Koreshan Unity Publication Collection

Communal organizations flourished during the 19th century America when people joined movements that strove to achieve more perfect lives. One of these was the Koreshan movement. Cyrus Teed, who possessed a magnetic personality, actively recruited followers for his cult of Koreshan Universology. The Koreshans espoused communism in the truest sense of the word, imitating the communal lives of the early Christians when everything was held in common. The Koreshan community in Estero, Florida was established in 1894, when Reed brought his early followers from Chicago to Florida. In 1903, the Koreshan Unity became a legal Corporation in Florida. When the Koreshan Unitarians arrived in Estero, they had to clear the land before they could pursue their dreams. They laid out their plans for settlement and took hand in all phases of cultivation. To enhance the quality of their lives, Koreshan pioneers tried to complement their labors with educational, artistic and recreational activities. The community blossomed during the first few years of the 20th century. After Teed's death in 1908, the driving and inspiring force was gone, the population aged, the community declined in the ensuing decades. In 1967, the Koreshan State Park was dedicated in Florida.