I've seen the signs on Alligator Alley many times so I finally decided to stop. Smallwoods is an old Florida store and museum. It is an old Indian trading post with original fixtures and a huge amount of items from books, newspapers, sewing goods, dishes and everything else imaginable. There is a great water view out the back door of the store. It is built up on stilts. There is a $5 entry. The store sells all sorts of souvenirs. We spent under an hour browsing the museum. read more

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Tony and I went to Chokoloskee Island to the Historical Smallwood Store! It's now a museum adults only $5. The water has a brackish reddish brown tint from the Red Mangrove. It also has a sulphury smell! It's very pretty down here! We also stopped in Everglade City FL. read more

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Heck yeah I'll pay $5 for a photogenic little dusty museum. Nope, it's not the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but it was authentic and fun for a quick wander. I can imagine what life must have been like in the 1940s, living on the edge of nowhere like that. We paid WAY too much for a slab of frozen key lime pie, but we were on vacay, and there's nothing like sitting on an outdoor deck with our feet up eating a slab of that frozen key lime pie to cool our patooties. read more

This is my second time here. Last time was several years back. We were enticed into an hour long boat ride with Geary ($50 each Adult and $40 for our 6 YO). The museum entrance of $5 is waived and we had time to check it out after we got back. There is also a gift shop. The boat ride was spectacular and Geary kept us out for 1:15 mins, which was perfect. Geary moved here in 1960, right after Hurricane Donna struck, and has looked back. He worked in the stone crab industry and even did some shrimping. He has been here for nearly his entire life and shared much about the environment as well as the impact of the hurricanes have had on it. Geary took us to where bottlenose dolphins played with one another and let us explore a small sandy island. We saw various bird habitat amongst the hammocks of varying mangroves. The boat ride was the highlight of spring break. Afterwards we visited the museum. I recall seeing some of the same artifacts during my last visit. Everything from the old coke ice chest to different books about the area, to the first check that was written to authorize the business with First Nations Bank. It was fun to come here again. read more

Captain Corey is my favorite captain! Dolphins 10/10, crocodile 10/10, sword fish 11/10. We also saw alligators, a manatee, pelicans, a roseate spoonbill, and lots of other birds and fish. Captain Corey is the funnest. He was very helpful and understanding answering all my stupid questions. He is very experienced and knowledgeable in everything everglades. I was only nervous we would get stuck in the mud once, but Captain Corey got us right out in a matter of seconds. Highly recommend Captain Corey's boat tour. five stars read more

This is a great place to go to to learn about Chokoloskee Island and its history. It's amazing that it's still standing after all the hurricanes that it's been through. read more

We took a trip to the western tip of the Everglades. At the cusp of a barrier island, this quaintly remote and rustic town exuding vibes reminiscent of the Victorian Era had me wondering what my life would be if I only relied on candlelight. It's a few bucks to come in but it's worth the "cover charge" at the door. Spread amongst glass countertops and throughout everything crevice of this wooden wonder are quirky items showcasing a lifestyle only history has taught us; this spot demonstrates it. It's quite impressive to see their collection of artifacts in display because it truly transports you to an unimaginable life concurrent with today's standards yet somehow closely attainable if you close your eyes and envision it. The breeze coming through from the waterfront barn doors offer not only ventilation, but an admiration for the authenticity of old rustic Florida. The Everglades is the last remaining subtropical wilderness left in North America. This slice of historical importance laid the foundation for awareness of our culturally diverse ecosystem that only Florida could naturally demonstrate. Florida for ever. read more

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One of the few REAL things that are FLORIDA anymore. Fourth time there and still found new stuff!!!! $5 entry? Sure beats all the slick $$$$ 'attractions'. This is the real deal. Say hi to Tip the pup for us!! read more

This is an interesting little museum which preserves an old Indian trading post located at the end of a small island called Chokoloskee. They have a lot of antique items set up as the trading post, general store and post office. There is a $5.00 entry charge which goes to the non-profit which maintains the store. Kids under 12 are free. If you are into checking out little "side road attraction" type places, this is worth a visit. read more

