The mission of the Marco Island Historical Society is to preserve and to share the history and heritage of Marco Island and the surrounding community.

The Marco Island Historical Society (MIHS), founded in 1994, is dedicated to discovery, research, acquisition, and preservation of the multi-faceted history of the Marco Island-Goodland region to share with future generations. This award-winning museum complex gives the Society a physical place to fulfill these goals. The museum campus, through its unique “Windows & Doors to History” outdoor gallery, presents 10,000 years of Marco Island’s history from the pre-Calusa period through the life of the Calusa Indians and the pioneer days of the early settlers to what it has become today. Each of the 24 original pieces, done by seven renowned artists, pictorially chronicles the Island’s rich history.

Three permanent exhibit galleries, The Calusa Period, The Pioneer Era and Modern Marco provide an interactive experience with state-of-the-art technology. An ever-changing gallery showcasing a vast variety of artistic works in all mediums, and a museum gift shop offers a wide range of unique items.

With the return of the treasured Key Marco Cat, on loan from the Smithsonian, and other Pre-Colombian artifacts found here on Marco Island in 1896, we have permanently enhanced the museum’s award-winning Paradise Found: 6,000 Years of People on Marco Island exhibit. The artifacts, which are between 500 and 1,500 years old, are some of the best-known examples of Calusa artistry and demonstrate the remarkable complexity of Florida’s pre-Columbian indigenous people.

The Marco Island Historical Museum welcomes members of the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association. We are pleased to offer a 10% discount in our museum gift shop to all NARM members (please note that some exclusions apply). Visitors can simply present their valid NARM membership card at checkout.