The Columbus G. McLeod marker sits near the edge of Ponce de Leon Park, and even with the sky…read moreflattened into a dull gray the place still has that easy Punta Gorda rhythm where people wander in from the parking lot, the shoreline drifts along quietly, and the marker becomes a small pause in the middle of it all. The beach view was not doing much on an overcast day, but the park itself carries enough charm to make the stop worthwhile, and the marker's simple presentation fits the setting without trying to compete with anything around it. What struck me most was how McLeod's fight to protect Florida's plumed birds echoes the spirit called out on the Paul Kroegel statue over in Sebastian, another reminder that conservation in this state was built by stubborn, principled individuals who refused to look away. Reading the marker brings that same sense of early guardianship, the kind of work that shaped the wildlife we take for granted today, and standing there in the soft light of an overcast morning, it felt like a quiet tribute to someone who understood the cost of doing the right thing even when the world wasn't paying attention. The marker reads, "Many wading birds can be seen here, largely due to the sacrifice of men like Columbus G. McLeod (1848-1908), who gave his life trying to protect them from plume hunters. Ladies' hats with exotic bird feathers were high fashion for the late 1800's, and thousands of birds were slaughtered in Florida for their plumage. In 1901 the Audubon Society persuaded the state to adopt laws protecting Florida wildlife, especially plumage birds. Even so, no funds were allocated. The state, however, agreed to deputize two wardens hired by the Audubon Society. The danger of this work was evidenced when Guy M. Bradley, charged with protecting the Everglades area, was found shot to death near Flamingo on July 8, 1905. Columbus G. McLeod of Placida, charged with protecting to rookeries here in northern Charlotte Harbor, disappeared under suspicious circumstances and was presumed murdered on November 30, 1908. This second death of an Audubon warden sparked a national campaign against the wearing of feathers, and shifted public sentiment in favor of stronger enforcement of wildlife protection laws and the prosecution of plume hunters. Today we enjoy the beauty of our Florida wading birds largely because of these men." It is marker number F-552 and it was erected in 2004 by The Peace River Audubon Society and the Florida Department of State. [Review 108 of 2026 - 2229 in Florida - 25298 overall]

There is a historic marker in Ponce de Leon Park commemorating Columbus G. McLeod. At the turn of…read morethe century Florida's native bird population was being wiped out by plume hunters who were killing the birds for ladies hats. To help protect the birds that were on the verge of extinction, the National Audubon Society hired game wardens to patrol the rookeries and enforce state game laws. This job could be dangerous and Everglades Game Warden Guy M. Bradley was found murdered on July 8, 1905. Game Warden Columbus McLeod (1848-1908) was charged with protecting the breeding grounds of the birds of northern Charlotte Harbor. He is presumed to have been murdered during patrol in Lee County, Florida. It is believed that he was searching for egret hunters at Cayo Pelau Island when he disappeared. His boat was eventually located sunk with sand sacks tied to it and his hat was located nearby with two axe chips, blood, and hair on it but his body was never located. He was 63 at the time of his disappearance. Columbus G. McLeod Preserve in Ft. Myers was named in his honor. The death of the two game wardens shifted public opinion against wearing feathers and led to stronger wildlife protection laws. Thanks to the sacrifice of these two men along with countless others who patrolled and lobbied for laws to protect the birds we are still able to have native birds in the wild today. Although there is still not as many as were here in the late 1880's before hunting began, their number continues to grow every year.

This marker stands on the property of the Punta Gorda City Hall, a couple of blocks from both…read moreGilchrist Park and the Gilchrist Bridge that crosses the Peace River and connects the city with Port Charlotte. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "A founder of Punta Gorda, he was a resident until his death. Served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives in 1893, 1895, 1903 and was House Speaker in 1905. He resigned as Brig. Gen. of the Florida Militia and enlisted as a Private in the U.S. Volunteers during the Spanish-American War. He was discharged a captain. He served as Governor 1909-1913. Was noted for rugged honesty, good humor, and concern for others. Gilchrist County was named for him." It is marker number F-109 and was erected in 1963 by the Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials. Gilchrist was born into a family that had been wealthy, but the Civil War and his father's early death left him in what one biography calls relative poverty. He was selling firewood at nine and working as a store clerk for fifteen dollars a month before he ever set foot in Florida. He first came as a civil engineer and surveyor for the Florida Southern Railroad in 1885-1886, saw potential in the young town, and quit the railroad to stake his future there. He wasn't just a founder in the ceremonial sense. He was one of the men who voted to incorporate the town, and he ran for mayor in the very first election, losing by only two votes. [Review 1588 of 2025 - 2169 in Florida - 25138 overall]

Staff was very helpful and got the job done! The building was very clean and neat. Thank you all…read morefor your help

Excellent efficient service!! All done by a phone call, and honestly I was expecting the opposite…read morefrom experiences long in the past. I was amazed!!

