Third Monday of month at Liles Hotel in Riverside Park on Old US41.

Wednesdays are for History!    

When: Every Wednesday, January 9 - April 24

At:  2pm and 7pm- to fit your schedule

Where: The Bonita Springs Community Center- on Old 41 across from Riverside Park (Free parking located nearby)             

                                  Three things you didn’t learn in school:

History is interesting

Learning about our history is fun

Knowing it makes you a better citizen

The State of Florida is marking the 500th anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s arrival by promoting Viva Florida 500, a celebration of the Sunshine State’s history and heritage throughout the year of 2013.

The Bonita Springs Historical Society, in partnership with the City of Bonita Springs, is sponsoring a 16 week series of Florida history programs at the Bonita Springs Community Center on Old 41 across from Riverside Park. The sequential series of 90 minute presentations will feature little known stories of Florida’s role in the European colonization of North America and the eventual development of modern Florida and of the United States of America. Each Wednesday at both 2pm and again at 7pm, Program presenter, David Southall will introduce a different historical era along with the interesting characters and events that influenced those times with a Florida perspective.

David Southall is a long time Bonita Springs resident, historian and former museum educator at the Collier County Museum in Naples. Believing that learning about history should be interesting and fun, David avoids lists of facts and dates to concentrate on cause and effect as well as the humorous or ironic historical events. Preferring to avoid the term “lecturer” David claims to be a “pretty good story teller” who is happy to share his knowledge of the past in an informative and interesting way.

Programs begin on Wednesday, January 9th, 2013 and will continue with a different program each week, ending on Wednesday, April 24.

Admission for a single program per Adult is $10, BSHS members $5 with proceeds going toward the restoration of the historic McSwain House.

Series tickets and BSHS memberships can be obtained at the Liles Hotel or at the door. Reservations can be made at (239) 992-6997.

When: Every Wednesday

At:  2pm and 7pm- to fit your schedule

Where: The Bonita Springs Community Center- on Old 41 across from Riverside Park (Free parking located nearby)

2013 Program Schedule

Wednesday, January  9

Florida before 1492:  Indigenous tribes of Florida, technology, social organization, cultures.

Wednesday, January 16

The Calusa; A pre-Columbian, non-agricultural, mound-building culture.

Wednesday, January 23

Juan Ponce de Leon; The man and the myth:

Wednesday, January 30

The Arrival of the European Explorers in Florida, Gunpowder & steel vs. the bow & arrow.

Wednesday, February 6

French Florida and the First European Settlement in North America

Wednesday, February 13

The Timucuan Rebellion 1656 : Spanish Authority neutralizes Native American resistance.

Wednesday, February 20

The War of Jenkin’s Ear and the Siege of Saint Augustine

Wednesday, February 27

Florida in the American Revolution:  The two English Floridas stay loyal to the Crown.

Wednesday, March 6

Chaos and Invasion; the Second Spanish Period 

Wednesday, March 13

The Seminole and the Seminole Wars:  Displaced Native Americans from across the southeast find a home in Spanish Florida.

Wednesday, March 20

Florida’s Role in the War Between the States:  “The Smallest Tadpole in the Filthy Pool of Secession.”

Wednesday, March 27

Surrender and Yankee Reconstruction:  “Bottom rail on top.”

Wednesday, April 3

Cracker Cowboys and the Cattle Wars:

Wednesday April 10

Plume Hunting in the Everglades:  Florida pioneers and the Plume Trade

Wednesday, April 17

Building Florida’s West Coast Railways:  Coal smoke and steel rails bring development to Florida’s West Coast.

Wednesday, April 24

The Tamiami Trail:  Building Florida’s Appian Way 1910 to 1928

Seating is limited to 100 people.  If interested, you are encouraged to purchase tickets early at the Liles Hotel or make ticket reservations at (239) 992-6997.

Ticket Prices for “Wednesdays are for History”

A Series of 16 Presentations Highlighting

500 Years Of Florida’s History

Single Presentation per person- $10.00

Series Advance Sale-$100

BSHS Member single presentation -$5.00

Member Series- $50

1 Year Memberships may be purchased for $25 Individual & $35 Family to obtain the member price for the series or single presentations.

Tickets are on Sale at the Liles Hotel

Or

Reserved by telephone at:

239-992-6997

2013 SOUTHALL PROGRAMS

2013 SPEAKER SERIES

The 2012 Speaker Series was a big success - thanks Jane and to all who helped!

Well over a hundred people attended each meeting.

This year’s Speakers Series will take place at the Bonita Springs Lions Club, 10346 Pennsylvania Avenue (off of Old 41), in Bonita Springs.

For more information, call Jane Whitehead at 390-2092.

The 2012 Whitehouse Christmas ornaments are in!

The First Whitehouse Automobile

The ornaments are on sale now by the Bonita Springs Historical Society

at the Liles Hotel in Riverside Park from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Tuesday thru Friday and are priced at $25.00.

The 2012 ornament depicts President William Howard Taft and Mrs. Taft enroute to deliver Christmas presents.  They are seated behind chauffeur George

H. Robinson in the White Motor Company’s Model M. a seven passenger steam-powdered touring car embellished with the Great Seal of the United States on the doors.  The color, as described at the time, is “a harmonious blend

of subdued greens”.

Society office phone number is (239) 992-6997.

Mailing address:  PO Box 3015, Bonita Springs, FL 34133

You may email us at: info@BonitaSpringsHistoricalSociety.org

Copyright 2010