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Marco Island History |
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Marco
Island is the largest of
Florida's Ten Thousand Islands, located on the Gulf of Mexico in Southwest
Florida. It has been
described as Magical, Mystical and Paradise.
The attraction is tropical sun-washed white-sand beaches and a casual
easy paced life style.
Sunshine, frolicking dolphins, and all of the water and sun sports that go
with the beaches are available for your pleasure.
As you cross the Jolley Bridge and look out over the Island and water
ways, you get a sense you are entering paradise.
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The
previous inhabitants of Marco Island were Calusa Indians. They were skilled artisans and fisherman who inhabited Marco
for a thousand years. They spent
their days painting clay masks, weaving fishing nets, and making jewelry.
The Calusa created large mounds out of clam shells and fish bones.
The mounds were an Indian Garbage Dump and are located in the Estates
Section. They are the highest
points of elevation in Collier County.
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Around 1870,
Captain W.D. Collier arrived on Marco Island and began a career of clamming and
fishing. Captain Collier discovered
one of the largest archeological sites in Florida.
Sometime after his find, Frank Hamilton Cushing of the Smithsonian
Institute came to Marco and led the "1896 Expedition" as hundreds of
artifacts were discovered. A six
inch wooden cat was discovered and became known as the "Key Marco
Cat".
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In the early
1960's, Marco Island was still undeveloped and infested with mosquitos until the
Deltona Development Corporation purchased most of the property on Marco Island.
Deltona developed the Island to what we now know as Marco Island.
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Marco
Island is truly one of Florida's
best kept secrets. |
