Collier County Museums

Collier County Museums have been nominated for the 2026 Community Choice Award hosted by Naples Daily News. This award celebrates the organizations and businesses that make the Naples community so special.

With five unique historical museums across Collier County, we are honored to stand alongside the outstanding community organizations nominated this year.

To Vote:
✅ Click link: https://naplesnews.gannettcontests.com/2026-Naples-Communitys-Choice-Awards/gallery/?group=548981
✅Navigate down to the Museum Category.
✅ Find Collier County Museums and click "VOTE."
✅ You can vote daily until June 24, 2026.

Every vote truly makes a difference, so please consider voting and sharing this link with friends, family, and colleagues who love history!

Today we celebrate one of summer's superstars... MANGOS!!!🥭

For , we are diving into a fun and delicious way that we can enjoy this tropical fruit. Let's make homemade mango fruit leather!

Mango Fruit Leather Recipe:
- Select two ripe mangos.
- Peel and cut the mangos into chunks.
- Place the chunks in a blender and purée until completely smooth.
- Line a cookie sheet with oiled parchment paper.
- Pour the mango purée onto the sheet and spread it evenly.
- Bake at 175°F for 3–4 hours, or until the fruit leather is set and no longer sticky.
- After cooled, cut into strips or use fun cookie cutters to make playful shapes.

To learn more about mangos and taste some delicious recipes, head on over to Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch on Saturday, June 27th for Summer Mango Fest!

When: June 27, 2026
Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Where: Immokalee Pioneer Museum
1215 Roberts Avenue West, Immokalee, FL 34142

for our third annual Ice Cream Social Star-Spangled Style at Collier Museum at Government Center.

Treat your sweet tooth to a patriotic sundae and stack on a tower of tasty toppings that include red, white, and blue sprinkles, gummy bears, crushed Oreos, yummy flavored syrups, pretzels, and delicious whipped cream.

Family Fun Activities:
🍦Games: Co****le, Connect 4, Ring Toss and more
🍧Craft Tables
🍉Watermelon Eating Contest with fun prizes
This competition is open to kids 10 and older with two age groups, 10-14 and 15+. A small donation to Friends of the Collier County Museum is appreciated.
* Waiver is required to participate *

Where: Collier Museum at Government Center
3331 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, FL 34112
When: June 20, 2026
Time: 11am - 2pm (Contest starts at 12:30pm)

Image: Watermelon eating contest in Everglades City on July 4, 1922.

Save the Date: Third Thursday Lecture Series at Museum of the Everglades
Faith on the Frontier: a Brief History of Churches in the Everglades Area

Museum Assistant Mathew Anderson, who also serves as a Deacon at the First Baptist Church of Everglades City, will explore the origins of the area’s many congregations and the places they meet to pray – dating back to the turn of the last century. For many early settlers in the region where Collier County began, their faith was the foundation of pioneer life and erecting a rustic chapel often took precedence over opening a school.

Despite its small size, the community has long been a veritable melting pot of many faiths and Mr. Anderson will share stories of how even the museum itself once hosted Catholic masses and how county founder Barron Gift Collier ensured that people of all denominations would always be welcome to worship in Everglades City.

When: June 18, 2026
Time: 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Where: Museum of the Everglades
105 West Broadway Avenue, Everglades City, FL 34139