As a joint project of the Florida Institute
of Saltwater Heritage (F.I.S.H.), the Cortez Village
Historical Society and R.B. "Chips" Shore,
Manatee County's Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Florida
Maritime Museum’s mission is to gather,
preserve and interpret Florida Maritime Heritage,
with special emphasis on the historic fishing village
of Cortez as a traditional maritime community within
the greater context of Florida’s Maritime History,
maritime history in general, and the natural world.
