CIHS launches season with trip to Boca Grande
The Captiva Island Historical Society launched its eighth season of programming on Nov. 13 with a cruise, lunch and historian address at the Gasparilla Inn on historic Boca Grande.
Two full boats, supplied by Captiva Cruises from McCarthy’s Marina, transported 100 participants to the destination, as docents recounted the geographic and political history and lore of the Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor, sharing background on hurricanes, the Calusa Indians, Cuban fish camps, phosphate trade, tourism development and daily life on neighboring islands. They were also treated to an up-close look at the historic fish houses of the Pine island Sound.
A buffet lunch was served to the group in the main dining room of the inn. Board President Tom Libonate welcomed the guests to the CIHS’ first event of the season.
Tina Malasics, an employee of the hotel since 1983 and resident inn historian, delivered an animated talk tracing the history of the hotel to its origins in 1913. It began as a retreat for executives of a company that owned the Florida phosphorus mining trade and railroads that transported the chemical, using the deep harbor at Boca Grande.
During lunch, CIHS Board members provided maps depicting and describing some of the historic points of interest of Boca Grande for self-guided tours, including the Johann Fust Community Library.
For more information, visit captivaislandhistoricalsociety.org or call 239-472-2323.