On Sunday night, January 7th, the chill in the evening air did nothing to cool the warm feelings inside the tent erected at McCarthy’s Marina lot for the Betty Anholt Guardian of History Award dinner ceremony. This year the Captiva Island Historical Society honored Kristie Anders for her “lifetime achievement in interpreting and sharing history of the Islands.”

On Wednesday, November 8th the Captiva Island Historical Society launched its first event of the season with a sold-out sunset cruise onboard the Lady Chadwick, out of Captiva Cruises at McCarthy’s Marina on Captiva.  The evening signaled a return to post-Ian normalcy, after the hurricane had devastated both the 2022-23 CIHS Programs and the Lady Chadwick herself.

After a eight month closure due to structural damage to the floor of its history gallery, followed by disruption from Hurricane Ian, the Captiva Island Historical Society is pleased to announce its History Gallery, a replica of the old mailboat “Santiva,” is open and completely refurbished.

On Tuesday, March 14 the Captiva Island Historical Society concluded its abbreviated season with a program that paid tribute to “Women’s History Month,” featuring two films highlighting several women who played an important role in shaping aspects of Captiva’s colorful history.

On February 13, the Captiva Island Historical Society screened an event encore, a video replay of “Sentimental Journey,” at the Captiva Civic Association.  The original live performance presented on December 7, 2021, in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, is based on Captiva during the years of World War II.  Monday’s pre-recorded encore was attended by an appreciative and enthusiastic audience.

For the Captiva Island Historical Society and its 120 plus guests, Saturday, January 21st provided a little ray of hope, as the CIHS presented a double feature of film documentaries.

The Captiva Island Historical Society ended its season on April 4 with a presentation highlighting facets of the nearly 500-year history of St. Augustine.