Historical Society Events
Events offered at Naples Historical Society’s Historic Palm Cottage!
Our Tours
Our Events
Garden Side Chickee Chats
Every Chat begins at 11am at Naples Historical Society’s Historic Palm Cottage.
January 28, 2022. Notes from the News Desk! by Charlie Gibson. Mr. Gibson was host of Good Morning America from 1987 to 2006 and the anchor of World News with Charles Gibson from 2006 to 2009. Charles Gibson and his family have a history and connection to Naples which he will share with you.
February 25, 2022. The Nine Lives of Florida’s Famous Key Marco Cat! Austin Bell, Curator of Collections for the Marco Island Historical Society, takes an historical deep-dive into all that is known about the Key Marco Cat. He tracks it from its mist-shrouded origins to its current living quarters at the Marco Island Historical Museum.
March 25, 2022: Chester & Friends. This annual lecture series in the heart of the season features local speakers who showcase a variety of topics related to our history. Past topics include a history of The Cove Inn, Victorian fashions in early SWFL, southern-style bluegrass, and our perennial favorite: Chester & Friends! Have an idea to share? Call us!
Chairs are provided for each Garden Side Chickee Chat, but please bring your sun hats and sun glasses!
Members are FREE! Non-members $8. Reservations are required.
Rain or shine! Refunds will be available upon request if the Society cancels the event for any reason, such as inclement weather. Or, you may choose to make a donation!
Call for additional information: 239-261-8164.
Membership Mixer
In the old days, the Society’s Member Mixers presented an opportunity for the general membership to get together, make new friends, and discuss Naples history.
Today, we do the same thing…plus a little bit more! Meet like-minded people who appreciate local history and learn about the Society’s progress and plans for the future.
Join the Society today to enjoy all of the benefits of membership, and receive an invitation to this noteworthy Member Mixer: Thursday, March 24, 2022, from 5-7pm. FREE event for all members in good standing! Refreshments are included.
This FREE annual event is the best place to meet like-minded history lovers and others who appreciate the charm of historic houses, especially Historic Palm Cottage.
Christmas at Historic Palm Cottage
Historic Palm Cottage is open for holiday tours from December 1 – 31, 2021.
Tuesday and Wednesday, 12-4pm and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 12-7pm. Check our booking system for exact dates and times.
$13/pp during daytime hours: 12-4pm and FREE to all during evening hours: 4-7pm.
Celebrate a wonderful time of the year at the merriest place in Naples, Historic Palm Cottage, during our annual holiday showcase. Perfect for families!
If you love the sound of sleigh bells and the site of twinkling lights as much as you enjoy learning about the history of Naples, then you won’t want to miss this year’s Christmas at Palm Cottage! Historic Palm Cottage will be appropriately dressed for the occasion, showcasing elegant holiday decor to warm the hearts of visitors.
Call for additional information: 239-261-8164 or explore booking options in the following link.
Christmas Gala Fundraiser
Honorary Chairs for the 2021 event are: Carole & Robert Leher, authors of Naples Beach Homes: Cottages, Castles, and the Families That Built Them (2015)
This is our once annual fundraiser to support all the Society’s programs.
Friday, December 3, 2021 at 6:30pm
Historic Palm Cottage & The Norris Gardens, Black-tie.
Limited Seating!
For sponsor or ticket information at 239.261.8164.
Brew in the Garden
January 21, 2022 5-8pm.
The 2021 season marks yet another great year of a wonderful long-term partnership with Will Lawson, owner and brew master of Naples Beach Brewery, the first microbrewery in SWFL. Brew in the Garden is quickly becoming one of the area’s best brew events.
Li’l Louisville Lager will be unveiled this time around, following two successful introductions of Palm Cottage Pilsner (2019) and Haldeman Hops (2020).
Every year, we will iintroduce another specially brewed brew. Then, in 2025, guests will be treated to ALL FIVE BREWS so that the crowd can vote on a favorite!
What name will be unveiled in 2023 or 2024? Stick with us to learn more. How entertaining is this?! $25/pp, Members $15, 5-8pm. Reservations Required.
Call for additional information: 239-261-8164
Clue at the Cottage
June 9, 2022 – 5-8pm.
You are invited to join this adult game of intrigue. Use your inner sleuth to figure out the mystery during this exceptionally well written tour presentation. This Clue event features a new missing item, so if you attended a previous Clue event, be sure to return for this one! Space is limited, so book today!
$25/pp Members $15. Reservations required.
Call for additional information: 239-261-8164.
Croquet at the Cottage
July 9, 2022: Croquet at the Cottage (Daytime event)
What fun! Play croquet while you’re surrounded by gardens that tell the story of Naples’ history. Society Rules! 12 – 4pm. Adults $2/ball. Tour of Historic Palm Cottage FREE. No reservations needed to enjoy The Norris Gardens or play Croquet
Call for additional information: 239-261-8164.
March 10, 2022: Croquet & Chardonnay Croquet & Chardonnay (Evening Event)
A new Society community event, is the perfect opportunity to learn about the fascinating history of croquet from the United States Croquet Association of Southwest Florida. You can hit a wooden ball with a proper mallet and sip a bit of wine in between! 4 – 7pm. $25/pp, Members $15. Light refreshments and free Cottage tours are included. Reservations required
The Norris Gardens
Council of Longtime Friends
Join a rare group of local residents. The Council of Longtime Friends is a treasured group of old-timers and old-timer family members who are the final arbiter of Naples past and who help build the Society’s archives by providing identification information on many archival photos.
Remember the old water tower? Maybe you spent some time at the Paw Paw Patch! We need help from our Longtime Friends to ensure our understanding of the past is accurate.
The Council of Longtime Friends, an annual event, will meet this year on Friday, October 1, 2021, from 5-7pm.
Not an old-timer, but been in Naples a long time? Join us! This is a FREE event and refreshments are available. Become a part of this important social group. Call the Society for more information, 239-261-8164.
What Naples Historical Society is all about…
The Society’s mission is to preserve Naples history and heritage for the community and future generations to enjoy. We are widely recognized as the Central Voice of Naples History.
The strategy we employ to accomplish our mission is through the strategic and efficient production of ten (10) educational programs and five (5) preservation initiatives (see also What Do We Do?).
The Society’s flagship asset is also its Educational Headquarters — Historic Palm Cottage™. This 3,500 sq. ft. house-turned museum (which is Naples oldest house, built in 1895) is listed as a Landmark in the National Register of Historic Places (listed in 1982). The Cottage serves as the portal to Naples history and is enjoyed by tens of thousands of children, residents and visitors alike every year.
Be a living part of Naples history by taking a tour, attending an event, or getting involved with other like-minded people at Naples Historical Society’s Historic Palm Cottage!”
About Naples Historical Society