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The museum is a must-see when you go to Chokoloksee. Spend the $5 admission; then, experience the history of the island and its people. Fascinating. read more

My husband read all about the interesting history of Chokoloskee before we visited this historic little museum & store. Neat treasures to be found here! read more

Smallwood Store - Museums Near Me - Chokoloskee, Florida

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The Smallwood Store is a historic trading post in Everglades City. It was opened in 1906 when Ted Smallwood set up shop on a Calusa Indian shell mound. He traded goods with the native people and operated a post office. The store served as a meeting place for the people in the area. In 1974 the store was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It remained in operation until 1982 when it was sealed with all of the items inside. In 1990 Ted Smallwood's granddaughter reopened the store as a museum. It costs $5 to explore the store. Ted Smallwood's great granddaughter was the person who took my money. A visit here is liking stepping into the year 1920. It's a time capsule containing animal pelts, medicines, clothes, Seminole crafts, kitchen items, items from the Chokoloskee School, books, and newspapers. The wooden counters slant in to allow room for the hoop skirts women of the time wore. A popular display in the store features Bloody Ed Watson (1855-1910). Watson was an outlaw who moved to Chokoloskee and got into some arguments with people who later ended up injured and dead. When he set up his sugar cane syrup business locals believed he killed the African Americans and Native Americans working for him rather than pay them. He soon accumulated a group of unsavory characters who lived with him. The town finally had enough of Watson and met him at the Smallwood Store one day and killed him. None of the residents were ever prosecuted for the crime. In addition to the store items you can also see the Smallwood families bedroom. Everything looks exactly like when Ted Smallwood ran the store. There is even a life size statue of him still presiding over his business. The store is cluttered and dusty but that is part of the charm. They have a small gift shop that sells T shirts, Seminole bead necklaces, and interesting books on the history in the area. In 2011 the Smallwood store was in danger of closing when an adjacent property to the store was purchased. Developers closed Maime St, the only road leading to the store and named after Ted Smallwoods wife. No one could reach the store forcing the Smallwood family to go to court with the support of the community. Eventually they triumphed and you can reach the store once again. Supporting this store helps a family with pioneer roots keep a piece of Florida history open. The store was badly damaged in hurricane Irma and in order to survive another 100 years the building requires repairs which requires donations. Besides the store the family operates a boat tour behind the building. If you are in the area this is a wonderful place to stop and see Florida as it was when the only way to get to Everglades City was by boat and you could find the Seminoles on the front porch looking to trade hides. read more

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great peek at history through chotchkes and other stuff. worth a visit. we had the bbq outside from a food truck and whole expensive it was good. ice cream too. read more

Definitely, visit Smallwood on Chokoloskee Island when in the Marco/Naples area and visiting Everglade City, a small and very neat town with a few places to stay and eat. We stopped at the Visitor's Center for directions to this historic trading post. The building is easy to find. It's old, and stopped in time, closing its doors in '82. Many years later the granddaughter reopened the store to tourists. You walk in finding a dusty general store with anything you would need to live in the area or on the water a century or so ago. Visitors in the late 1800s included plume, hide and fur hunters. Another room has souvenirs for tourists to buy. You can spend an hour just looking at the artifacts, photographs, learning about the Calusa Indians and viewing a PBS video about the island. The public bathroom is a port-a-potty that is so clean it looks new. The store pays that company to keep it clean. Smallwood Store was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1974. Boat tours of the 10,000 islands can also be arranged here. read more

