Arts, Culture & History

With the Paradise Coast’s natural beauty as inspiration for artists throughout the ages, it’s no surprise that the area is a haven for the arts.

Immerse yourself in culture with music and theater shows, museum exhibits, historic sites and art galleries – and let the No. 1 Small Art Town in America be your muse. Then, get to know the area's colorful and fascinating heritage. The Calusa Indians once called the region home, and later the Seminoles. Pioneer settlers built cattle ranches, while others fished, farmed and hunted in the Ten Thousand Islands. In the 1920s, wealthy Northern and Midwestern settlers vacationed on our white-sand beaches and fished. While Naples and Marco Island have seen tremendous growth and development, communities such as Everglades City, Immokalee, Chokoloskee and Ochopee still offer glimpses into the days of yesteryear.