Preserving a Heritage: The Florida Maritime Museum and Community Efforts

In the face of economic hardship, Cortez turned increasingly toward heritage preservation. Residents recognized that their history was not only valuable to themselves but also to Florida as a whole.

Florida Maritime Museum

Established in the restored 1912 schoolhouse, the Florida Maritime Museum became a centerpiece of cultural preservation. It documents the fishing traditions, tools, and stories of Cortez and other Gulf Coast communities. Through exhibits and oral histories, it keeps alive the memory of mullet runs, net-making, and fish house labor.

Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival

Since the early 1980s, the village has hosted the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival, an annual event celebrating seafood, music, and maritime traditions. The festival draws thousands of visitors each February, offering mullet, stone crab, and other local delicacies. Importantly, proceeds support local non-profits and heritage projects.

Historic Recognition

Much of Cortez is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, protecting its character from unchecked development. Preservationists and locals alike work to maintain the village’s wooden fish houses, docks, and historic homes. shutdown123