Current Exhibit

January 14 – May 3 

Randy Wayne White’s Everglades —
Writing the REAL Florida

Best-selling South Florida author Randy Wayne White spent 13 years as a full-time fishing guide out of Tarpon Bay on nearby Sanibel Island. He had run over 3,000 paid charters ranging from Fort Myers to Flamingo when government regulations closed the bay he guided from to motorized craft. With a wife and two young sons to support and his livelihood in jeopardy, he set out to write the great American novel – and succeeded. It was 1989.

Combining his passion for Florida history with his knowledge of coastal waters, the local culture and experience with the people and places that make the region so unique, Mr. White created a protagonist for his story – Marion “Doc” Ford. A former national security agent turned marine biologist who was simultaneously relatable, likeable, and still deadly when necessary. 27 books later, the Doc Ford series is still going strong.

The action in Randy Wayne White’s books crisscrosses the state (and sometimes the globe) but the Everglades remain at the heart of many of his stories. Many readers recognize locations described in the novels and often see local personalities reflected in the books’ characters. New visitors to the area have already learned about the challenges facing what remains of “old Florida” through Mr. White’s writings when they arrive and immediately feel connections with both the people and the land.

Our new temporary exhibit, Randy Wayne White’s Everglades, celebrates and explores those connections and the author whose work brings the REAL Florida to life.

All Collier County Museum locations offer free admission.