It's Charlotte County's 100th birthday! Our Centennial Exposition is a series of videos celebrating what life was like in Charlotte County a century ago. This is the first of several featured programs throughout the year. Join us as we bask in our fascinating past and celebrate all that Charlotte County has to offer in the present. Grab your dancing shoes and try an old trend! This video showcases one of the most well-known and popular dances of the 1920s, The Charleston, demonstrated to us by members of USA Dance. This video was produced in 2021 as part of Charlotte County Libraries & History Centennial Exposition, a series of videos celebrating what life was like in Charlotte County a century ago.

Established in 1879, the historic Charlotte Harbor Cemetery is one of the oldest marked burial sites in Charlotte County. Join special guests from the past to discover the stories of those buried in our backyard. From Civil War soldiers to Vaudeville stars, these unique individuals helped shape the earliest years of our local area. This video was produced in 2021 as part of Charlotte County Libraries & History Centennial Exposition, a series of videos celebrating what life was like in Charlotte County a century ago.

Enjoy the talents of local music producer and pianist Chris G as Library Technician Joe Guerzo leads the audience on a musical journey to discover 1920s Ragtime. This video includes actual footage from the 1920s including flappers dancing the Charleston and couples dancing the foxtrot. All photos and footage can be found in the public domain. This video was produced in 2021 as part of Charlotte County Libraries & History's Centennial Exposition, a series of videos celebrating what life was like in Charlotte County a century ago.

Michael Haymans shows how to harvest swamp cabbage, which was eaten by the settlers of our area and is still a favorite of locals. This video includes excerpts from “Stalking the Wild Swamp Cabbage” provided by Frank Desguin. This video was produced in 2021 as part of Charlotte County Libraries & History Centennial Exposition, a series of videos celebrating what life was like in Charlotte County a century ago.

Meet A.C. Frizzell, portrayed by Charlotte County Commissioner Bill Truex. Frizzell was a businessman, cattle rancher, and one of the largest land barons in Florida. His ranch land and property holding were sold and developed by the Mackle Brothers and became the area now known as Port Charlotte. This video was produced as part of Charlotte County Libraries & History's 2021 Centennial video series, History Comes Alive. History Comes Alive is community theater with a twist as we're transported back in time to our county's past! Travel with members of our community to days gone by in these short vignettes. You'll meet some interesting characters and remember some of the historic moments that have shaped our present.

Meet F.M. Cooper, portrayed by Joe Guerzo. F.M. Cooper was a state representative from the Punta Gorda area that was influential in establishing a Charlotte as its own county in 1921. Cooper Street is named after this influential individual. This video was produced as part of Charlotte County Libraries & History's 2021 Centennial video series, History Comes Alive. History Comes Alive is community theater with a twist as we're transported back in time to our county's past! Travel with members of our community to days gone by in these short vignettes. You'll meet some interesting characters and remember some of the historic moments that have shaped our present.

Meet Forrest Nelson, portrayed by Keaton Hackworth. Forrest Nelson was an ornamental horticulturist who worked for Barron Collier. In 1930, Nelson bought 180 acres in Murdock for $600 from AC. Frizzell, where he built a home at the end of a dirt track that would later become Forrest Nelson Boulevard. This video was produced as part of Charlotte County Libraries & History's 2021 Centennial video series, History Comes Alive. History Comes Alive is community theater with a twist as we're transported back in time to our county's past! Travel with members of our community to days gone by in these short vignettes. You'll meet some interesting characters and remember some of the historic moments that have shaped our present.

Meet Robert Mackle, portrayed by Charlotte County Commissioner Stephen R. Deutsch. Robert Mackle and his brothers were successful real estate developers in Florida. They built and sold homes in Marco Island, Port St. Lucie, Key Biscayne, and Port Charlotte. Their nationwide advertising campaign of ten dollars down and 10 dollars a month brought people from all areas of the country to Port Charlotte. The brothers were also instrumental in establishing the Port Charlotte Cultural Center. Libraries & History's 2021 Centennial video series, History Comes Alive. History Comes Alive is community theater with a twist as we're transported back in time to our county's past! Travel with members of our community to days gone by in these short vignettes. You'll meet some interesting characters and remember some of the historic moments that have shaped our present.

Meet Joel Bean, portrayed by Benjamin Feller. Joel Bean was a Boston lawyer and land developer who purchased an area of land on the northern bank of the Myakka River in the 1920’s. He named the community El Jobean, which is an anagram of Bean’s name. Bean’s unique design for the community included six hexagonal wards and a central plaza. The unique visual style of the community—Mediterranean Revival Style—attracted many fisherman, entertainers, and vacationers. This video was produced as part of Charlotte County Libraries & History's 2021 Centennial video series, History Comes Alive. History Comes Alive is community theater with a twist as we're transported back in time to our county's past! Travel with members of our community to days gone by in these short vignettes. You'll meet some interesting characters and remember some of the historic moments that have shaped our present.

Meet Virginia Trabue, portrayed by Sushila Cherian. Virginia Taylor Trabue founded Punta Gorda with her husband Colonel Isaac Trabue in 1883. She helped establish the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, as well as help start an annual chess tournament. Virginia and Taylor streets in Punta Gorda are named in honor of Ms. Trabue. This video was produced as part of Charlotte County Libraries & History's 2021 Centennial video series, History Comes Alive. History Comes Alive is community theater with a twist as we're transported back in time to our county's past! Travel with members of our community to days gone by in these short vignettes. You'll meet some interesting characters and remember some of the historic moments that have shaped our present.

Scot Shively portrays Nathan DeCoster, one Charlotte Harbor's earliest pioneers, in our first History Spotlight. Find out how he put Punta Gorda on the map in this quick glimpse into Charlotte County history. This video was produced as part of Charlotte County Libraries & History's Local History Spotlight video series. The series highlights the lives of iconic figures from Charlotte County' past in honor of the county's Centennial in 2021.