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MARCO ISLAND HISTORY
A BRIEF HISTORY OF MARCO ISLAND
MARCO ISLAND HISTORY
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 a Magical Mystical Paradise. The attraction is tropical sun-washed white sugar sand beaches and a casual easy paced lifestyle. 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.
The original inhabitants of Marco Island were the Calusa Indians. They were expert fisherman and great sailors who lived here as far back as 1513. They spent their days fishing, weaving fishing nets, fashioning jewelry and making ornaments for their shrines. The Calusa are considered to be the first "shell collectors." Their shells were discarded into huge heaps creating hills and are located in the Estates section of Marco. These heaps have become some of the highest points of elevation in Collier County and one of the highest south of Tampa.
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" and hundreds of artifacts were discovered. A six inch wooden cat was discovered and became famous known as the "Key Marco Cat".
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 in 1962. Their emphasis on locations that offered great future potential earmarked Marco as a perfect resort and leisure destination. By 1968 the population had grown to an estimated 1,000 people and new model homes were continually being added. The Mackle brothers, founders of the Deltona Corporation are responsible for the planning and development of Marco as it stands today.
Marco Island is truly one of Florida's best kept secrets.
About Marco Island Florida
Marco Island is the largest of the 10 000 island aquatic preserve and an official sanctuary for the Bald Eagle. It is surrounded be a very unique ecosystem and home to exceptional wildlife and vegetation. There are a number of parks and preserves within short distance from the island.
Just slightly north of the island on Shell Island Road off State Road 951 is the 9,400 acre Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. In the mangroves you will find mullet, snapper, oysters, crabs, snook, pelicans, osprey, bald eagles, deer, bobcats, snakes and tortoises. Tours can be arranged at the reserve's Briggs Nature Center which also rents canoes. (Tel. 775-8569)
Ten miles east of the intersection of State Road 951 along U.S. 41 is Collier-Seminole State Park located. It is a 6,400 acre mangrove preserve and is home to alligators, the American crocodile, panthers, black bears and manatees. You'll find a 13 mile canoe trail and a 6 mile hiking trail there.
The third largest park in the United States The Everglades National Park is only 15 minutes by car away from Marco and its entrance is in Everglades City. In 1.5 million acres of wilderness is an abundance of wildlife. The park offers campsites, picnic areas, cabin rentals, boating, fishing and guided tours.
The access to the 63,000 acre Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve is on Jane Memorial Scenic Drive off State Road 29 at Copeland. The preserve is home to the Florida panther and many other endangered wildlife species. It also has the largest concentration of epiphytic orchids in North America.
Roughly 30 minutes from Marco Island is the Big Cypress National Preserve located on U.S. 41 at Ochopee. In this 716 ,000 acre preserve one can observe cypress swamp, exotic mangroves, sawgrass prairies and natural freshwater rivers. Wildlife seen includes panthers, snakes, alligators, bobcats, bear, wild boar, deer and a multitude of colorful birds.
Located on Sanctuary Road off Immokalee Road in north Collier County is the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary which is owned by the National Audubon Society and home to the largest remaining stand of virgin bald cypress trees and the country's larges colony of nesting wood storks.
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