Estero Island Historical Society Meeting
Monday, 02/09/26 @ 1pm
Topic: “Deep Ditches and Bright Lights”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the story of how SW Florida acquired the channels
and lighthouses we rely upon these days.
This long and complicated process took more time
than you’d imagine, and there are
some surprising details you’d never guess!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** Location: 3rd floor Ft. Myers Beach Library **
2755 Estero Blvd. / Ft. Myers Beach, FL 33931
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Call EIHS # 239-463-0435 for details
* FREE FOR MEMBERS & DONATION SUGGESTED FOR NON-MEMBERS *
THE PREMIERE
for
“Passion and Courage: The Esperanza Woodring Story”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ken Sneeden, a videographer & documentarian
who has been chronicling the history of Sanibel and Captiva since 2016,
is on his 3rd collaborative production between the Captiva Island Historical
Society and the Sanibel Historical Museum & Village.
Ken interviewed a host of people, including historian, author and lecturer
Robert N. Macomber.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
[7pm]
BIG ARTS
900 Dunlop Rd. / Sanibel, FL 33957
Price: $25 per person • Reservations required
You can make reservations, safely and conveniently here online by clicking
https://bigarts.org/event/historical-museum-film-night-february/,
or by calling BIG ARTS at (239) 395-0900.
AMAVIDA LIVING AT LAKES PARK
PRESENTS
GUEST LECTURER & MULTI-AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR
ROBERT N. MACOMBER
Thursday / February 26, 2026 / 10am
~ RESIDENTS ONLY ~
——————————–
Topic: “The President & The Devilfish”
—————————————
7820 Fanning Ct, Fort Myers, FL 33907
—————————————–
Sanibel Public Library
LECTURE SERIES
Tuesday, 03/03/26
11am-12:30pm
[770 Dunlop Rd. / Sanibel, FL 33957]
Topic: “A MATTER OF HONOR”
~ The July 4, 1898 Naval Battle of Santiago de Cuba ~
Join multi-award-winning author and lecturer Robert N. Macomber
for a look at a very fateful day in history.
July 4, 1898 was the decisive American naval victory
over the Spanish Navy at Santiago de Cuba which transformed
the United States from continental dominance into a global power.
This is the story of the opposing commanders, and how it happened,
and the poignant role honor played, with an endearing personal legacy to this day.
You’ll gain an understanding of the Spanish-American War,
the consequences of which are still very much with us today.
https://sanibel.librarycalendar.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contact: Duane Shaffer, Adult Program Coordinator
Tel # (239) 472-2483 x 113
email: Media@sanlib.org
SHELL POINT COMMUNITY WELCOMES BACK
GUEST LECTURER & MULTI-AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR
ROBERT N. MACOMBER
Wednesday / March 04, 2026 / 10am
Tickets $15 per person
Call the Tribby Box Office 239-415-5667
or purchase online www.tribbyartscenter.com/boxoffice
Topic: “The Blood Feathers of Florida’s Birds”
This is a poignant report about the women who wore Florida’s bird feathers,
the men who massacred those birds, and the heroes who died defending Florida’s birds.
** NOTE: LOCATION CHANGE AGAIN **
~ Back To Connie Brown Hall in The Tribby Arts Center ~
17281 On Par Blvd. / Ft. Myers, FL 33908
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Pine Island Elementary School
READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY
Thursday, 03/06/26
I’ll be visiting two 4th Grade classrooms to read to the students
in honor of READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY.
I volunteer for this and hope to inspire young minds!
Graduate School for Seniors & The History Club
~ Sun City Center, Florida ~
Friday, 03/13/26 @3pm
“Grog! The Most Famous Drink Afloat” (PowerPoint) – A light-hearted look at the history of the
most famous drink afloat ~ ‘Grog’, the admirals who implemented it, the sailors who drank it,
its profound influence on world history since 1655, and its “official” demise 315 years later.
Bring a drink so you can partake in 10 naval toasts from the Royal Navy, the U.S. Navy, the Confederate Navy,
and the Royal Canadian Navy. [NOTE: It’s encouraged that audience participants are made aware in advance
that they should bring with them a beverage of their choice (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) for participatory fun!]
+
Saturday, 03/16/26 @10am
“A Matter of Honor: The Naval Battle of Santiago de Cuba” (PowerPoint) – this is about the climactic battle
of the 1898 Spanish-American War in Cuba which displayed desperate Spanish bravery and American naval skill.
It completely changed world and American history, but what happened after the naval victory
nearly became a complete disaster for the Americans.
As impactful as it was to how history has unraveled, few know of these accounts.
This factual explanation will bring a better overall understanding.
Consider this presentation the epilogue of the Spanish-Cuban-American War,
the consequences of which are still very much with us today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contact Dan Madden, Graduate School for Seniors Co-Chair <DanMadden44@gmail.com>
Call # 813-642-1215 for more info, to RSVP & to get your tickets!
Graduate School for Seniors & The History Club
~ Sun City Center, Florida ~
Friday, 03/13/26 @3pm
“Grog! The Most Famous Drink Afloat” (PowerPoint) – A light-hearted look at the history of the
most famous drink afloat ~ ‘Grog’, the admirals who implemented it, the sailors who drank it,
its profound influence on world history since 1655, and its “official” demise 315 years later.
Bring a drink so you can partake in 10 naval toasts from the Royal Navy, the U.S. Navy, the Confederate Navy,
and the Royal Canadian Navy. [NOTE: It’s encouraged that audience participants are made aware in advance
that they should bring with them a beverage of their choice (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) for participatory fun!]
+
Saturday, 03/16/26 @10am
“A Matter of Honor: The Naval Battle of Santiago de Cuba” (PowerPoint) – this is about the climactic battle
of the 1898 Spanish-American War in Cuba which displayed desperate Spanish bravery and American naval skill.
It completely changed world and American history, but what happened after the naval victory
nearly became a complete disaster for the Americans.
As impactful as it was to how history has unraveled, few know of these accounts.
This factual explanation will bring a better overall understanding.
Consider this presentation the epilogue of the Spanish-Cuban-American War,
the consequences of which are still very much with us today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contact Dan Madden, Graduate School for Seniors Co-Chair <DanMadden44@gmail.com>
Call # 813-642-1215 for more info, to RSVP & to get your tickets!
SHELL POINT COMMUNITY WELCOMES BACK
GUEST LECTURER & MULTI-AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR
ROBERT N. MACOMBER
Wednesday / April 08, 2026 / 10am
Tickets $15 per person
Call the Tribby Box Office 239-415-5667
or purchase online www.tribbyartscenter.com/boxoffice
Topic: “Deep Ditches and Bright Lights”
The story of how SW Florida acquired the channels and lighthouses
we rely upon these days. This long and complicated process took more time
than you’d imagine, and there are some surprising details you’d never guess!
** NOTE: LOCATION CHANGE **
NOW IN THE GRAND CYPRESS ROOM
IN “THE WOODLANDS” WITHIN
SHELL POINT RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
14441 Woodsong Lane Fort Myers, FL 33908
the Connie Brown Hall [The Tribby Arts Center] **
17281 On Par Blvd. / Ft. Myers, FL 33908
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
The Useppa Island Historical Society & Barbara Sumwalt Museum
Welcomes Author and Historian Robert N. Macomber
Aboard the Lady Chadwick
April 28, 2026 [Saturday]
*MEMBERS ONLY*
For more info, contact Rona Stage <RonaSage@Useppahs.org>
call the Barbara Sumwalt Museum tel # 239-283-9600