Fort Myers Beach History

The Early Days of Fort Myers Beach

From the first days of the Fort Myers Beach area, it was clear it was destined to be an explorer's haven. After all, it is a gorgeous and prosperous area. The first inhabitants of the beach area dating back 2500 years, were the Calusa Indian tribe or "The Shell Indians". The Calusa were there before all else, despite Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon's claim to the "Fountain of Youth" in 1513.

The Indians were drawn primarily to the rich Florida Wetlands. The region of the wetlands was filled with wildlife, plenty of water and devices to meet their daily tribe's necessities. They worked hard and used technical ability to transform the waterways, building there huts and living quarters above high shell mounds they would establish themselves across a large territory from Tampa Bay to Cape Sable and finally Cape Florida.

There leader was Carlos or at least that is what the Spanish and French called him in the remaining history books. Carlos, a solid leader with well trained fighters on his side, was a formidable, often brutal opponent to all that stood to take his land. He would lead an opposition to defend the influx of Spanish arms and church conversion tactics forced by the Euro-Americans. Even after all of the Southern Tribes submitted to defeat, The Calusa stood there ground and confronted the French and Spanish who were frequently stranded by ship wrecks. The ill-timed French and Spanish were butchered for their gold removed by Carlos the leader of The Calusa Nation. Needless to say, they were a wealthy tribe compared to other tribe's material goods.

In 1567, the Spaniards established a small post. Although soon after grounding, they would tear it down. By this time, the English had built up many allies with the other, not so wealthy Indian tribes in the province. This alliance of rival tribes would prove to be the end of The Calusa territorial hold. One of the competing tribes, known as The Creeks would lead a myriad of attacks against The Calusa until the early part of 1600. As a result, the last remaining 80 Calusa families would have to relocate to Havana were most of them eventually became slaves. The Calusa tribe would cease to exist by the late 1700's.