Archaeologist William Marquardt discusses the archaeological findings that inform us today about the early peoples who inhabited the Marco Island area.

Tuesday, February 5, 7pm, Mackle Park Civic Auditorium, 1361 Andalusia Ct, Marco Island

 

Using the site of the Old Marco Inn, archaeologist William Marquardt guides a tour of the ancient Calusa ceremonial site.

Wednesday, February 6, 9:30am, Old Marco Inn, 100 Palm St., Marco Island

 

An exhibit of the commissioned art work depicting scenes from Marco Island’s past will be displayed with the artists’ and scholars’ statements.  The collaboration reflects the use of the historic and archaeological record to inform the artists’ renderings.

Sunday, March 2, 3:00-5:30pm, Art League of Marco Island, 1010 Winterberry Dr., Marco Island

 

Website: theMIHS.org

Historical Society creates a junior club for students

 

Paraphrased from Marco Island Sun Times Aug. 16th article by Mike Reilly

 

The Marco Island Historical Society has been growing in size and recognition for several years.  Now they have reinforcements coming in - students from the Marco Island Charter Middle School.  Camille Richie, 13, joined the historical society on her own last year.  She is an eighth grader.

Her mother, Nancy, is the city of Marco Island's Environmental specialist and she followed her daughter's joining by approaching the charter school about forming a club   Camille is very excited about having a museum on the island and the other kids are too," said Nancy Richie.

The historical society is raising funds for a museum, will be situated next the the island's library.  Among other activities, the plan is to have the students raise some money that will be donated toward the proposed museum.

Also excited about the new club is the Marco Island Historical Society's Betsy Perdichizzi.  She sees the club as a natural outgrowth of interest sparked by the curriculum of fourth and fifth graders here studying the Calusa Indians and other pioneers.

 

"I am delighted about the young kids getting involved in the Historical Society to focus on history of the island.  This will be the Year of the Museum, they couldn't have picked a better time.

As a founding member of MIHS,  it is very rewarding  for me to be involved in the establishment of  a Junior Historical Society of the Marco Island Charter Middle School.  I see this as a natural outgrowth of  interest sparked by the curriculum of Fourth and Fifth Graders studying the Calusa Indians and Pioneers .

 Of course we were  blessed in having  Camille Richie, a student member carry the idea of establishing a Junior Historical Society  into  the  Middle School as an after school club or organization.  Jerry Masters, MIHS educational chairman, the  Mr. Abounader the principal,  Mark Scalia, teacher/sponsor and Camille's mother Nancy Richie  have been meeting over the summer to flesh out the plans for getting started.  

It will be quite a challenge to get organized in time.  One of their first missions  will be to guide  visiting students from  a private school in Orlando through the Otter Mound Preserve on Saturday,  September 29th.  Our students must be trained as docents.   The visitors, ranging from First Grade to Twelfth Grade, will spend two nights on Marco Island in order to see the two museums, Indian Mounds on Horr's Island, and the Otter Mound Preserve. 

All of these young people make up the next generation; and hopefully they will make informed decisions based on   study of Florida's past history gained from activities such as these.  We have much to look forward to.

Betsy Perdichizzi

Founding Member