Mound House closes underground exhibit as town pursues FEMA mitigation, state feasibility grant and installs murals

The Mound House museum in Fort Myers Beach has closed its underground exhibit while town staff seek mitigation options after repeated flooding and humidity damage, staff said during a town meeting update.

Town staff told the meeting that a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) site inspection of the underground exhibit is complete and that FEMA will produce a mitigation plan for the site. Town staff said they have removed PVC mural panels from the underground to prevent further damage and temporarily installed five of the seven mural panels on the side of the museum’s kayak shed so the public can still see them.

The move to remove and reinstall the mural panels was described as a protective measure while staff await further assessments. Adam, a Mound House staff member, said the panels were warping from humidity and flooding and that the kayak‑shed installation “lines up perfectly, where the horizon actually matches the real horizon of the water,” giving visitors a new interpretive view of the Colusa Village mural.

Nut graf: The town plans to apply for a Florida Department of Historical Resources matching grant — up to $50,000 — to fund a feasibility study on options to repair or mitigate the underground exhibit. Staff said the state review is on a 2025 timetable and, if awarded, funds would not be released until fiscal year 2026, making any major repairs a multi‑year project.

Town staff described the feasibility study as intended to evaluate a range of options — from partial repairs to larger mitigation strategies — and to provide an outside agency’s roadmap before committing to a longer repair program. Staff said the grant application is due in June; the state review occurs in fall 2025 and, if approved, funds would be released July 1, 2026. Adam said that even with immediate funding and no delays, reopening the underground could take about 18 months.

Staff clarified procurement and contracting would follow the town’s procurement policy: once grant funding is awarded, the town would issue a request for proposals (RFP) and award a contract through the town’s standard process. Adam said the procurement would operate through the town and an RFP would likely be issued in late summer or early fall 2026 if the grant is awarded.

Officials said they are taking short‑term steps to limit further damage while long‑term options are developed. The museum plans to keep climate systems running where feasible and is awaiting an inspection by an industrial hygienist to advise on further immediate measures.

The update also covered non‑exhibit initiatives at the Mound House. Staff said the town received nearly $27,000 from the Fort Myers Beach Chamber Foundation, with technical assistance from Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), to install a near‑real‑time water quality sensor in Estero Bay. The sensor will record metrics including water current, algae content, pH, salinity and temperature and will refresh readings approximately every 10 minutes; staff are planning a website widget and on‑site QR code so visitors can view current conditions.

Staff announced a tentative ribbon cutting for a Second Saturday free‑admission event on June 14 at 10 a.m. The museum received a $1,500 grant from the Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation to sponsor three Second Saturday events (June, July and August) and cover supplies and free admissions. Staff also noted a volunteer appreciation event planned for April 26 and said the Mound House’s Artifact Preservation Center had its official opening and that the site is now the only public archaeology lab in Southwest Florida.

Meeting discussion included the idea of routing a future water ferry stop to the Mound House to boost attendance and connectivity; staff said they have had initial conversations about accommodating a ferry stop at the dinghy dock or by modifying the observation pier.

Ending: Town staff said the museum and most programming remain open while the underground exhibit remains closed for assessment; staff urged residents that the site offers programs, kayak tours and other exhibits beyond the underground space.