Linda W. Mansperger

Linda W. Mansperger is the Executive Director of Gulf Coast Heritage Association, Inc., the not-for-profit organization that owns and operates Historic Spanish Point. As the Executive Director of Gulf Coast Heritage Association since 1985, Linda manages the restoration and interpretation of Historic Spanish Point, one of Florida’s premier historic sites. With 30 acres overlooking Little Sarasota Bay, the site preserves and interprets 5,000 years of southwest Florida history. Open daily, Historic Spanish Point welcomes 28,000 visitors annually including 4,000 school children participating in curriculum-based field trips. The museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums.

Student Interviewer: Justin Quinn

Justin Quinn is a graduate student studying cultural anthropology at The University of Florida, and a recent graduate of New College of Florida. Originally from Connecticut, his family has been in the area since the mid-1980s, and he himself has been living here since 2003. He specializes in the anthropology of development and tourism, two issues of significance for the counties’ water resources, both of which sparked an interest in his participation in this project.

Interview Transcripts