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Not surprisingly, its history is a tapestry of fascinating and adventurous people, from Native Americans and Spanish explorers to 19th century pioneers and modern-day residents.
Some 2000 years ago, the area's native Calusa Indians settled along the Southwest Florida Gulf coast and lived off the abundant fish, shellfish and other natural resources. The tribe built huge mounds of discarded shells to raise their dwellings above the water level in the low-lying area, and many of these ancient mounds can be seen today on Marco Island.
During the1500s, Spanish explorers led by Juan Ponce de Leon arrived in Florida and happened upon a remote island they christened La Isla de San Marco (the island of St. Mark). As occurred throughout the New World during this period of European exploration, war broke out between the Spanish and the indigenous tribe. Pioneering homesteader Captain W.T. Collier and his family settled on the northern part of the island. It was the elder Collier's son, Captain Bill Collier, who really began to put Marco Island on the map. An inventor and entrepreneur, Captain Bill invented a clam dredger that helped streamline Marco's emerging clamming industry and attracted other businessmen.
But it was the land and not the water that secured Captain Bill's place in Marco history. In 1895, he was digging on his property when he unearthed some unusual objects that looked like old arrows and other artifacts. But Spain could not conquer the fierce Calusa with weapons alone. (It is believed that Ponce de Leon was killed by a Calusa arrow as he and his men attempted to engage a Calusa village.) Ultimately, however, the Calusa were defeated by a combination of war and disease carried across the Atlantic. Noted archaeologist Dr. Frank Cushing arrived in 1896 to begin one of the most celebrated archaeological expeditions in North American history. Among the many significant artifacts at the site, Cushing unearthed the famous Calusa-era Key Marco Cat: a 6-inch figurine, which is currently housed in the Smithsonian Institution.
In the early 1920s, Barron G. Collier (the man for whom Collier County is named and no relation to the Marco Island Colliers), purchased approximately one million acres of Southwest Florida real estate, including about 90 percent of Marco Island. Plans for the island were in the works and the future looked bright - until the Great Depression arrived and turned the lights out on any development plans.
For the next 100 years there was hardly a soul to be found on La Isla de San Marco, whose name was eventually shortened to Marco Island. It was not until 1870, when a hearty pioneer from Tennessee arrived, that Marco began to show new signs of life.
[ ..More About Marco Island Island History ]
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