European Exploration and Colonial Encounters

The arrival of Spanish explorers in the 16th century brought significant disruption to the Calusa and surrounding indigenous populations. Hernando de Soto’s expedition in 1539 traversed the Southwest Florida coast, and subsequent Spanish influence introduced European trade, disease, and territorial claims. While the Spanish primarily focused on coastal outposts, interior regions such as the Caloosahatchee River basin remained contested and sparsely settled.

European contact altered the ecological and cultural landscape, introducing livestock, crops, and new economic networks, but also causing demographic collapse among the Calusa. By the 18th century, many surviving indigenous people had relocated or assimilated into other communities due to warfare, disease, and colonial pressures.

The Seminole Wars and the Military Fort

The city of Fort Myers traces its origins to the Second Seminole War (1835–1842). In 1837, the U.S. Army established a fort along the Caloosahatchee River as part of a network of military installations aimed at subduing Seminole resistance and protecting settlers. The fort, named for Colonel Abraham C. Myers, provided a strategic base for U.S. military operations, supply routes, and communication across Southwest Florida.

Although the military fort was abandoned after hostilities ended, its presence catalyzed settlement. Soldiers, traders, and laborers who had been stationed at or near the fort often remained in the area, forming the nucleus of a civilian community. The fort’s legacy endures in the city’s name and its foundational role in regional development. shutdown123