Pine Island is tucked between the mainland of southwest Florida and Sanibel and Captiva islands, only 17 miles long and accessible by a single drawbridge. The community of Pine Island is a rare and lingering remnant of old Florida, with many praising it as the new Key West. The island's shores are home to mangroves teaming with fish instead of crowded beaches, making it a major destination for sport fishing enthusiasts and providing a livelihood for the independent commercial fishing families of the island. Strolling the lazy street to Bokeelia's famous fishing pier, or exploring an active Calusa Indian archeological site in Pineland, the crowds and tourist-related glitz common to most of Florida's islands are nowhere to be found, leaving visitors to discover Pine Island's unspoiled beauty at their own pace.
Author Mary Kaye Stevens is an educator who first visited Pine Island with her family in the 1960s. Since making the island her home in 1972, she has gathered numerous photographs and anecdotes documenting the island's history. The vintage photographs and images in this book appear courtesy of multigenerational Pine Island families and take readers on a delightful journey through the island's unique past.