The Fort Myers River District Historic Architectural Styles

Historic Downtown Architectural Styles

Architectural styles found within the downtown commercial district include the Commercial Vernacular style, Neo-Classical Revival, and several forms of the Romantic style.

Commercial Vernacular – The Commercial Vernacular style is a simple form of architecture found in business blocks.  A square mass with a flat roof with a parapet typifies this style.  Occasionally a front facing gable is found.  The Earnhardt Building and the Kress Building are both constructed of buff brick and feature elaborate entablatures with the company names.  Spiral scrolls between green borders near the cornice are particularly noteworthy on the Earnhardt Building.

Neo-Classical Revival Style – The Neo-Classical Revival style is typically found on public buildings or financial institutions.  The Lee County Courthouse, the Whitehurst Federal Building, the First National Bank and the Lee County Bank are excellent examples of this disciplined form of public architecture.  Based on the classical Roman or Greek orders, the style features an entablature with columns flanked by pilasters.  Details are sparse and facades are symmetrically composed with large single light windows.

Mediterranean Revival – The eclectic style is represented in Fort Myers’ commercial architecture in the Patio de Leon and the Post Office Arcade as well as several independent structures including the Colquitt Building and the Edison Regency.  Spanish barrel clay tile roofs or roof coping, rough textured stucco exteriors with terra cotta decorative motifs, and highly stylized entrance door and window surrounds characterize the style.  Curvilinear parapets with crenellated corners are present on several buildings in the district.

Moderne – There are several examples of the Moderne style of architecture as well as Art Deco.  The Edison Theatre is an excellent example of the Art Deco in Fort Myers.  This post-depression style of architecture inspired by the machine age features streamlined details, applied ornamentation and pastel colors.  The Edison Theatre, rehabilitated for an office use, retains its original exterior features.  The setback façade with a large fluted central element extending above the roofline emphasizes dimension and verticality.  A large central element extends above the roofline, which is fluted.  The local historical sign marquee extends above this element further exaggerating the vertical emphasis.