Entry 4: Downtown Fort Myers

When I think "downtown", I think of small, locally owned, overpriced shops and restaurants, maybe some nightlife, a pub or two. Nothing historical ever comes to mind. "Downtown" is modern and new. When we visited Downtown Fort Myers however, that changed. There were old buildings like the First National Bank and Edison Theater, and a structure made of coral. "Arcade" didn't mean what I normally think it does. There were museums (Art of the Olympians), sculptures (Firestone, Edison, and Ford fountain), and murals  depicting important historical events.

Downtown Fort Myers is going through an "eco-phase". There is a basin that helps purify water as it leaves the area in order to improve the quality of water flowing into the Caloosahatchee. The way the city is set up encourages walking from place to place so as to reduce the dependence on cars.
The economy of Ft. Myers has evolved through its richness in culture as well as becoming a booming financial district. There are places to live, eat, shop, and view art; places anyone would enjoy. Before World War II, Fort Myers was undeveloped. Today, its growth is exponential; Fort Myers has sustained its history even with all of this growth.