This well preserved (or possibly restored) historical marker stands in front of the 1926 Arcadia…read moreCity Hall and provides the background on this small city. It has the same text on both sides. It reads, "The Town of Arcadia was settled in 1883, incorporated in 1886, and became the county seat in 1888. By the late 1880s the population was 300. On Thanksgiving night 1905 the town burned. Three brick stores survived. Using only brick or block, rebuilding began immediately. Most of those buildings remain today. During World War I with its two flying schools, Carlstrom and Dorr Fields, Arcadia became known as the "Aviation Capital" of Florida." "The land for Arcadia's first city hall (140 x 142) was a pineapple patch bought in 1917 for $3,000 from Fred and Ida Gore. City Hall was designed in the Mediterranean Revival style and was furnished in June 1926 at a cost of $45,216, including all furnishings. A section of the original nine-foot office counter and steel shelves for the vault are still in use. The fire station first housed a solid, rubber-tired, auto driven hose wagon with chemical tanks and a 1924 American La France fire truck which is still owned and running. The original 20-foot brass fire pole and the 400-pound siren are to be placed in the City Hall Museum. In 2004, restoration of City Hall began with funding from the Florida Division of Historical Resources and the City." This is marker number F-563 and it was erected in 2005 by the City of Arcadia and the Florida Department of State. There is parking nearby. [Review 1609 of 2025 - 2186 in Florida - 25157 overall]

I agree with the people from Lee. I spent two years down there and used the south library off…read moreGladiolus (I believe it was on Bass.) and the north Fort Myers just over the Edison bridge. Unlike what is left of the Charlotte libraries, I never left a Lee county library empty handed. Unfortunately, I believe the reason for that is the difference in the size of the population. I'm sure Lee gets a much larger amount of funding. So much so that they have enough books to actually seperate them by type, making it easier to find what you're looking for. There is no excuse I can think of to not have a complete set of a series though. Has happened to me enough times that I no longer take out any part of a series. I tend to just be glad we have a library at all considering the state of things today. Overall I believe these people are doing the best they can with what they have to work with.

We recently moved to Charlotte County from Lee and we're disappointed in the limited selection of…read moreBOOKS at the Punta Gorda Library. Just about anything I'm interested in reading is only available electronically. The Biographies and History sections are minimal. Fiction is no better - as an example, they'll have one book from a series of seven, maybe 3 books from a series of 15 and a 32-book series has only 10 books - and they're not in series order. Makes it frustrating.

The Barron Collier Bridge carries the northbound lanes of US 41 across the Peace River between…read morePunta Gorda and Port Charlotte, and its clean concrete girder design reflects the practical, mid century Florida approach to river crossings. The current span dates from the early 1980s, replacing an older drawbridge that had served the region since the early twentieth century. Even without ornament, the bridge has a quiet presence, rising just high enough to clear local boat traffic and offering wide views of the river on a clear day. Its history reaches back to the first automobile era, when the original Peace River crossing opened in the 1920s to support the growing Tamiami Trail. That early bridge quickly proved too narrow for the traffic it attracted, prompting the construction of the first Barron Collier Bridge in the early 1930s. Over time, as the region grew and US 41 became a major corridor, the state added the Gilchrist Bridge for southbound traffic and eventually replaced the older Barron Collier span with the modern structure in use today. Crossing it on a foggy morning changes the experience entirely. The river disappears into a soft gray wash, the shoreline fades, and the bridge feels almost suspended in midair. What is usually a broad, scenic view becomes a quiet, muted passage, the kind of moment that makes you aware of the bridge's height and the stillness of the water below. It is a reminder that even the most familiar Florida infrastructure can feel different when the weather decides to rewrite the script. There is no toll to cross the bridge. [Review 1580 of 2025 - 2161 in Florida - 25130 overall]

2100th Review The…read moreCircus Bridge is no ordinary bridge although one wouldn't know it's historic significance by merely looking at it or even driving over it, it's played a huge part in the celebration each and every year in Venice for more than three decades as the animals from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey were unloaded from the circus train each winter and marched across this bridge, the crowds that gathered to watch cheered celebrating the end of a long season entertaining the masses with countless performances. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey wintered at the circus arena near the Venice airport which was finally demolished after years of attempts to preserve it in some way; the building's skeleton had remained in place long after the circus left the site behind in the early 1990s. But in its heyday, in the 1960s, '70s and '80s, the arena welcomed thousands of spectators as well as top circus performers, who rehearsed their new shows here. For residents and visitors, the arrival of the circus train was a memorable highlight of each winter season. On January 14, 2017, it was announced that the circus will be closed forever in May 2017 after 146 years of bringing smiles to millions and will lay off more than 462 employees between March and May 2017. Declining attendance combined with high operating costs and loss of the elephants are among the reasons for closing. On May 7, 2017, its "Circus Extreme" tour will be shown for the last time in Providence, Rhode Island. The circus's last performance will be its "Out of This World" tour at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on May 21, 2017 and that my friend will be the end to maybe the grandest entertainment icon ever, but this bridge will remain and continue to be ghostly reminder of the past for those that witnessed it's grandeur at the end of each circus season that's until it too will become obsolete and replaced with a concrete span named after some politician who's grand kids will only read about "The Greatest Show on Earth" but never witness it's magic...

Hard working government people who are very helpful and…read moreconcerned . The team, which they are, strive to make things run smoothly for you. They want to get you in and out and on your way. Nobody wants to see long lines..... especially the workers. So next time when you are there in Osprey thank them for their service. A smile and "thank you" goes a long way.

Megan the current "post master" was caught allowing her carriers to drive to homeowners home to…read moretheir physical address and leave mail when a certified letter wasn't signed for or picked up . the certified letter was NEVER signed by the homeowner of the mailbox and was RTS on 5-25-2026 .The certified letter was found inside the homeowners mailbox on 6-7-2026 . when the homeowner took the letter to the post office and spoke to Megan the post master she told us that she allows them to deliver it to the address on envelope ! this is a federal offense and is not allowed . what else is she doing being out back with our mail ! she also allowed her carrier to open a mailbox for another women who does not have a key to the owners mailbox . to place something inside the home owners mailbox ! Megan the post master was caught allowing her carriers to drive to physical address on the letter she is a messy post master and if anyone else has an issue call the Inspector general ASAP . report her asap at Osprey location . it is illegal and a federal offense to have any mail carrier open a mailbox box for anyone that does not have a key!