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Calusa Mural and Artifacts
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photos
 Field notes
written by archaeologist Frank Cushing, who explored the western side
of Pine Island in 1895, formed the basis for the museum's large wall
mural depicting a Calusa village. Cushing made outstanding discoveries
of Calusa art, copies of some of which are on display along with
authentic artifacts, pottery, shell tools and other materials found in
Pine Island's famous Calusa mound excavations.
The art of the Calusas is replicated according to
Frank Cushing's observations and discoveries on Marco Island in the
late 1800s. After exploring Pine Island, Cushing hired Capt. John
Smith, an original settler on Pine island, and his sharpie sailboat to
take him to Marco Island. In a water-filled bog, artifacts were
discovered which were made of painted wood. These copies replicate
Wells Sawyer's paintings done at Marco at the time of the discovery.
The original feline is at the Smithsonian, and the deer head with
articulated ears is at the Museum of Natural History in Gainesville,
FL. They are two of only a few existing copies made from the Cushing
originals that exist today. Our museum copies are made from plaster
cast made from the originals.
Other items show the forming of pottery and the
making of tools from shells.
George Washington
Portrait -
The large, exquisitely detailed beaded tapestry of George Washington
was completed in 1874 by Mrs. Sarah Kuster and her daughter, Mary
Custer Close. The picture contains approximately 300,000 glass beads,
most of which were imported from Europe. Family members believe that it
took more than 10 years to complete this project, and it is mounted in
its original gold-leaf frame. It is not a Florida native, but has been
part of Florida's history for more than a century. Mrs. Sarah Custer
and her daughter made the portrait while they lived in Baltimore,
Maryland. There is quite a history behind this tapestry. The ladies who
created it were guests at Abraham Lincoln's inaugural ball and made
several trips behind Confederate lines between Baltimore and St.
Petersburg, Florida, during the Civil War. It was exhibited at the 1893
Chicago World's Fair and at the Florida Pavilion of the New York
World's Fair in 1939. Eventually, the family settled permanently in St.
Petersburg and the portrait hung in the lounge of the Pheil Hotel.
When the Pheil Hotel was sold and converted to a
bank, a member of the Pheil family noticed that the portrait was hidden
in an obscure room and was not being cared for. She took it to her
residence and the family began a search for someone to care for this
family treasure. It was donated to Museum of the Islands, and we are
currently researching conservation techniques and financial grants that
will preserve this extraordinary example of 19th century folk art for
future generations.
Shell Collection
Extensive shell collection containing more than
1700 different shells.
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