Bonita Springs Live Cam

History

The history of Bonita Springs dates back thousands of years, with evidence of human habitation by the Calusa people, a Native American tribe that once dominated the region. The Calusa were skilled fisher-hunter-gatherers who thrived on the abundant resources of Southwest Florida’s estuaries and coastal waters. Archaeological evidence, including shell mounds and tools, indicates that the Calusa civilization was well-established long before European explorers arrived on Florida's shores.

European exploration of the Bonita Springs area began in the early 1500s, when Spanish explorers like Juan Ponce de León made landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast. The Spaniards’ arrival marked the beginning of significant change for the indigenous population, as diseases and conflict led to the decline of the Calusa. By the late 1700s, much of the indigenous presence in the area had been eradicated, and the land entered a period of relative obscurity in history.