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When you see the signs for Smallwood's store from I95 you figure you're in the middle of nowhere and there's a quaint general store out here. So you pull off the highway and hey, guess what? The store is about 26 miles from the exit! And there's nothing to see for those 26 miles...other than a couple of restaurants and stores, some of which looked like they might be open. You drive to the end of a road where a big red barn-looking building is situated next to the bay, with a good size tree-lined parking lot in front of the flight of stairs leading to the store's entrance. There's no elevator so if you can't do stairs, don't turn off the highway. The interior of the store is more of a museum - hence the $5 admission fee - no kidding. There are a few modern tourist souvenir/knick knacks in the second room but this store is more about viewing than buying. Looking out the back window of the store, you can imagine how boats came to shore - since the building is right on the bay's edge. You can imagine how that helped bring items to the store. What I found really interesting: The store sold ready-made clothes for men...and fabric and buttons for women to sew their clothes and their kids' clothes. The girl behind the counter (a relative of the original owner) said only men's clothes were sold here because they had to work. I guess kids going to school in the buff wasn't a primary concern. And what could you say to a women who says she can't go out because she has nothing to wear?!!! And the wood counter is on an angle - the counter is close to your hips but as you look down your legs, the counter angles away from your body until there's a couple of feet of floor between your feet and the counter base. This was a modesty counter - women would fill the empty space with their skirt fabric. Hey, it may sound bizarre but do you know what they call the front panel of desks that prevent you from seeing the person's legs? A modesty panel. For as far as we've come, we still design furniture with modesty in mind! I was impressed how the store became a conduit that encouraged good working relationships between native Americans and Caucasians. The store showcases blankets, pics and other Native American memorabilia. You can see how their community grew as families melded. There are many tools and artifacts from Old Florida. There are boxes of candies sold in the 1960's. There's a working desk in the middle of the floor, that on the day we visited had a man busily working as customers milled about. The wood floors and walls are genuine and you feel that you're stepping back in time...then you go down the flight of stairs, back to your car shaded by the tall trees and drive 26 miles back to the highway. I'm glad I stopped here but it's a one-and-done type of experience. read more

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I stumbled upon this as I explored and scouted Chokoloskee Island and nearby Everglades City for places to launch a kayak and am grateful I found it. If you are even the slightest interested in life in the Everglades before the National Parks took over, this place is a step back in time. I easily spent an hour perusing and taking in all the displays, information, videos and antiques. This is a photographers playground and you can really imagine what it was like to live here 50 years and longer ago. Well worth the $5 admission fee, there are souvenirs, books and stuff for sale as well as the displays. I will be back again and again! read more

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There were lots of signs along our right advertising the Smallwood Store. The Store evidently is an important piece of Florida's heritage. At least that's what the signs indicated. Thus, we followed the signs to Chokoloskee. First of all we had trouble parking. There isn't a lot of room but we were curious as to what this place really was. It's a museum of sorts. We were quite disappointed but that was our fault because we didn't do our research. Admission is $5.00 per person to enter the building. We walked around and didn't go inside. There just didn't seem to be enough there to catch our interest. read more

Smallwood Store - Smallwood Store - Museums Near Me - Chokoloskee, Florida

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We stumbled upon this gem from a few wrong turns- which ended up being really great for us! I had 3 teenagers with me and while we decided we actually wouldn't go into the store and check it out, (they were starving), we ordered food from the BBQ truck that they had parked by the water. The kind gentleman explained some of the history too us as we waited and the kids enjoyed the sandwiches, sides and sweet tea. It was the perfect place for everyone to relax, stretch, and check out the beach area after being in the car for awhile. read more

haha boyfriend and I have mixed reviews, but we both think the price of $5 per person is really steep for what they offer. Basically, this is an eclectic mix of old things that have been saved throughout the years. You pay to browse through stuff throughout the century. While it was cool, I think they are asking a lot of money. I really enjoyed browsing the old textbooks that they had there and see what students were learning about in the 1930's. I read math and geography books for a while, but honestly, it wasn't that thrilling. I did enjoy browsing through the store and see what they had to offer. Boyfriend wasn't a fan at all and spent his time outside looking at the view (pretty water!). The other issue I had was I asked if they offered student discounts (I mean it IS educational, right?) and the guy was like yeah right you're not in school. Uh yes I am, but it wasn't worth the argument, so I paid $10 for us to get in... read more

