Barbara Sumwalt Useppa Island Historical Museum

Useppa Island has been continuously inhabited for ten thousand years. It served as the home to nomadic peoples, who came here in search of food during prehistoric times and settled the area to become the Calusa civilization. Unfortunately, Calusa culture became extinct within 200 years of the arrival of Europeans such as Ponce de Leon, who led a Spanish expedition to Florida in 1513.

Preserving the ancient and more recent history of Useppa Island was the dream of Barbara Sumwalt, now Director of the historical museum named after her. Although the island was devastated in 2004 by Hurricane Charley, archives were saved and the museum now contains relics from archeological digs conducted on the island as well as other findings from researchers representing the University of Florida.

On display here are items related to fierce pirates of the 18th century, commercial fishermen who made the island there base, streetcar magnate John M. Roach, developer Barron G. Collier, the Izaak Walton Club, and Gar Beckstead, the island's current owner.

The museum is a non-profit organization supported by the Useppa Island Historical Society. There is a small gift shop, and a donation of $3 is requested of all visitors. The address of the Barbara Sumwalt Useppa Island Historical Museum is P. O. Box 640, Bokeelia, Florida 33922.