On Wednesday, March 26 the following group toured the Randell Research Center in Bokeelia: Lois Hyatt, Robin Connolly, Sharon Jones, Mary Mills, Cleta Alix, Sharyl Tutela, Mary Anderson, Kathy and Jeff Fabisiak, Judy and Bob Jones, Mireya Rossi and Kathy Flaherty. Their docent was Dawn.
The group first had a wonderful lunch at the Tarpon Lodge Restaurant, which is across the street from the research center. The menu included a variety of delicious entrees.
Their docent was knowledgeable about the Calusa tribe and this archeological site. She took us along the Heritage Trail to the mounds made from shells. We saw the Smith Mound and the Brown’s Mound. The Smith Mound was the burial mound and has the remains of a Calusa tribe member there. There were the mounds where the Calusas built their houses. On the way to the Smith Mound, the participants saw the intricate canal system that the Calusas built. The docent informed the group that these people were very tall and the males painted their bodies. In the museum, there was a skull of a Calusa man and woman. The members could tell they were very good-looking. They could see the many tools that they made. Everyone enjoyed this educational tour of the Randell Research Center.