We visit the Smallwood Store at least once a year. Why do we go in the summer when equatorial heat pounds you down and mosquitoes swarm? Because we are trying to avoid "the tourists". If you are visiting from the northern climes, this is a great place to visit. The store displays many items from days gone by, days gone way by. To those of us who live around here, this is the Place to see where Mr Watson was gunned down, a place to remember a horrible hurricane in 1910, one of the deadliest hurricanes ever in the US. We know the story of how many folks survived by lashing themselves to trees on a Caloosa shell mound. Any of us who have been through a significant hurricane can empathize with these folks. And so, that is why we make an annual pilgrimage to Chokoloskee. read more

Smallwood Store - Museums Near Me - Chokoloskee, Florida

This little store has so much history-we visited after the hurricane of 2017 and it was standing tall! Videos of the smuggling trail and some interesting artifacts. Nice day trip, especially when you can drive up to Havana Cafe after read more

It's a historic place, mostly by reason of the fact that it still exists, certainly not by reason of the fact that anything significant ever happened here. It was an early time trading post, still standing, but now a private pay to look at museum containing some interesting but rather insignificant artifacts. It's one of those places wherein the area, location and old stilted structure are of more interest than is the destination of Smallwood Trading Post. It's well worth the stop by to see, as is the area, but hardly anything to write home about or cause one to make repeated trips. read more

Just know it's not a store, it's a museum. If you are into south Florida history you will think it's interesting.

We stumbled upon this place by randomly driving around Everglades City after a fantastic lunch at Camellia Street Grill. Follow the sign down a partly unpaved road to the end. Initially it looks like a cool spot to get a quick photo and that's it. Initially saw the $3 admission fee and thought "nah!" but did a quick walk upstairs to peek in and got sucked in. Even went back outside twice for my wallet and camera, I was so impressed. This place has almost shut down a few times and most recently was bought and reopened just last month! The history of this place and the location itself are simply amazing. A number of people have very obviously put a lot of quality time and effort into arranging things with authenticity, to resemble the original general store/trading post and living quarters of earlier times. There are numerous displays with historically accurate intrepretations/explanations, as well as a DVD of interviews playing in one corner of the store. The souvenirs are actually decent and not too over-priced. They do a nice job of having quite a few Florida authors (both fiction and non-fiction) on display and even have some of the authors there on hand to chat and sign books, and then they continue working in the background. The folks working there are very friendly and interested in learning and sharing what they've learned about everything from early archeological finds of indigenous peoples to early European settlers to more recent times. read more

Smallwood Store - Brief History of the Trading Post - Museums Near Me - Chokoloskee, Florida

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A huge part of Chokoloskee history is the Ted Smallwood general store. If you're in the area, do yourself a favor and stop by this historic venue to checkout the museum. I've been visiting Chokoloskee for years for the fishing and boat past this place all the time but never stopped because it's closed before and after we are done fishing for the day. Finally, we ended up having time after a weekend getaway. We were not disappointed! The store is not air conditioned but kept cool by the sea breeze that filters it. It's $5 for entrance and free for kids under 12. The place is jammed packed with history and original items from the store in its prime. Immediately coming into the store, you're greeted by an employee. Ours was very nive and gave us a brief history of the store and family. After that, you're free to look around. Everything has info cards and there's a small gift shop with apparel and books. A real treat was the old fashion coke machine. It's air cooled and no ice is used. Buy a coke! It's available in small glass bottles for just $1.50 read more

Drove here due to reading tourist stuff about visiting Smallwoods Store. Looked disappointing folks.... First thing I saw was a sign that I had to pay $5 to go in. Well, it did not perk my interest enough to consider paying $5. Really nothing there but a bbq food truck, not many people around, and didn't seem like a place to drop $5 to me. So use your own judgement, but I'd take a pass on this tourist item. However, we found a great place to eat on the way back to Naples called Havana Cafe of the Everglades - check it out folks - it was a wonderful place to eat. read more

