Here are some images from the Koreshan State Historic Site, Estero Florida (Click on
photo for a LARGER image...)
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Our tour moves back outside and down the path we arrived on. Note that these shell paths are similar to the ones which were originally built by the Koreshans with shells brought in from Estero Bay.
Let's continue forward to the next crossing. Turn left here. You have already seen the Founder's House when you came up the main path. Let's take a closer look at it. This building was erected about 1896. It has been known as the School House, the Master's House, and the Founder's House. Its been renovated a number of times, including the attempt to surround the house with concrete stone made in the Koreshan Concrete Works. The building was restored in 1993 to what is believed to be its original state. Inside you will find displays and old photographs of the Koreshan Unity.
Art Hall was built about 1905. It was the center for cultural, social, educational
and religious activities of the Koreshan settlement. Theatrical productions, lectures and
musical events were held here. The building houses paintings done by Douglas Arthur
Teed, son of Cyrus Teed, as well as paintings done by members of the Koreshan Unity.
The stage of the Art Hall holds original instruments from the Koreshan Band and Orchestra
which performed here. Also found inside the Art Hall is the display used to explain the
Koreshan theory of the universe, the "Cellular Cosmogony" in which the
earth is a hollow sphere and within it is contained the sun, moon and stars within a
gaseous cloud. From here, our tour moves back outside and down the path we arrived on. Note that these shell paths were originally built by the Koreshans.
When we come to the intersection again, we will make a left and see the Planetary Court in the distance. This building was constructed about
1903 and was used to house the women who comprised the Planetary Chamber, the
governing council of the Koreshan Unity. The Historic Site is currently attempting to
raise funds to restore this building. Each person had a seperate room, which could be
entered from the central stairway hall or from the outside porches. The building
originally had a cupola which was entered from the attic steps. Hentry Silverfriend, an
early Koreshan and the brother of Henrietta Silverfriend, a member of the Planetary Court,
lived here, presumably as a protector of the home. The Planetary Court is currently being renovated. When completed it will look much like it did in its early days.
Continue with a Virtual Tour
Updated May 18, 2005 by mlw