MOORE HAVEN DOWNTOWN
HISTORIC DISTRICT

By  Mike Miller April 28, 2025

The Moore Haven Downtown Historic District, located in Moore Haven, Florida, is a U.S. historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places since October 12, 1995.

Spanning 22 acres along Avenue J, 100 1st Street, and including Lone Cypress Park, this compact district once housed seven historic buildings, though most have been lost to time.

Moore Haven Downtown Historic District

Positioned on the Caloosahatchee River’s banks near Lake Okeechobee, it reflects the town’s early 20th-century boom as a commercial hub, offering visitors a quiet connection to Florida’s heartland history.

Founded in 1915 by James A. Moore, Moore Haven thrived as a trade center, earning the nickname “Little Chicago” for its bustling growth.

The district, the heart of this activity, hosted essential businesses like a bank, pharmacy, post office, and general store. Sidewalk canopies fostered a social atmosphere.

A devastating fire in 1921 razed several buildings, followed by the 1926 Great Miami Hurricane and the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane.  The town was flooded, killing thousands and leaving vacant lots.

The 1954 rerouting of US 27 north of downtown shifted commerce, causing further decline.

By 2009–2010, key structures like the Moore Haven Arcade and Swindell Building were demolished, leaving the Gram Building as a primary survivor, underscoring the district’s fragile legacy.

Situated at 3–99 Avenue J and 100 1st Street, Moore Haven, FL 33471, the district is accessible via US 27, roughly equidistant from Fort Myers and West Palm Beach.

Open daily with no admission fee, it’s best explored on foot, though no formal hours or staff are present.

Visitors should park near Lone Cypress Park and walk the block-long stretch. Bring water and sun protection, as shade is limited. 

Check the town’s website for local events like the Chalo Nitka Festival. The nearby Riverwalk offers picnic pavilions and views of the Okeechobee Waterway. Allow 30–45 minutes to explore. 

• The Lone Cypress Tree, a navigational aid for Lake Okeechobee boaters, stands in a tiny park described as a “giant bonsai” for its sculpted look.  

• The district’s 1918 canal dredging linked the Caloosahatchee River to the lake, boosting trade.  

• Marian Newhall Horwitz, elected mayor in 1917, was the first female mayor south of the Mason-Dixon Line, securing the town’s first railroad.  

• A high-water mark from the 1928 hurricane is faintly visible on the Glades County Courthouse, just outside the district, a haunting reminder of the tragedy. 

CITY OF MOORE HAVEN WEBSITE