Events Calendar
Special exhibitions, lecture programs and family-centered, living history events are offered throughout the year at each Museum facility and provide unique opportunities to learn more about the history and heritage of one of America's last great frontiers.Summer 2010 Events
July
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Program: Plume Hunting and its Effects on Florida’s Wading Birds
The last half of the nineteenth century ushered in a new era of fashion-conscience consumers and mass-merchandisers to supply them. Learn about the feather trade that developed to ornament ladies’ hats as it grew from small-scale hunting to the wholesale slaughter that brought many bird species to the brink of extinction.
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Movie: Ghosts on the Loose 1943
When the East Side Kids try to do a good deed by fixing up an old house, they discover that the house is actually a secret hideout for Nazi operatives led by Bela Lugosi. The Kids try to capture the band of foreign agents and put a stop to their sinister plans. Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall, along with Bobby Jordan and Rick Vallin engage in their madcap antics along with the lovely Ava Gardner. 63 minutes
August
August 4
Program: Epiphytic Plants of Florida
While money doesn’t grow on trees, some kinds of plants prefer to. Learn about the native orchids, bromeliads, ferns, and other plants that live as “air plants.” Find a new excuse to keep looking up and discover a whole new outlook on these unusual plants.
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Movie: You Can’t Take It With You 1938
When Alice Sycamore (Jean Arthur) agrees to marry Tony Kirby (James Stewart), she has no choice but to invite his wealthy parents over for dinner. But when the ultra-conservative Kirbys finally meet the decidedly eccentric Sycamore clan, it turns into a memorable night filled with firework displays, wrestling matches, ballet dancing, police raids and mass arrests. It has been called one of the funniest movies ever made! 2 hours 6 minutes
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Program: The Pine Flat woods
Travelers driving down Florida’s peninsula are often struck by the seemingly monotonous nature of the vast pinelands. Contrary to first impressions, the pine flat woods are incredibly diverse in both plant and animal life. Discover the subtle beauty of the rugged species that have adapted to this harsh and unforgiving environment, and learn of the role that naturally occurring fire plays in keeping them all in balance.
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Movie: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 1939
A small town idealist, Jeff Smith (James Stewart) answers the call to duty when he’s unexpectedly names to fill a vacant seat in the U.S. Senate. Determined to do some good, it isn’t long before he learns about a graft scheme sponsored by his home state’s crooked political machine.
This film is as timely and relevant as ever. 2 hours 10 minutes
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Program: Florida’s Indigenous Tribes
When Ponce de Leon set foot on the Florida peninsula in 1513 more than 30 distinctly different Native American cultures made their home there. Join us for a look at the various cultures both agriculturalists and hunter-gatherers as we explore what little the archeological record tells us of these vanished peoples.
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Movie: It Happened One Night 1934
When her father threatens to annul her marriage to a fortune-hunting playboy, spoiled heiress Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) hops a bus to New York, where she plans to live happily ever after with her handsome new hubby. Romantic complications arise when she’s befriended by fellow passenger Peter Warne (Clark Gable) who offers his help. Winner of all five major 1934 Academy Awards—Picture, Actor, Actress, Screenplay and Director. 1 hour 45 minutes
August 25
Program: The French and Indian War; 1755 to 1763
Known as the “Seven Years War” in Europe, the French and Indian War was the first real “world war” as it was fought on every major continent (except Antarctica) and every major ocean though out the world. Ultimately it would determine which nations would control the lucrative fur trade in the new World. Much of it was fought on the frontiers of America at great cost to all of the combatants. Learn how a young colonial soldier from Virginia, George Washington, took the blame for igniting the conflict.
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Movie: Cross Creek 1983
Cross Creek is based on the best-selling memoirs of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Yearling. This film became the sensation of the 1983 Cannes Film Festival and remains one of the most powerful portraits ever of a writer’s search for fulfillment as well as the remarkable story of one woman’s bold struggle for independence. 2 hours
Annual Collier County Museum Events
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Try a little of our history on for size.
Time-travel back over a hundred lifetimes at the Old Florida Festival, our signature event held annually at the Collier County Museum's main five-acre site in Naples.
This two-day living history festival gathers together some of the state's finest craftworkers, folklorists, musicians and historical re-enactors to recapture the sights and sounds of everyday life on the Florida frontier. One of Naples' best-known cultural events, this ultimate reality show offers an entertaining and educational trip through South Florida's surprisingly colorful past for families, schoolchildren and visitors of all ages and interests.
The next Old Florida Festival will be March 19 and 20, 2011. Admission is $5 for adults; $2 for children 8 to 18; children under 8 are free.
More Information
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Naples' role as an Army Air Corps training base during World War II is remembered each November 11th at the Naples Depot Museum, following the city's Veterans Day ceremony. Although closed to train traffic for the duration, the old station came alive every Saturday night with USO shows and dances designed to boost the morale of soldiers stationed at the nearby army airfield (now Naples Airport).
The Depot's annual USO show faithfully recreates the sights and big band sounds of the 1940s with an afternoon of music and memories that brought the "greatest generation" onto the dance floor. A special ceremony and opening address honors veterans from all of America's armed conflicts.
USO Show at the Naples Depot will be held on November 11th, immediately following the Veterans Memorial Service in Cambier Park which will begin at 10 a.m. The USO show will be from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Enjoy Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland and the Andrew Sisters.
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The life and times of legendary author, journalist and environmental activist Marjory Stoneman Douglas are celebrated each February at the Museum of the Everglades in Everglades City. Best known for her book, Everglades: River of Grass, Douglas was one of the first to draw attention to South Florida's fragile ecosystem and at the advanced age of 78, became an outspoken, sometimes feisty crusader to preserve and protect the Everglades.
This unique annual festival pays tribute to Douglas' groundbreaking work with four days of boat tours, guided walks and canoe trips through the Big Cypress Swamp and Everglades National Park, environmental films, and museum talks by noted authors and scientists. The activities fill up fast, so reservations are required.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Festival will be held in February at the Museum of the Everglades, Everglades City. For a schedule of festival events click here. For more information, please call (239) 695-0008.
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Trains and automobiles arrived on the Southwest Florida scene at about the same time and symbolized Collier County's new economic optimism and transportation habits. That makes the Naples Depot Museum the ideal spot for this annual gathering of vintage car collectors.
Sponsored each March by the Naples-Marco Island Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America, this impressive car show has been going on locally for over twenty years and features more than 100 rare and antique autos.
The Naples-Marco Island Antique Car Show will be held March 5th, 2011 at the Naples Depot Museum. This is an annual event; for more information, please call Gary Doner at 239-860-2726.
Other Special Attractions To Be Announced.
