It is believed that from at least 2,000 years B.C., the ancestors of the fierce Calusa Indians inhabited this remote island. Calusas were thought to be seven feet tall sporting three-foot high ceremonial headgear, thus contributing to their fierce appearance. The Calusa remained on this island until European explorers would stumble upon it, holding it sacred as storm after storm would hurry toward it, yet mysteriously drift away before any major threat could evolve.

In the mid 1500s, when Spain was exploring most of Florida, Ponce de Leone and his exploring party stumbled upon this large island which contained two cool artisan springs located near what is now known as Caxambas Pass. The island became a favorite place for the Spanish sailors to fill casks with fresh water for their return trip home.

It eventually became known to all future sailors as La Isla de San Marco (the island of Saint Mark), named for Saint Mark. As the years went by, the site became known as San Marco Island (Saint Mark's island) and finally, just Marco Island.

In 1870, W.T. Collier brought his wife and nine children to Marco Island. In 1896, his son, William D. "Captain Bill" Collier opened a 20 room hotel that is known today as the Olde Marco Inn and registered as an historical landmark.

Barron G. Collier (no relation to W.T. Collier and for whom Collier County is named) purchased most of Marco Island in 1922. With the onset of rail service (the Atlantic Coast Line) to Marco Island in 1927 plans to develop Marco Island were in process. However, the depression put a damper on development and it wasn't until 1962 that Marco Island as it is now began to take shape.

Modern-day Marco began to emerge in 1962, when a trio of brothers from Florida's east coast visited and realized the tremendous potential for the island paradise. Having successfully developed other quality projects in the Sunshine State, the Mackle brothers formed Deltona Corporation, and they set out to create a resort island where people could live, work and play year-round.

Canals were dredged to create extensive waterfront home sites and unprecedented advertising campaigns prepared Marco for its "Grand Opening" in January 1965. About 25,000 people attended the island's debut, and home sites and condominium residences began selling rapidly.

People continued to flock to Marco throughout the 1970s, as the quaint beach town evolved throughout the 1980s and 1990s into the exquisite island community that draws people from around the world with its beautiful year-round weather and miles of white-sand beaches. For residents and visitors alike, Marco's charms have stood the test of time.