Southwest Florida Culture and Its Deep Roots
Source: The Daily Sun — Original article here
Southwest Florida culture is more than beaches and sunshine. It’s a living blend of stories, traditions, and craftsmanship passed down through generations. From the Calusa people to modern-day communities, each chapter adds depth to the region’s identity.
Here, history isn’t locked away in archives. It’s alive in places like the Blanchard House Museum in Punta Gorda, where visitors walk through the rooms and feel the weight of lived experiences. These spaces connect the past to the present in ways that words alone cannot.
Punta Gorda’s Legacy of Cultural Diversity
Punta Gorda’s early years tell a story of remarkable diversity. Nearly half of its original settlers were African American. This demographic reality shaped the town’s economy, culture, and social life. Although the Jim Crow South imposed harsh restrictions, residents often found ways to work together. Business and civic life in Punta Gorda showed more interracial cooperation than most Florida towns of the era. That history is rare, inspiring, and worth preserving…