The old Bank of Everglades building has stood at the heart of Everglades City for nearly a century, and the people working to save it are not done yet.

The Everglades Society for Historic Preservation announced that Phase I of the building’s rehabilitation is winding down. With the completion of the balcony floor and the outside staircase, the project has reached a significant milestone — and none of it would have happened without the donors who showed up.

That support has gone toward stabilizing a structure that might not otherwise survive. Repairs to the roof, along with critical foundation and concrete work, have given the building a solid footing going forward. Built by Barron Collier as the county he founded was just taking shape, the Bank of Everglades is one of very few structures still standing from that era.

Phase II, however, is on hold. Funding requests to the state were not approved, leaving the next chapter of the restoration without a clear financial path forward. The funding didn’t come through this round, but the Society isn’t walking away from it — they’ll continue pursuing what’s needed to see the project through.

If you’d like to support the effort or learn more about what’s ahead, contact Patty at 239-719-0020 or visit the Society’s project page at evergladessocietyforhistoricpreservation.org/our-projects.

You may also be interested in Bank of Everglades Update January 2026  or Meet the Team Behind the Bank Restoration.