Military History & Memorials

Military museums, war memorials and former airfield history across Southwest Florida. Operational airfields and restricted sites are not walk-in attractions; check each destination’s visitor arrangements.

Blue Star Memorial Marker at Four Mile CoveCape Coral, FLBlue Star Memorial marker dedicated in 2020 by the Garden Club of Cape Coral, honoring U.S. armed forces personnel past, present and future.
Buckingham and Page Army Air Fields MemorialFort Myers, FLGranite memorial in downtown Fort Myers honoring those who served at Buckingham and Page Army Air Fields during World War II.
Buckingham Army AirfieldFort Myers, FLWorld War II aerial-gunnery training base established in 1942; one original military building survives.
Cambier Park Veterans MemorialNaples, FLOutdoor veterans memorial in Cambier Park, where the City of Naples holds its Veterans Day observances.
Carlstrom Field Historic SiteArcadia, FLWorld War I flying field southeast of Arcadia where the Army trained pilots from 1918 — today the site of the G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital.
Clewiston MuseumClewiston, FLMuseum of Clewiston and the Hendry–Glades region, from prehistory and Indigenous peoples to Lake Okeechobee agriculture and World War II flight training.
Collier County Freedom MemorialNaples, FLOutdoor memorial honoring those who sacrificed their lives in service to the United States and the victims of September 11, 2001.
Collier Museum at Government CenterNaples, FLCollier County's main museum, interpreting Southwest Florida's prehistory, Indigenous peoples, settlement and development.
Dorr Field Historic SiteArcadia, FLSister World War I training field east of Arcadia, later a World War II primary flight school — now largely returned to private land.
Fort Denaud Historical MarkerLaBelle, FLState historical marker for Fort Denaud, a Second Seminole War military post and supply depot established in 1838.
Heritage ParkVenice, FLLandscaped median park on West Venice Avenue with veterans memorials and a one-third-scale replica of the Venice Army Airfield entrance.
Historic Punta Gorda Army Air Field MuralPunta Gorda, FLOutdoor mural in Veterans Park depicting Punta Gorda's World War II pilot-training base and its aircraft.
Iwo Jima MemorialCape Coral, FLReduced-scale version of the Marine Corps War Memorial by sculptor Felix W. deWeldon, commissioned for Cape Coral in 1964.
Military Heritage MuseumPunta Gorda, FLMajor military-history museum with more than 20,000 artifacts spanning the Revolutionary War to modern conflicts.
Page FieldFort Myers, FLFort Myers' general aviation airport, leased to the Army Air Forces in 1942 for bomber and fighter-pilot training.
Patriot PlazaSarasota, FLA 2,800-seat ceremonial amphitheater within Sarasota National Cemetery, donated by The Patterson Foundation in 2014.
Patriots ParkVenice, FLMemorial park commemorating those killed on September 11, the rescuers, and those who sacrificed in America's wars.
Punta Gorda Army AirfieldPunta Gorda, FLWorld War II combat-pilot training base activated in 1943, where pilots flew P-40 Warhawks and P-51 Mustangs.
Riddle Field Historic SiteClewiston, FLWorld War II airfield that operated as No. 5 British Flying Training School, where more than 1,300 RAF cadets earned their wings.
Riverside Park Veterans MemorialBonita Springs, FLVeterans memorial and commemorative brick walkway in Bonita Springs' downtown Riverside Park.
Sarasota Army Air Field Historic SiteSarasota, FLThe civilian airport that became a World War II Army airfield in 1942, hosting B-17 bomber and fighter training.
Sarasota National CemeterySarasota, FLDepartment of Veterans Affairs national cemetery opened in 2009, serving veterans and eligible family members.
The British Plot at Oak Ridge CemeteryArcadia, FLGraves of 23 Royal Air Force cadets who died during World War II flight training at the Riddle schools in Arcadia and Clewiston.
Venice Army Airfield Historic SiteVenice, FLWorld War II Army air base for maintenance support and fighter-pilot training, now Venice Municipal Airport.
Veterans History MuseumNaples, FLMilitary-history museum at the Collier County Government Center interpreting American service from the Revolutionary War through modern conflicts.
Veterans Memorial Area at Four Mile CoveCape Coral, FLCity-maintained memorial area honoring all who have served in the United States armed forces.
Veterans Memorial Walkway at Centennial ParkPort Charlotte, FLBrick plaza, flags and granite monuments honoring veterans, military branches, prisoners of war and those missing in action.
Veterans' Community Park Veterans MemorialMarco Island, FLCircular veterans memorial with fountain, plantings and commemorative pavers in Marco Island's Veterans' Community Park.
Vietnam Wall of Southwest FloridaPunta Gorda, FLHalf-scale replica of the Washington, D.C. Vietnam Veterans Memorial, built with granite from the same source.
William R. Gaines Jr. Veterans Memorial ParkPort Charlotte, FLCharlotte County park honoring Marine William R. Gaines Jr., killed in the 1983 Beirut peacekeeping mission, and all veterans and first responders.