JOURNAL #9-DOWNTOWN FO TOWN

FACT # 9: Fort Myers was constructed as a military fort. It was utilized to prevent the Seminole Indians from continuing to kill the settlers in the region. The fort was given its name as a tribute to Col. Abraham C. Myers who was stationed in the state of Florida and was the son-in-law of the commander of the fort. In 1858 the Indians surrendered and vacated the area which allowed the soldiers to abandon the fort. However, federal soldiers took advantage of the existence of the fort and they occupied it during the Civil War. When the Civil War ended, the fort was abandoned. In 1882, the population significantly increased by the arrival of a vast amount of settlers. The city experienced another population surge in 1924 due to the construction of the Tamiami Trail Bridge which crosses the Caloosahatchee River.
[source:citytowninfo.com]

This semester, we have gone on some pretty amazing field trips and I have learned so much! I wasn't expecting to learn so much on our downtown trip because I (apparently like many before me) was under the impression that I knew most there was to know about the city considering I've lived here for 7 years and spend a lot of time downtown. Boy was I wrong!

I figured for this blog it would be interesting if I listed some of the neat things I learned about! I took so many picture this week that I couldn't pick just two, so I decided to make a picture documentary of our last field trip :(

1. We have palm trees in Ft. Myers that have the biggest leaves of any plant in the world!

2. Reclinata Palms, native of Botswana, grow in spirals!

3. The city of Ft.Myers is beautiful, especially from the roof top of Indigo hotel!

4. City Tavern has great happy hour specials! ;)

5. Historical artwork can make even the ugliest buildings beautiful!

In class we discussed that the above mural was never dedicated because the government wasn't happy with the artist's description. Though it's hard to admit, I believe that sort of thing happens often and I can even apply it to environmental sustainability. Just as the government doesn't want to admit what happened, people struggle to admit that climate change is happening and that there are things we can do to impact our community and ultimately, our planet.

I think it's really crazy how much you can learn in your own backyard! I was an orientation leader for FGCU and thought I knew almost everything there was to know about our school, yet before this class, I couldn't define sustainability. This class has helped me to open my eyes to the endless learning possibilities everywhere, and more importantly, to be willing to listen!