Historical Society Museum to get new curator
Anne C. Cull, curator of the Cape Coral Historical Society Museum for the past 15 years, will retire at the end of this year. Regan Doherty, a Cape Coral native, has been chosen by the Historical Society Board of Directors to take Cull’s place.
Doherty is a graduate of Gulf Coast University, where she majored in social sciences with an emphasis upon archeology, and has served since 2003 as the cultural resource manager at the Mound House in Fort Myers Beach. She was selected from among 22 applicants for the curator position. A committee of three, including Anne Cull, narrowed the field to six interviewees, asking each a series of questions to test the applicant’s knowledge of Cape Coral history, her fundraising, marketing and volunteer-recruitment experience, as well as both her technical and creative aptitudes.
Doherty will be on probation for the first 90 days of her employment and then evaluated prior to being offered a permanent position at the museum.
In the history museum newsletter, Doherty greets the museum staff and Historical Society Board as follows:
“With the New Year, comes a new beginning for all of us here at the Cape Coral Historical Museum. Anne (Cull) has been fantastic in sharing her knowledge of the museum with me over the past few weeks. I am grateful for the opportunity to join you all in preserving the history of Cape Coral.
“My passion for historic preservation comes from the years I worked with the Town of Fort Myers Beach where I was involved in all aspects of the operation of Mound House, a historical and archaeological site. I enjoyed working with the wonderful volunteers who had a vital role in the success of Mound House.
“I am happy to now be working alongside and learning from a new team of talented, dedicated and passionate volunteers here in the city that has always been my home. To all of you who I have had a chance to meet, thank you for the warm welcome.
“I look forward to getting to know all of our volunteers and members. So if we haven’t had a chance to chat about what makes Cape Coral’s history special to you, please stop by as I would love to hear your story.”
The non-profit Cape Coral Historical Society established the museum in 1987 to collect, preserve and display the “unique history of Cape Coral.” The museum, at 544 Cultural Park Boulevard in Cape Coral, welcomes new members and volunteers. For more information about the museum and upcoming events, visit www.capecoralhistoricalmuseum.org or call 239-772-7037.