Questions

1.“Where’s the big rattlesnake skin? That’s why I came….”

2. “I like this place….oh, are they dead?”

3. “Look at those fish. LOOK AT THOSE TEETH. Are they real?”

4. “The silk scarf is a what? A secret map of occupied France?”

5. “WOW…look at the shells and all the Indian stuff. Isn’t that cool?.”

These remarks are typical of visitors to Pine Island’s Museum of the Islands (MOTI). From little children to octogenarians, the museum attracts people from all over the country, and even beyond. The Sign-In Book lists people from Michigan, Nevada, Missouri, Minnesota, Florida, Wisconsin, Kansas, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, Washington, Alabama, North Carolina, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Maine, Canada, and Australia.

Some visitors stay a short time, while others carefully examine every collection held in the museum’s cases. A five million year old whale skull, a doll collection, taxidermy from the island (hence, the “are they dead?” question by a little boy), ship models, old photographs, a viewing rack with letters, maps and other historical documents, a gorgeous shell collection, antique clothing, household objects and farm tools from the time of our grandparents, ….all of these displays and more make for a very entertaining and educational time for the visitor.

Of particular local interest is the culture of the Calusas. The museum’s display includes artifacts, dugout canoes, tools, pottery chards, and replicas of masks. Also in the museum’s gift shop, there are books available about indigenous people and their lives.

Answers

1. In the back room by the taxidermy.

2. Yes, they are dead, and stuffed.

3. The fish are spadefish. The jaw belonged to a drumfish.

4. Yes, a map of France showing occupation lines along with other geographic features to help Allied airmen during WWII.

5. The shell collection is from Laverne Stawicki, and the fossil shell collection from Stan Creber and Lilian Kemph. And the “Indian stuff” is mostly Calusa.

MOTI is located at 5728 Sesame Drive, Bokeelia (next to the PI Library). Hours are: Tuesday – Saturday, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m., Sunday, 1 p.m. 4 p.m. until May 1. From May 1 until Nov. 1, the hours are: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Visit us, and you may find that you, too, are asking very interesting questions.