Smallwood Store
Smallwood Store
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
*Est in 1906 The Smallwood Store is now a museum open 7 days a week. At the Historic Smallwood Store you will learn the story of the pioneers who tamed this vast wilderness also known as "Florida's Last Frontier". Learn about the Calusa Indians and later the Seminole and Miccousukee Tribes that traded at the Trading Post. Visit the Tigertail gift shop located inside the Smallwood Store Museum. You will find books & DVD's related to Southwest Florida History, authentic Seminole crafts & carvings, artwork & photography from local artist, alligator heads, t-shirts and much more.
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- AJNNJ44New Jersey472 contributionsTime capsuleThe Smallwood Store is described as a ‘museum’ but it’s really more accurately described as a ‘time capsule’. We found it fascinating to poke around the place and see/touch/experience so many genuine articles seemingly frozen in the history of the place. The staff was friendly and pleasant.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 6 November 2023
- MEGHarrison, New York114 contributionsStep Back In TimeA museum more than a store. Fully preserved original post office and general store. Lots to look at, to learn, and reminisce about. Pioneers were unbelievable brave and strong people to live and tame this part of Florida.Visited January 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 5 January 2024
- BAR845Englewood, Florida472 contributionsWorth a stop at this informal museumCool museum. A lot of old things to look through. We thought $5 was pretty cheap to look around. Fascinating story about the pioneers settling this area. Not a formal museum and a lot of things are not marked but still an interesting experience for the price. Worth a visit if you are in the area.Visited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten 16 May 2024
- Gator58New Port Richey, Florida742 contributionsInteresting historical stopEnjoyable stop, we read up on the history of the area before our visit so it really enhanced our time here. Lots of unique artifacts plus local books available. Amazing view as well. Still owned by family membersVisited September 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 26 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
392 reviews
Excellent
215
Very good
119
Average
36
Poor
13
Terrible
9
The Pidge
Wayne, NJ609 contributions
July 2021
Don't let the name fool you- while part of it is a gift shop selling things like shirts and books from local authors- Smallwood Store is more of an exhibit. After paying the mandatory five dollars to enter, it takes about 15 minutes to wander through and examine the historical bits and other tchotchke scattered about. If you're a fan of quirky roadside attractions like me, you'll probably declare it money well-spent (even if only for the thrill of walking through a piece of history).
Written 6 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katty Sean M
116 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
This place should be a historic landmark. It’s fairly hard to find and sits right on the water. Their museum is a we messaged you for a conference call, you did not answer and the only bathroom they have is a old dirty porto potty. This place should be phenomenal, but it isn’t. The staff working there are nice but in my opinion this place is in desperate need of some TLC and the $5 per person fee to enter the museum is way too high.
Written 4 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jlgood50
Ringgold, GA1,483 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
While we were spending the night in Everglades City, one of the locals recommended we visit the Smallwood Store. It was pouring rain, so I didn't take any pics. There is a $5.00 fee to tour the museum/store. My Son & I were the only people there, so we had the place to ourselves. Lots of history, with old artifacts, photographs & newspaper stories. I really enjoyed my time there. Definitely worth a stop!!
Written 5 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shelby C
Pembroke Pines, FL11 contributions
May 2021
This place was built in 1906!!! It was used as a trading post for local people in the area, including many of the Native Americans who would travel by boat to get their goods. The inside is full of artifacts and there are some placards to read. The place could use a bit more dusting but I imagine some of the items cannot be cleaned due to potentially damaging them. You go at your own pace since there is no tour guide. The store was bigger than it seemed and our group was there about 45 minutes. It costs $5 to get in, which is fine because otherwise, how else would this place stay open? There's obviously no indoor plumbing, but there is a port-a-potty outside. Also, this place is built on stilts because of the water and there's no wheelchair ramp or elevators, so if you cannot climb the stairs, there's no other way in. It's amazing that this building still stands after so many hurricanes that I wonder how much longer it'll last. If you are travelling across the coast, it is worth a stop!
