Smallwood Store and Museum - Chokoloskee Island, Florida
Smallwood Store photo by Steven Skelley
Smallwood Store and Museum - Chokoloskee Island, Florida
A Must-See Old-Florida Attraction South of Alligator Alley
By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
The Smallwood Store and Museum may not look like much from the outside but it is a must-see, old-Florida attraction south of Alligator Alley in the Florida Everglades. More than 100 years ago, the Smallwood family opened it as a trading post where adventurers, outlaws and unconquered Native Americans met, bargained and bartered. Filled with authentic antiques, an actual historic Post Office and a best-selling tale of murder, it is well worth the drive to see.
We visited the store, spoke with Ted Smallwood’s descendants, took a scenic boat tour and asked Smallwood Store and Museum Director Lynn S. McMillin.
How would you describe the Smallwood Store in one sentence?
A Time Capsule of what remains of Southwest Florida's History.
Why is the Smallwood Store and important part of Florida's history?
It is the oldest National Register site in Collier County.
It was Est. in 1906 and served a very remote area accessible by water only until the 1950's.
It served as the post office, general store, Indian trading post and boat ways to the pioneers who lived throughout the 10,000 Islands - also known as Florida's Last Frontier and since the 1940's the Everglades National Park.
What will guests see in the store?
There is an exhibit area and the middle section still remains much as it did when it was open and doing business.
What can you tell us about Edgar Watson's story and ghosts at Smallwood Store?
The Ed Watson story was made famous by Peter Matthiessen's book published in 1991 by Random House "Killing Mister Watson".
It was a community effort in a very lawless remote area. It took the sheriff 2 weeks after he was shot beside the store to come and investigate the incident.
In the meantime, the locals took the body out the pass to Rabbit Key and buried him.
It was later that his oldest daughter sent someone down to move his body and his final resting place is in the cemetery in Ft. Myers. This is where his second wife moved when she left him at Chatham Bend.
What makes your boat tours so popular and unique?
Our boat tour is popular because we keep it personable and private with only six people per boat.
It is unique because we have the best location in the area to leave from (because we were here first) enabling you to see the prettiest parts of the floral and fauna the Everglades National Park has to offer. Also, having the large variety of birds and wildlife for viewing in a natural setting.
All of our captains are from families that have been here for generations giving you the safest and most experienced guides in the area.
Conclusion:
The Smallwood Store and Museum - Chokoloskee Island, Florida was a delightful surprise to us. We are so glad we visited. It is filled with Florida history that you will not find anywhere else.
The Smallwood Store and Museum is located at 360 Mamie St., Chokoloskee, Florida.
You can phone them at 239-695-2989.
For more information, visit http://www.smallwoodstore.com/
To learn more about the Everglades National Park, visit https://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm
To learn more about the Big Cypress National Preserve, visit https://www.nps.gov/bicy/index.htm
A Must-See Old-Florida Attraction South of Alligator Alley
By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
The Smallwood Store and Museum may not look like much from the outside but it is a must-see, old-Florida attraction south of Alligator Alley in the Florida Everglades. More than 100 years ago, the Smallwood family opened it as a trading post where adventurers, outlaws and unconquered Native Americans met, bargained and bartered. Filled with authentic antiques, an actual historic Post Office and a best-selling tale of murder, it is well worth the drive to see.
We visited the store, spoke with Ted Smallwood’s descendants, took a scenic boat tour and asked Smallwood Store and Museum Director Lynn S. McMillin.
How would you describe the Smallwood Store in one sentence?
A Time Capsule of what remains of Southwest Florida's History.
Why is the Smallwood Store and important part of Florida's history?
It is the oldest National Register site in Collier County.
It was Est. in 1906 and served a very remote area accessible by water only until the 1950's.
It served as the post office, general store, Indian trading post and boat ways to the pioneers who lived throughout the 10,000 Islands - also known as Florida's Last Frontier and since the 1940's the Everglades National Park.
What will guests see in the store?
There is an exhibit area and the middle section still remains much as it did when it was open and doing business.
What can you tell us about Edgar Watson's story and ghosts at Smallwood Store?
The Ed Watson story was made famous by Peter Matthiessen's book published in 1991 by Random House "Killing Mister Watson".
It was a community effort in a very lawless remote area. It took the sheriff 2 weeks after he was shot beside the store to come and investigate the incident.
In the meantime, the locals took the body out the pass to Rabbit Key and buried him.
It was later that his oldest daughter sent someone down to move his body and his final resting place is in the cemetery in Ft. Myers. This is where his second wife moved when she left him at Chatham Bend.
What makes your boat tours so popular and unique?
Our boat tour is popular because we keep it personable and private with only six people per boat.
It is unique because we have the best location in the area to leave from (because we were here first) enabling you to see the prettiest parts of the floral and fauna the Everglades National Park has to offer. Also, having the large variety of birds and wildlife for viewing in a natural setting.
All of our captains are from families that have been here for generations giving you the safest and most experienced guides in the area.
Conclusion:
The Smallwood Store and Museum - Chokoloskee Island, Florida was a delightful surprise to us. We are so glad we visited. It is filled with Florida history that you will not find anywhere else.
The Smallwood Store and Museum is located at 360 Mamie St., Chokoloskee, Florida.
You can phone them at 239-695-2989.
For more information, visit http://www.smallwoodstore.com/
To learn more about the Everglades National Park, visit https://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm
To learn more about the Big Cypress National Preserve, visit https://www.nps.gov/bicy/index.htm
Article and photos by Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong
Copyright 2016 Sunny Harbor Publishing
Sunny Harbor Publishing
PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32956
Phone: 321-446-7552
[email protected]
www.SunnyHarborPublishing.org
Copyright 2016 Sunny Harbor Publishing
Sunny Harbor Publishing
PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32956
Phone: 321-446-7552
[email protected]
www.SunnyHarborPublishing.org
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