Marco Island SW Florida History

Marco Island FL Historic Sites – Calusa Indians – Shell Mounds

Marco Island was home to the Calusa Indians. The Calusa lived in this region of southwest Florida for hundreds of years creating little impact on the local environment. The recent island developments has brought about much change and have made Marco Island an international vacation destination. The temperate climate and white sand beaches make Marco Island an unforgettable experience.
A visit to the museums on Marco Island will provide more information about the Calusa Indians and the history of Marco Island. Share your Marco Island – Naples FL reviews or ask us about visiting Marco Island Florida. To feature your business, contact us.

Marco Island – SW FL History

Pre-America Marco – The Calusa Indians

Prior to the arrival of the white man, Marco Island was inhabited by the Calusa Indians. The Calusa lived, fished, and hunted in the area now known as the Southwest Florida Gulf Coast region. The Calusa enjoyed the abundant fish, shellfish, and natural resources available in the area. Reminders of the Calusa can still be seen today on Marco Island. The tribe constructed large mounds of discarded shells in an attempt to raise their homes above the water level. Some of these ancient shell mounds are still visible today.

The European Explorers Arrive

In the 1500’s Marco Island was visited by Spanish explorers. Juan Ponce de Leon can upon this remote island and named it La Isla de San Marco (the island of Saint Mark). War broke out between the native Americans and the Spanish. Legend has it that Ponce de Leon was killed by a Calusa arrow when he and his men tried to overtake a Calusa village. The Calusa tribe was eventually defeated by war and disease.

The Re-Birth of Marco Island

Marco Island gained national notoriety in the late 1800’s when W. T. Collier discovered some unusual items while digging on his Marco Island property. Collier unearthed ancient arrows and objects. Noted archaeologist Dr. Frank Cushing continued Collier’s diggings in 1896. Cushing’s visit is now one of the most celebrated archaeological expeditions in North American history. Dr. Cushing found many significant artifacts at the site, including the famous Calusa-era Key Marco Cat: a 6-inch wooden figurine. The Key Marco Cat is on display in the Smithsonian Institution when it is not “on loan” and is displayed here on Marco Island at the Marco Island Historical Museum.

The Quiet Years

For more than 100 years, Marco Island was a quiet and almost forgotten place. The name of the island was shortened to Marco Island. In 1870 a young pioneer from Tennessee named W. T. Collier settled on the north side of the island and began to put Marco on the map. Collier was a businessman, inventor and entrepreneur. Captain Collier was involved in Marco’s budding clam business and invented a clam-dredger that helped streamline Marco’s clamming industry.

Modern Day Marco Island Florida

The beginning of what we now know as Marco Island began in the early 1920’s, when Barron G. Collier (the man for whom Collier County is named and no relation to the Marco Island Colliers) bought nearly one million acres of Southwest Florida real estate, including most of Marco Island. Collier’s big plans for the region were diminished by the Great Depression. Time was not on his side, thus Marco Island remained mostly rural and undeveloped until 1962.

Deltona Days

Modern-day Marco began to emerge in 1962 when a trio of brothers from Florida’s east coast visited and realized the tremendous potential for the island paradise. Having successfully developed other quality projects in the Sunshine State, the Mackle brothers (Elliot, Frank, and Robert) formed Deltona Corporation and set out to create a resort island where people could live, work and play 365 days a year.

Canals were dredged to create extensive waterfront homesites and unprecedented advertising campaigns prepared Marco for its “Grand Opening” in January 1965. About 25,000 people attended the island’s debut, and homesites and condominium residences began selling rapidly.

People continued to flock to Marco throughout the 1970s. The quaint beach town continued to evolve throughout the 1980s and 1990s into the exquisite island community that now draws people from around the world with its beautiful year-round weather and miles of white, sandy beaches. Marco’s charms have stood the test of time for residents and visitors alike.

Contact Us | Marco Island Living Store


Marco Island Weddings

Fun | Dining | Eco Tours | Fishing

Real Estate | Rentals

Resorts | Pet Friendly