Rookery Bay’s Shell Island Road Location Reveals Thousands of Years of History

A group of Rookery Bay staff members recently joined Resource Management Specialist Steve Bertone for a tour of the Shell Island Road area of the Reserve to learn about the fascinating cultural history hidden in the uplands.  

The first stop was the Kirkland family cemetery, a private cemetery dating back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Kirklands were among Southwest Florida's early pioneer families, settling in the area long before modern roads and bridges connected the coast. Today, Rookery Bay's stewardship team helps preserve the cemetery by removing invasive Brazilian pepper, maintaining the grounds and ensuring this important piece of local history is protected for future generations.   

The group also visited the remains of a historic water tower, one of the few surviving reminders of the Boston brothers' homestead on Shell Island. Originally oil workers from Venezuela, the brothers settled in the area in the 1940s, where they operated a small fishing camp and rented boats to visitors exploring the waters of Rookery Bay. The weathered tower still stands as a reminder of life along Florida's coast before the area was developed.   

The oldest story of the day was told by the discovery of fragments of ancient pottery scattered throughout a part of the uplands. Archaeological research has shown that Indigenous peoples occupied what is now Rookery Bay from approximately 800 to 1200 A.D. (When Spanish conquistadors arrived years later, they called the people “The Calusa”).  

Remnants of the Calusa are also evident in the form of shell mounds (where they built homes), other pottery fragments and tools. These artifacts provide a glimpse into their daily life more than 1,000 years ago. Because the pottery was fired, fragments have survived for centuries just beneath the soil. It was extra special for the team to find pieces of this pottery and have the chance to look at it up close. None of the artifacts were removed from the location as it is also thought to be part of a burial site.  

While Rookery Bay is best known for protecting more than 110,000 acres of mangroves, estuaries and wildlife, it also safeguards the rich cultural history woven throughout the landscape. From ancient Indigenous communities to pioneer families and early settlers, every generation has left its mark on the Reserve.   

Thank you, Steve, for sharing your incredible knowledge and reminding us that conserving Rookery Bay means protecting not only its natural resources, but also the stories that connect us to its past.