Gulf Coast Heritage Association Inc aka Historic Spanish Point

      The Association's mission is to connect people of today with 5,000 years of human history in southwest coastal Florida by preserving and interpreting objects and traditions significant to our region's past.  The Association owns and operates Historic Spanish Point, which opened to the public in 1982. It features prehistoric shell middens dating back to 3000 B.C., a restored pioneer homestead from the 1880s, and the formal gardens of Mrs. Potter Palmer.  A natural environment featuring over 200 species of native plants and a beautiful butterfly garden are also featured at the 30-acre site. Historic Spanish Point is one of the finest historic site museums in the country and is accredited by the American Association of Museums.

           The Association supports several major commitments:

·        Preserving Historic Spanish Point, a 30-acre site listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This site includes evidence of human experience spanning 5,000 years; while each period is significant, it is the sum total of human activity on one piece of land that makes this site unique.

·        Preserving the history and prehistory of southwest coastalFloridaand communicating them in accurate and entertaining ways.

·        Contributing to the community’s sense of place by providing a historical context for those qualities that have attracted people to this region for thousands of years.

·        Maintaining a responsible environmental ethic, fostering the preservation and use of native plants, and communicating the importance of the natural habitat to the community and its quality of life.

·        Encouraging, by example, the preservation of historic buildings, landscapes, and archeological sites.

·        Preserving and teaching the skills and crafts used in this region in the past.

·        Inviting people of all ages to experience the serene beauty of Historic Spanish Point.

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