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The Mission Statement
for the Florida Maritime Museum at Cortez
The Florida Maritime Museum
at Cortez is a partnership of Manatee County Clerk of
Circuit Courts, Florida Institute of Salt Water Heritage,
and the Cortez Village Historical Society. Its mission
is to gather, preserve and interpret Florida Gulf Coast
Maritime Heritage, with special emphasis on the historic
fishing village of Cortez as a traditional maritime
community within the greater context of Florida's Maritime
History, maritime history in general, and the natural
world.
The objectives of this mission are to be met by
creating:
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A collection of photographs, works
of art, models, tools, instruments, equipment, apparel,
ephemera, traditional watercraft, and other historically
significant material relevant to maritime culture,
and history, with special emphasis on the geographic
region from Cedar Key to Key West on Florida's Gulf
Coast.
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A research library including books,
plans, logs, diaries, periodicals, letters, records
and related archival material whose content is relevant
to research concerning maritime subjects with special
emphases on Florida's Gulf Coast.
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Hands on programs including:
A. Skills classes focusing upon traditional crafts
and folkways of the maritime community with particular
emphasis on a Florida Gulf Coast Fishing community.
B. Recreations and restoration of historically or
culturally significant, traditional or vernacular
watercraft.
C. Lab classes, and field programs, focusing upon
native and non native species of flora and fauna in
a coastal habitat with the goal of preserving traditional
skills, natural habitat and the values associated
with them in a traditional coastal community.
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Community outreach programs including:
oral histories, story telling, lectures and publications,
living history presentations, etc.
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Interpretive programs that present
man's relationship with the natural world and
coastal environments.
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Exhibitions and publications that
interpret Florida's Gulf Coast maritime heritage
with special emphasis on the fishing industry
and the history of Cortez.
The Cortez Schoolhouse is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places as part of the
Cortez Historic District, designated in 1995. Cortez
Village retains the original charm and sense of community
that has sustained the village for almost 150 years.
Villagers have survived hurricanes, economic depressions
and threats to their livelihood from a reduction in
fishing grounds and regulations on the fishing industry.
Residents of the community are passionate about preserving
the past and ensuring that current and future residents
and visitors to Manatee County understand the significance
of Cortez Village.
They will see how decisions made today with regards
to our environment have a far-reaching effect on groups
as well as individuals.
Page updated 7/28/2004
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