Historical Markers – Reminders of Marco Island’s Past

Using a self-guided historical tour published by various island publications, I decided to re-trace the historical markers located on and near Bald Eagle Drive and Old Marco and added several historic buildings.

According to historical records, W. T. Collier is considered the Father of Marco Island. The Colliers arrived on Marco in 1870 and built a home, first on what is now Hideaway Beach, and later in Old Marco.

W.T. Collier’s son, known as Captain Bill, also settled on Marco and opened the first general store and promoted tourism. In 1896 they opened a 20-room hotel, “The Marco Hotel,” the first on the island, and it still exists today as the Olde Marco Inn and Suites. 

There are three historical markers located behind the entrance barriers at Ville de Marco and next to the boat ramp. The location is posted Private Property and you will need permission to enter and view the following markers:

Marco Village School marker is the location of the oldest school in Marco Island.

Marco Village marker – “village founded by W. T. Collier is one of the two villages located on Marco Island.” The other village was at Caxambas while a third village was later located in Goodland. 

Old Ferry Landing marks the location where the original ferry brought in visitors from 1912 to 1938 and connected Marco to the future Isles of Capri with the old Marco Road continuing north to a junction at Shell Island Road and from there north towards Naples and east towards Royal Palm Hammock. 

Marek’s Restaurant, also known as the Collier House, built in 1882 by “Captain Bill” (W.D.) Collier as his home and it still stands today as a Florida Historical landmark. The restaurant used to be named Marek’s Collier House Restaurant but was later changed to just Marek’s Restaurant.

Frank Cushing Archaeological Site – “1895-1896 one of the most significant excavations in North America documenting sophisticated Calusa culture and habitat dating back to 800 A.D. ”This dig produced the world-famous Key Marco Cat.

The Key Marco Cat is a barely six-inch wooden figure, part cat, part human and excavated by Frank Hamilton Cushing along with thousands of other Calusa Indian artifacts, some dating back 500 to 1,500 years by Southwest Florida’s early Muspa or Calusa people. The Key Marco Cat is on loan from the Smithsonian Museum and is on display at the Marco Island Historical Museum until 2026.

Marco Island Pioneer Cemetery’s, circa 1880, marker is located adjacent to the cemetery entrance on Bald Eagle Drive/Elkcam Circle. It reads “an old island cemetery where many settlers and their descendants are buried.” Among them are the three young sons of W. D. “Captain Bill” Collier, George, Thomas and Wilmer, drowned March 3, 1898 aged respectively 8, 6, and 4 years.

The Railroad turn-around marker, located off Bald Eagle at the end of Society Court, is a “railroad turn-around 1927-1944 presumed to be depot of Atlantic Coast Line Railroad which operated two trains daily to service clamming, farming and fishing industries.” Eventually rail operations stopped when the clam beds were depleted around 1944. This marker is maintained by the Island Country Club.

The Goodland Village and Access Road marker located to the right of the Goodland Water tank was “named by the first settler, Johnny Roberts. Clam shell access road was built almost single handedly by pioneer Harry Pettie, circa 1940.”

Old Marco Lodge renamed as Paradise Found located on Papaya Street, was built in 1869 and was relocated from the village of Marco to Goodland in 1965. While in old Marco, the Barfield sisters, Elva Griffis and Elsie Vogstad gave the Lodge to Alex and Marge Tasetano on the condition they move the structure. It was moved to Goodland to its current location where it is now operated as a restaurant known as Paradise Restaurant. It is the oldest building in Goodland today.

The Marco Island Historical Museum has an extensive exhibit on pre-Calusa, pioneer life and modern Marco to finish your history tour of Marco Island. For such a small island, Marco Island has a very rich history.