Celebrating Black History Month and Beyond
Black history meets modern culture throughout Fort Myers’ islands, beaches and neighborhoods. During your stay pay homage to the past, celebrate the accomplishments of civic and community leaders of yesteryear, and support current Black-owned businesses that are paving the way for future generations.
Visit the Murals of McCollum Hall
Behind the yellow walls of this Art Deco building represents a vibrant facet of Fort Myers’ history. Black businessman Clifford “Buck” McCollum Sr. built McCollum Hall in the Dunbar community in 1938. This second-story dance hall quickly became a popular stop on the Chitlin' Circuit — a network of Black-owned nightclubs, dance halls, juke joints and theaters that were safe places for African Americans to perform during segregation. During the 1940s and ‘50s, McCollum Hall welcomed the talents of Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Roy Brown, Louis Armstrong and other luminaries of the time. The structure was also a USO for African American troops in World War II.
Standing at the crossroads of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Cranford Avenue, McCollum Hall has become a beacon for the creative community. The 8-foot-tall wall behind the building is adorned with colorful murals of the legends who performed there, as well as poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, educator Evelyn Sams Canady, who founded the Dunbar Easter Parade, and other important figures in Dunbar’s past.
Explore More
No visit to the area is complete without checking out the Williams Academy Black History Museum, housed in the first government-funded school for African American students in Fort Myers. Learn about the oldest predominantly Black churches, Black-owned businesses and prominent African American figures of our area. Or tour a replica 1940s classroom that gives visual representation of what a Southern classroom looked like back then.
Follow the Lee County Black History Society to learn more about other important locations, or download the Florida Stories app that has a lot of great information on cultural landmarks in the Dunbar community, with audio versions too!
Take a break from sightseeing and grab a bite. Black-owned eateries can be found all throughout the region as well as a few restaurants that pay tribute to the incredible Black pioneers who paved the way for future generations, and every meal tells its own story. Spice Caribbean Bar & Grille serves up dishes like authentic oxtails and delicious stewed chicken. Inside the newly opened Luminary Hotel & Co., Ella Mae’s Diner offers retro-inspired burgers and other classic plates — all in celebration of Dr. Ella Mae Piper, a local activist, philanthropist and entrepreneur who helped shape the history of Fort Myers.
