You can only access North Captiva by boat. It was created in 1921 when a hurricane separated the north end of the island from the rest of Captiva. The impact created Redfish Pass.
North Captiva is off the beaten path living at its finest. Until 1983, homes were lit by lanterns, and ran on ice boxes and generators. Now North Captiva has power, but homes on its southern end are still not linked to the grid.
In 1926, a major hurricane struck Captiva and pushed the beach sand inland, causing the island to be blanketed with salty soil, creating hard-to-cultivate-farmland. This caused many locals to lose their citrus crops and, as a result, many people decided to leave the island.
The Captiva Historic Cemetery is also a big part of Captiva’s history. It sits adjacent to the Chapel and many important figures in the island’s history are buried here.
Look for William Herbert Binder. Rumor has it; Binder was shipwrecked and floated to Captiva on a piece of wood. He promised himself when he was rescued that he would one day return to Captiva. In 1888, he did.
A four-year-old named Ann Brainerd and her family moved to Buck Key from Canada in 1895.
Ann told Mr. Binder, the island’s first resident, that this part of the island was the most beautiful place she’d ever seen. Binder was charmed by the encounter and agreed to sell her that plot of land in exchange for a small gold coin Ann had gotten from her grandparents before she left Canada. However, not long after the deal was made, Ann stepped on a rusty nail and succumbed to tetanus.
Ann was buried on “her land,” which is the present-day Historic Cemetery. Look for her lamb-topped tombstone if you visit and remember to place a shell or two. Ann’s family is nearby, and so is Mr. Binder.
The Chapel-By-The Sea is next to the Cemetery and it was initially built in 1903 as a school. It is also a proud member of the National Register of Historic Places. Church services and weddings are held from early November through the month of April. Couples looking to have an intimate island wedding may consider exchanging vows there. The Chapel is open from the second Sunday in November through April. Worship services are 11 a.m. Sundays.
