Name: The Koreshans of Estero
Start: 2025-02-19T19:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-02-19T20:00:00-05:00
Location: IMAG History & Science Center

The Southwest Florida Archaeological Society (SWFAS) is pleased to announce a presentation on the Koreshans by Ron Westcott.
About this Event

The Koreshans of Estero

Join us at the IMAG History & Science Center for a fascinating event exploring the history of the Koreshans in Estero. Learn about their unique beliefs, lifestyle, and impact on the local community. This in-person event is a great opportunity to delve into the intriguing story of this utopian group. Don't miss out on this chance to uncover a lesser-known chapter of Florida's past!

About the Presentation

Ron Westcott, Koreshan State Park Docent, will start at the beginning with the birth of Cyrus Teed in 1839 and describe how he came to form the Koreshan Unity, moving from New York to Chicago and ultimately to Estero, Florida. He will discuss the Koreshans’ accomplishments in Florida along with the conflict caused by their incorporation of the Town of Estero in 1904. The talk will conclude with the group's decline after Teed's death in 1908 and ultimate turning over of their community to the State of Florida to become Koreshan State Park in 1961.

About the Speaker

Ron Westcott is a native of a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania, raised a family with his wife Joan in Rochester, NY and has been a Florida resident since 1996. In 2012 they sold their home in Jacksonville, FL and took to the road as fulltime RVers. Their first winter home was at Koreshan State Park as residential volunteer docents – living in the park and interpreting the park’s rich history for the visitors.

Ron trained docents and tour guides at Koreshan State Park for over 10 years. Ron is also a past president of the Friends of Koreshan, a citizen’s support organization that assists the park in fund raising, historic preservation and interpretation.