A lost civilization is brought back to life at the Historical Museum of Marco Island.

Things to do in Marco Island

Landing at the top of the list of USA Today’s best things to do in Marco Island should be enough of a reason to plan on stopping by the Marco Island Historical Museum during your visit to the area. Opened in 2010 after years of public donations and support from the Marco Island Historical Society, the museum brings to life the lost civilization of the Calusa Indians.

Marco Island Museum

The permanent collection on display at the Marco Island Museum revolves around the Calusa Indians, the ancient civilization that called the area home for over 6,000 years! Considering this vast time period of their reign, the museum has plenty of exhibits that touch on their different eras. Through these exhibits, you can see the history come to life around you including the long-time centerpiece of the museum: a life-size replica of a Calusa Indian village.

Yet in 2019, the museum will welcome home an original inhabitant of Marco Island and usher in a new era of its own for the museum.

Even though a super-sized version of this artifact is a permanent resident in the museum’s courtyard, the world-renowned Key Marco Cat will be returning home for the first time, along with a bevy of other rare artifacts that were discovered on our island in 1896 but now take up residence in the Smithsonian Institution thousands of miles away. Upon first glance, the 6-inch statue that is half feline, half human, may not impress, but it’s one of the most complete examples of pre-Columbian art in North America.

The cat won’t be back home for long. The loaned artifacts will return to their “real home” in April 2021. Stay with us at the nearby Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa to make your journey to the past truly unforgettable.