Tamiami Trail History and Photos

Florida's 62nd county- Collier County was formed by the State Legislature on May 8, 1923, on the eve of a runaway boom in South Florida land sales and development.
A remote, tropical wilderness larger than the state of Delaware, the newly-created county consisted of a few widely scattered settlements and less than 1200 people with no electric power, telephones or telegraphs...and not a single mile of paved road.
Approval for the new county had been given largely on Barron Collier's personal pledge to finance completion of the Tamiami Trail- a long awaited highway across Everglades that would unite Florida's two leading cities, Tampa and Miami.

True to his word, Collier soon began assembling a mechanized army of engineers and road builders at Everglades, the County seat, and in October he started them east...across the last 76 miles of untouched swamp and cypress.
BLAZING THE TRAIL- more Tamiami Trail History and Pictures

Celebrate Florida's colorful past the first weekend in November

Collier Museum Home | Museum Information | History | Calendar of Events 
Education | Friends of The Museum | Museum Store | About Us

© 2001 The Collier County Museums, All Rights Reserved
3301 Tamiami Trail East Naples, Florida 34112

Copyright Information | Linking Policy

Technical Support
webmaster@colliermuseums.com