Naples Historical Society, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, serves the community by maintaining Historic Palm Cottage™(HPC). The cottage, the oldest building in Naples, was built in 1895 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Protected into perpetuity, it is flanked to the west by the Norris Gardens. And new in 2025, the society expanded to the east of HPC and converted the inside of a 1950s home into a fun place to interact with history.
Smith Exhibit Hall™ is named after Mary and Stephen Byron Smith and their generous gift matched by many donors who believe in preserving Naples’ history for generations to come. This interactive historical museum invites visitors to engage with a sensory multimedia mix increasing interest to proactively participate in displays and listen to oral histories. It is complemented by an outdoor meandering pathway with “history stations” that chronicle Naples’ history, benches to rest on, and trees to provide shade.
The grand opening of the Smith Exhibit Hall™ will keep Naples Historical Society busy during the first quarter of 2025 and beyond. After the press conference in January, the community will delight in the Grand Opening in February.
Smith Exhibit Hall will allow visitors to dig deeper into topics such as viewing the digitized signature of Rose Cleveland, who was the first person to sign the guest book at The Naples Hotel in 1887. As the sister of then-President Cleveland, she traveled by boat from Tampa to Naples to hunt and fish. History lovers will also hear entertaining and engaging audio recordings from old-timers who were eyewitnesses to bootlegging during prohibition. One can also experience the sounds of hurricanes and rain on tin roofs.
When researching what to write on my picket which will be placed around Smith Exhibit Hall, I ran across a quote from 1895, which happens to be the same year that the Historic Palm Cottage was built. “History … is not a burden on the memory but an illumination of the soul.” – Lord Acton, Lectures on Modern History, 1895.
Acton believed that studying history is not just about remembering facts, but rather a profound experience that deepens our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. The quote suggests that history is woven into people’s lives and that communities inspired by their history can achieve great things. I look forward to meeting you, listening to your stories, and brainstorming about the future. By sharing our histories, I will gain insight into your past experiences so that I can present ideas for planning our future with the board of directors.
I encourage you to experience history by walking through the Norris Garden, entering Historic Palm Cottage, taking a tour, and then visiting Smith Exhibit Hall. The fun continues when you take a walking tour through Naples Historic District or participate in Croquet & Chardonnay or the Full Moon Tour. Most importantly, I invite you to meet with me soon to share your passion for history.
Upcoming Events
Croquet & Chardonnay
March 6 | 4-6 p.m.
Member Mixer
March 20 | 5-7 p.m.
Garden Side Chickee Chat #3
March 28 | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Historic Home Tours
Wednesdays | 9:30 a.m.
Purchase a picket!
137 12th Avenue South
Hours: Tue-Sat 12-4 p.m.
239.261.8164
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