Did you know?

1 / 2

This sign welcomed residents and prospective buyers to the fledgling Cape Coral community.

2 / 2

First residents Kenny Swartz and his family, the first official residents of Cape Coral, relax in front of their house on Riverside Drive in 1958. Schwartz, who would become a Gulf American vice president, came to Cape Coral from Baltimore as one of the corporation’s first employees.

[expand]

close

From the early years of Cape Coral most from the headlines of the Cape Coral Breeze.

• Advertisements for available land for sale in Cape Coral were published across the U.S. starting in January 1958.

• In April 1958, the Kenny Swartz family became the first “official” residents of Cape Coral.

• In 1959, the Duffalas family was the first to illuminate Christmas lights in the Cape.

• The first library opened in the Cape Coral Shopping Plaza in November 1962.

• On Nov. 28, 1963, a memorial service was held for President John F. Kennedy.

• The Cape Coral Bridge opened in March 1964

• In March 1964, members of the Pittsburgh Pirates resided in Cape Coral during Spring Training, held at Terry Park in Fort Myers.

• 212 students attended the first day of school at Cape Elementary on Aug. 31, 1964.

• In May 1965, Publix opened on Cape Coral Parkway.

• In June 1965, the Iwo jima statue was dedicated at the Rose Gardens

• The first mass was held at the Catholic Church in August 1965.

• Celebrities Bob Hope and reigning Miss USA-World Dianna Lynn Batts made an appearance at the Rose Gardens in February 1966.

• Ground was broken for the Sunset Towers in April 1966.

• The Southland Corporation opened a 7-Eleven store on Coronado Parkway at Miramar Court in June 1966.

• In August 1966, the Miss Florida World pageant was held at the Cape Coral Yacht Club.

• The community’s first traffic light was erected in September 1966 at the corner of Cape Coral Parkway and Coronado Parkway.

• Street lights first appeared in Cape Coral in November 1966 on Cape Coral Parkway and Del Prado Boulevard.

• In August 1967, the 4 millionth vehicle crossed the Cape Coral Bridge.

• A resident landed a 14-foot, 650-pound sawfish in the Caloosahatchee in May 1968.

• In December 1968, actress Kim Novak visited her parents in Cape Coral.

• In February 1969, a “Sun Country” TV special starring Hank Wiliams Jr. was filmed in Cape Coral.

• Big John came to town in July 1969.

• “Fantasia” was the featured film in May 1971 at Cape Coral Cinema.

• Barbara Mandrell and Johnny Paycheck perform at the Yacht Club in July 1971.

• Pat Dobson, son of Cape residents Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Dobson, earns his 20th win with the Baltimore Orioles in September 1971.

• In February 1972, a court upholds the city’s truck parking ordinance.

• Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw lead Texas to the 1972 NCAA Golf Championship at the Cape Coral Country Club in June.