In addition to serving as Everglades City’s and the area’s Visitor Center, the Bank Building will be the focal point for the community to enjoy indoor and outdoor concerts, lectures, art shows, special events, local crafts, and much more. All this will be accessible on the first floor where there is ample room. The vault will be the “Bob Flick” theater, which will play Wind Across the Everglades, the only request Bob Flick asked of us. There will be a conference room on the second floor for our local organizations to use, two classrooms for a wide variety of activities, and a historical library. Our historical society has been receiving interesting artifacts from people around South Florida, which will be on display. We will continue to work closely with the Museum of the Everglades, as well as United Arts Collier and other county organizations, to coordinate events so as not to overlap but to enhance the programs offered to our community.

This $7 million project is a significant milestone in our ongoing effort to preserve local history while creating a dynamic new resource for both residents and visitors. However, funding remains a challenge. We still need $4 million to complete the restoration, and I am hopeful that assistance from the State Legislature and contributions from the public will help bring this vision to life.

The Bank of Everglades, originally established in 1923—the same year Collier County was founded—played a crucial role in the region’s early development. Its revival not only honors this legacy but also ushers in a new era of community engagement and tourism. Among those present at the groundbreaking ceremony were Barry Collier, who expressed admiration for the commitment to preserving history, as well as officials from Collier County, the National Park Service, and representatives from state and federal government. Their presence underscored the widespread support for the project and its potential impact on the community.