We are justifiably proud of our tour guides. Each has been chosen for his or her experience, whether as a tour guide, a public speaker or performer, a historian, or as a delightful combination of all the above. Each has been professionally trained to provide our valued guests with a history tour that is factual (as opposed to fantastical) and an experience that is both fun and educational.
Ladies and gentlemen, in their own words, let us introduce:
Seth Ford
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I grew up very close to downtown Fort Myers on Jackson Street. My family has been in the Fort Myers area since the 1910s and in Florida since the 1850s.
I grew up fishing in the river downtown, playing music, and singing. I still do that often with my wife and daughter. We’re called the Shytunas. We play all over Lee County at ice cream shops, street corners, and for people waiting in lines.
My close personal knowledge of downtown and my love for my hometown shines through in my tours and makes the experience even better for our guests.
Jessica
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I like long walks on the beach and conversations about dead people.
I’m a South West Florida native. I am a Summit Award Scout in BSA and have been camping/hiking all my life.
When I’m not tour-guiding, I am a server at Joes Crab Shack! I am a people person and I love making people laugh.
I hope you enjoy my tour.
Amanda
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History is my passion. I have a Bachelor of Arts in History from the College of William and Mary in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, and a Master of Science in Education from the University of New Haven in Connecticut. I worked at Mystic Seaport Museum before teaching social studies in a public school for over a decade.
When I became a full-time, remote researcher/writer, I followed in the footsteps of many of our city’s pioneers by migrating south to Fort Myers. Of course, I have made it a priority to learn about the history of the land I now call my home. It is my pleasure to share it with you!
Breanne
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Born and raised here in Fort Myers, I’m a sixth generation Floridian. My husband is also a native and we have two daughters together.
I’ve always had a passion for history, which led me to being a proud board member of the Southwest Florida Historical Society as well as a cemetery and gravestone preservationist. In 2020, I started a small business named “The Grave Maid” where I specialize in cleaning headstones and restoring old burial grounds.
I’ve decided to dedicate my life’s work to our local history & forgotten cemeteries in the area.
I will be conducting the Cemetery and Fabulous Female Tours.
Tara
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Tara Calligan is a versatile journalist and filmmaker recognized for her commitment to diversity and storytelling excellence. Calligan’s documentary for WGCU Public Media, “The Face of Immokalee: Public Art for Social Change,” earned her the prestigious “Best Florida Film” award at the Naples International Film Festival in October 2023. Her in-depth reporting has garnered multiple Edward R. Murrow, Associated Press, and Public Media Journalists Association accolades.
Since 2021, Calligan has been a valuable member of PBS’ Media & Marketing Advisory Council, sharing her industry insights and influencing strategic decisions. As a feature journalist, she excels in crafting immersive narratives, exploring the intersection of history, arts, and culture.Calligan is one of the hosts and producers of the WGCU podcast “Three Song Stories: Biography Through Music,” which offers a unique platform for individuals to share their life stories through music.
Calligan’s dedication to showcasing local talent is evident in her role as the director, writer, and producer of WGCU’s “Spotlight on the Arts” documentary series, amplifying the voices of artists who enrich their communities. Beyond journalism, Calligan embraces her alter ego, Moria Midnight, Monarch of Macabre, a late-night, B movie horror host on WGCU-HDTV.
She dedicates her free time to being a tour guide for True Tours in Downtown Fort Myers, where she leads captivating guided excursions to the city’s notorious haunted locations. Additionally, she hosts engaging discussions, Q&A sessions, and film screenings at various venues, including the Alliance for the Arts, as part of the Southern Film Circuit partnership.
Tara Calligan’s unwavering dedication to diversity and her bold embrace of the macabre distinguish her as a shining light in media, inspiring audiences and aspiring journalists. Her boundless creativity and dedication continue to shape the narrative landscape, leaving a lasting impact on journalism and beyond.
Christopher
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Christopher Balzano is a teacher, writer, folklorist, and the current host of the podcast Tripping on Legends. He has been documenting the unexplained since 1994 and has been a figure in the paranormal world through his book, articles, and his work as the director of Massachusetts Paranormal Crossroads and now Tripping on Legends.
Balzano is the author of two books about regional hauntings in Massachusetts’ Bridgewater Triangle, several collections of true ghost stories and a pair of how-to paranormal books. He has been a featured contributor in more than two dozen other books, often called in to offer insight into the paranormal or perspective on a certain case. His recent book, Haunted Florida Love Stories focuses on ghostly legends across the state that all love as part of their backstory and his newest Haunted Ocala National Forest recounts the weird and haunted happenings in Florida’s creepiest state forest.
He has appeared on radio stations across the country and throughout the Internet, as well as being called upon by television shows to comment on ghosts and urban legends.