Fort Myers Beach advisory board, volunteers and archaeologists press to preserve and reopen Mound House underground exhibit

Fort Myers Beach—— Community advocates, museum staff and a former project lead urged the Cultural and Environmental Learning Center advisory board on Feb. 27 to preserve and reopen the Mound House——underground archaeological exhibit, saying it is a rare heritage attraction that draws visitors statewide and internationally.

Charlie Streeter, of Bonita Springs, who identified himself as a longtime member and past president of the Southwest Florida Archaeological Society, told the board: "Mound House is super special. You got nature, history, and archaeology in one package." He and other speakers pressed the town for a careful assessment of funding, physical damage and grant restrictions before deciding the exhibit's future.

The board heard detailed history and technical context from Teresa Schover, who said she worked on fundraising and development for the Mound House and helped raise $4.5 million for the property. Schover told the board she supported a methodical review rather than an immediate closure, saying, "I am here to request respectfully that you do not throw out the baby with the bathwater or in this case, the storm water." She urged the town to consult past grant partners and the Division of Historical Resources before making long-term decisions.

Adam Knight, the town staff member who presented the Mound House report, said staff are pursuing technical, legal and grant options. Knight said the museum has had record attendance since Hurricane Ian despite the underground room remaining closed, and staff have converted the former "digging deeper" space into a new Artifact Preservation Center for collections storage and public-facing, behind-the-scenes programming.

Why it matters

Speakers and staff emphasized three linked reasons to keep exploring repair and reopening: (1) the undeground exhibit—is a nationally rare in situ…