SANIBEL, Fla. — In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian’s destruction across Southwest Florida, the historical structures of Sanibel Island took a hard hit. Mark Harmon, the Executive Director of the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village, recently guided ABC7 through the newly restored grounds, sharing insights into the extensive damage that happened during the hurricane.

“Some of the buildings, like this one, had a couple of feet of water in it,” Harmon explained during our tour.

Hurricane Ian left a lasting impact on the historical site, which dates back to the 1920s. Despite the challenges, crews have been hard at work preserving and restoring the buildings, with five of them now completed and open to the public.

“We suffered through Hurricane Ian, which damaged the buildings. At this point, five of the buildings are finished as far as the renovation is concerned, and we’ve opened those,” Harmon said.

The historical structures offer a glimpse into the past, including a house ordered and built from a Sears catalog. These architectural relics serve as a reminder of the resilience of people who, nearly a century ago, faced their own “once-in-a-century” storm.

“People of our generation now will be talking about Hurricane Ian for generations. Previous to this, what they were talking about was the Hurricane of 1926,” Harmon said.

Last week’s grand reopening marked a significant milestone, showcasing a collaboration between the city and the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village. Eric Jackson, representing the City of Sanibel, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, saying, “It’s just great to have this partnership with this organization so they can operate this on city property.”

The project, fueled by millions of dollars in funding and thousands of hours of dedicated work, is still a work in progress. Some buildings are still undergoing renovation, like the schoolhouse which was nearly destroyed during the hurricane.  However, the city’s grand reopening sends a clear message to the world: Sanibel Island is ready for people to return.

“It’s an incredible amount of effort that has gone into this, and as you’ve gone around and seen all this, it’s all come together,” said Jackson. “It’s an even bigger deal that it’s open to the public tonight.”