Written 17 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bobbielama
San Francisco, CA21 contributions
July 2020
We zipped down to Everglades City from Naples for lunch one Saturday and decided to push on to the Smallwood Store for the heck of it. So glad we did. A quirky, yet informative road-side attraction with an interesting history. Lots to see and think about in the store, and the staff were super friendly and gracious. I very much recommend you stopping by if you are in SW Florida. It's a bit of backwoods history you shouldn't miss.
Written 30 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scott B
Takoma Park, MD20 contributions
Dec 2022 • Solo
This is a fascinating little museum that recreates genuinely what it was like when it was the general store for the area. Many of the items are held over from the time it was a store so the place has an authenticity that many similar museums do not. The owner (who is a descendent of the infamous Mr. Watson from the area) was friendly and full of useful information. A visit is well worth the $5 entrance fee.
Written 2 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hatzlacha
Virginia951 contributions
Feb 2023
The place is overflowing (in a great way, no pun intended) with antiques and memorabilia from the times it was a frontier-type store and post office. We booked a boat tour which allowed us to walk around the store for free (otherwise there may be a small fee). Got a feel for how people lived and worked early in the 20th century. Just outside the store there's some stand-alone food options. Only bathroom was an outhouse. [Of note, don't be confused... this is a historical site/museum, not an active general store. For actual provisions all the way down here, its best to drive them in.]
Written 21 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MissJennieLP
Punta Gorda, FL250 contributions
July 2020
I wandered in and reluctantly paid my $5. It seemed like a lot for a museum that looks a lot like my grandma's attic. But I ended up spend 45 nostalgic minutes here, enjoying thinking about things that used to be everyday parts of life 60 years ago, when I was a kid in West Virginia. The displays that talked about life in the Everglades in the 20th century were also interesting. I wish there had been more information about the drug smuggling days in the 1970s.
Written 30 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristen S
1 contribution
May 2022 • Family
By far one of the neatest museums I've been to. This place is worth the stop if you are interested in the "old time-y" lifestyle, or history in general. Beth was the sweetest and she even showed us some things in the museum that are easily missed. If we are ever back in this area we will absolutely make another stop in!
Written 11 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AJNNJ44
New Jersey472 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
The Smallwood Store is described as a ‘museum’ but it’s really more accurately described as a ‘time capsule’. We found it fascinating to poke around the place and see/touch/experience so many genuine articles seemingly frozen in the history of the place. The staff was friendly and pleasant.
Written 6 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
skipmarilyn1251
Pahokee, Florida
Near by RV accommodations for self contained 31 ft minni .bago.
Written 23 March 2018
It's been a few years since my visit, but I have to ask...did anyone else mention the wax figure/taxidermy of the old guy in the rocker? I think it was Mr. Smallwood but I can't remember exactly. I must have walked by 5 times before I noticed him. I was so busy looking at all the cool stuff in the museum. I was then "dying" to know if it was a wax figure or what!
Written 12 February 2018
He is fiberglass, unfortunately wax would never survive in the heat of the summer here in South Florida. It is a very close likeness of Mr. Smallwood, especially to the people who actually knew him it was a little more than weird when we first got him.
I have told the story before to other visitors but when the man who created him was putting the finishing touches on him they tied him to a chair in the backyard to secure him and do the finishing touches. Someone called the sheriffs department on him because they thought it looked like elder abuse when it was just a dummy. So you are not the first one to think he is real!
Written 13 February 2018
vdouglas2015
Okeechobee, Florida
Is Smallwoods still open? What are the hours?
Written 22 December 2015
Where would you recommend to eat in the area?
Written 13 February 2015
HI
I would recommend the Havana Café located here on Chokoloskee Island, they have fresh seafood and a 5 star rating on Tripadvisor. There are good restaurants in Everglades as well.
Written 14 February 2015
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