Most of the history in this area focuses on the people who came to enjoy its lovely winter climate.  You could visit historic downtown Fort Myers to see the historic Ford & Edison winter homes and their riverside gardens, and the Burroughs home.

 We love Sarasota with its terrific Ringling Museum.  Ringling Brother's and Barnum & Bailey's Circus used to spend the winter in Sarasota, and this was the inspiration and setting for the famous film 'The Greatest Show on Earth'.  John Ringling's Venetian-inspired house is part of the Ringling Museum, there's also a circus museum and an art gallery that has to be seen to be believed.  All in the most perfect location on the edge of Sarasota bay.

If you fancy a slightly longer trip, the Dali museum and St Pete's Pier make for a good day out up on Tampa Bay.  The Dali museum is well worth seeing and is at least as good as the one at Figueres.

There is good theatre locally, & concerts too at the Barbara B Mann concert hall, Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre and Germain Arena.