On the western edge of the Everglades and deep in the heart of the 10,000 Islands, Chokoloskee Island has been called one of Florida's last frontiers. At the Historic Smallwood Store you will learn the story of the pioneers and settlers who tamed this vast wilderness. Human habitation of Chokoloskee Island began approximately 2,000 years ago when a mound building people began altering the landscape with mounds and canals. Subsequent influxes of Native Americans expanded the mounds and fished, hunted and farmed the rich fertile soil. Moving south from conflict in North Florida and Georgia, the Seminole Indians were the last native peoples to make the Everglades their home. White settlement in Chokoloskee Bay began near the end of the nineteenth century. Plume, hide, and fur hunters were the first to visit. They were quickly followed by families who combined seasonal hunting, fishing, and farming to make a living like their native predecessors. Settlement brought a need for goods and mail and that need was met by the Smallwood Store. Established in 1906by Ted Smallwood, this Trading Post served a remote area, buying hides, furs and farm produce and providing the goods required. Ted Smallwood's store was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It remained open and active until 1982. When the doors were shut, 90% of the original goods remained in the store. In the last few years Ted's granddaughter has reopened the store as a museum, and today it serves as a time capsule of Florida pioneer history. The center section of the building remains as Ted would have known it. The hide room has been turned into exhibit space, telling the history of the pioneers of southwest Florida. read more

Smallwood Store - Museums Near Me - Chokoloskee, Florida

I have a strange affinity to this place, possibly based on my family history in Ireland of running all sorts of haberdashery and grocery stores and travelling stores for many years. Maybe it's the trader blood in me coming out but the moment I walked up the stairs to this place I felt at home. I love being in an old building which has history where you can imagine where real people lived and worked, cried and fought, ate and laughed, were scared, had secrets and loved and did pretty much what we all still do, and this building tries to preserve a Little bit of that history. Because there is so little of the history of South Florida's development being preserved, places like Smallwood Trading Post should be cherished and encouraged. $5 admission is the price of freaking Starbucks coffee for some people. Take your time going through there, let your imagination take over. Go through it once and then, go back and go see how much you actually missed the first time. There is a whole lot to see, if you stop, put down your smart phone and actually look. Let your imagination take over, be a child again.....enjoy the wonderful breeze coming through, look out at the beauty of the never-ending Everglades and perhaps you will see a canoe coming up to the dock to trade read more

Smallwood Trading Post is a gem of history in the Everglades. The land bridge to this island (Chokolooskee) was built in 1955. Before that the Native Americans and locals came to this store by boat and traded furs and alligators and fish for supplies needed as they lived on the remote islands here. There are an amazing amount of historic displays and artifacts inside. The people that work here have an amazing amount of history to share. If you get anywhere near this area it is well worth the time to explore and experience. Great spot for sunsets also. (there are some great places to eat within a couple of miles also). (I have added a number of photos I took here) read more

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Yes, there's an admission charge. And darned right it's worth it. Besides what others have said, this is a Do Not Miss for any Peter Matthiessen readers, or anyone who has read the National Book Award-winning Shadow Country (in the running for Great American Novel) or, even more to the point, the first book in his Watson trilogy, Killing Mister Watson. THIS IS RIGHT WHERE THAT HAPPENED! And it is STILL, over a century later, in the Smallwood family, and Ted Smallwood's descendants are the people who work there! It is a complete time warp back to the early part of the 20th century, and the more you look at the exhibits or pictures, the more you are transported directly back to those times--because nothing's--and I mean nothing's--been changed. The view off the back porch is, alone, worth the price, and you get some understanding of why people would try to put down roots in such a strange and savage place. (Also, the height of the place says something about hurricane storm surges--and surviving them). The gift shop is FAR above average: there are just a few designs of t-shirts and hats (they're not exploiting the visitors). Instead, there are other things not found generally: all the books about the place (and there've been many), alligator hides, Seminole-design hotpads, shark teeth (be careful--they are sharp!) and a personal favorite, alligator nails. See why the charge is worth it? read more

This place is the essence of Florida backcountry. It's preserved to about 95% to its original state. Walking in is like stepping back in time. If history is your thing this is little nook is the place to go. Not to mention where it's located, Chokoloskee , which was cutoff from the mainland until 1955 when they built a road to it. read more

