Learn Something About Naples Florida History

By Jony Mozen


Naples history started in the late 1880s, when this beautiful city was first created in heads of John S. Williams and Walter N. Haldeman. You will find several interesting historic facts Naples Florida museums offer to their visitors. Naples Florida history might surprise you.

This all area was once inhabited by the Caloosa Indians. The first settlers, Roger Gordon and Joe Wiggins, came here in the late 1860s. The whole area was mainly swampland, but there were some people who believed that it can become prosperous. Some even considered this bay more beautiful than the one in Naples, Italy, and that's how the town got its name.

John S. Williams was Senator, but also the former general from American Civil War. Walter N. Haldeman was a successful businessman and publisher. They both agreed that this area had good chances to become great tourist destination. Their idea for designing the perfect little town soon became popular among wealthy people from Kentucky and Ohio.

Thanks to these two visionaries, six hundred feet long T-shaped pier was built, and that was the beginning of tourism in this area. Wealthy tourists started to come. For the next thirty years or so, only a few families used this area as their winter resort. The problem was in very poor roads leading there, as well as in the fact that there was no railway.

Another visionary, Barron Collier, made the next important step. He bought over million acres of swampland and spent great deal of money in building the paved highway called Tamiami Trail. It was called so because it connected two cities, Tampa and Miami. Collier understood the importance of good roads and trains, and the whole county was named after him.

The first passenger train came here in 1927, in January 7. The train was called the Orange Blossom Special. The last train left this area in 1971. The Depot is now restored and used by numerous community organizations. Every day at noon, the train whistle can still be heard, just as it was for years.

After The Second World War the town started to develop faster. Still mainly tourist resort, it was interesting to many famous people of that period. Greta Garbo spent her holidays here, as well as Gary Cooper and many other celebrities. In 1932, they got the library. In 1949 the first bank. Telephone came in 1945.

In 1932, famous Charles Lindbergh landed his plane here, accompanied by his wife, Ann, to get some supplies for their holidays. They were spending some time in this area. During the Second World War, hundreds of pilots were trained here for combat flying. After the war, the civil airport was established in 1953.

This rich, beautifully designed and pleasant town is one of the wealthiest towns in the entire state today. Fast growth and development, great climate, beautiful and interesting touristic destinations and overall prosperity make this town really appealing place to visit. This is a great place to live in, too.




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