Smallwood Store - Mr Smallwood himself ! - Museums Near Me - Chokoloskee, Florida

We followed the reviews from yelp regarding the small museum and we're delighted to find the museum and boat trip the highlight of our week. The museum was fascinating as they had so many things from the olden days from the general store and a great story about the outer life and the Indians that were part of the original area. For the cruise, the captain made a special effort to ensure that we saw wildlife, dolphins and spent time to talk about his Island home. It was truly a beautiful and exciting day with the private boat tour is really very special. read more

Smallwood Store - Store front - Museums Near Me - Chokoloskee, Florida

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This place was built in 1906!!! It was used as a trading post for local people in the area, including many of the Native Americans who would travel by boat to get their goods. The inside is full of artifacts and there are some placards to read. The place could use a bit more dusting but I imagine some of the items cannot be cleaned due to potentially damaging them. You go at your own pace since there is no tour guide. The store was bigger than it seemed and our group was there about 45 minutes. It costs $5 to get in, which is fine because otherwise, how else would this place stay open? There's obviously no indoor plumbing, but there is a port-a-potty outside. Also, this place is built on stilts because of the water and there's no wheelchair ramp or elevators, so if you cannot climb the stairs, there's no other way in. It's amazing that this building still stands after so many hurricanes that I wonder how much longer it'll last. If you are travelling across the coast, it is worth a stop! read more

It's not fancy but it's a gem for anyone interested in Old Florida history. The staff are knowledgeable and very friendly. It's a great way to get to know how those who lived here around a hundred years ago survived. It was a very difficult and different existence and fascinating. read more

Boat ride in the Everglades! Chuckakuckee built by the Calusa Indians. I'm told the Calusa Indians were 7ft tall, I've yet to find this information in writing! I loved the Oyster banks and all the wildlife. Fun boat ride with all the dolphins. read more

No visit to Florida is complete without a visit to this site. The Everglades comprises a large piece of the state. However, few tourists ever visit the Everglades. In fact, even fewer Floridians ever see the Everglades in such a way that develops a feel and appreciation for Florida History, for the pioneers, and for the Native tribes. I lived in South Florida for over 40 years and had never heard of the Smallwood Store. Fortunately, I just had to visit this place after I read about it in the New York Times in an article about how this amazing treasure may be erased by new development/construction. I hope not. read more

I wish I could have seen all the previous reviewer tells about. I arrived at 4:40PM(wrote it in my vacation journal). There were 3 other vehicles in the parking lot. To enter, you have to go up quite a flight of stairs. Some people started coming out and I waited at the bottom to let them pass. They just kept coming. I started counting and there were around 14 (Hispanic) people that got into 2 of the vehicles. I figured the other one must belong to the employee inside. The unpersonable old woman behind the counter said , "Sorry, I'm closing." I was a bit shocked, since, I knew it could not have even been 4:45PM. I left. Not something you can or would want to argue with. Takes the fun out of the experience when you feel like you don't belong there. I'm sure it was not pleasant in that cramped space with the party that had just left, but, that was NOT MY FAULT. There is an entrance fee. I would not go in now if THEY PAID ME. Ms Old Biddy, You can take your museum and place it where the sun ......doesn't shine. read more

Beware: there is an admission fee! Of course this is not posted on their website. We visited (drove 3 hours) because we thought the store and the nearby area would be something special. While it is nice to see a part of Florida that isn't a townhouse development I don't find a mobile home park much of an improvement. The store is essentially a large room crammed with random items (e.g. old bottles, old signs, etc.). This is not a functioning store like the general stores found in the Northeast.There are no interpretive signs, nothing to make this a "museum" as it claims to be on the door. It is a crowded antique mall. Don't waste your time. read more

I was skeptical about paying $5 for this "museum", but it was well worth my money just to see the antiques and hear the history of the place. I'll be back! read more

I've read people whining about the small admission fee for this place. If you are hurting that bad you can't afford to pay the 5 bucks to help keep this historic site open you should just stay home and save the gas money too. It's well worth the cost of admission. read more