Marco Island

There are few places that have undergone a more radical transformation during the past half-century than Marco Island, Florida. Once a pristine tropical paradise with only a few hundred residents, Marco Island is now one of America's most popular island destinations. With a permanent population nearing 20,000--a figure that virtually doubles between the months of January and March--its modern state is largely attributable to the ambitious vision of Florida's "Famous Mackle Brothers." The Mackles, founders of the Deltona Corporation, literally reshaped the island in keeping with their long-term masterplan, capitalizing on the unique history, community pride, and undeniable natural splendor that continue to make it so alluring.

Austin J. Bell is curator of collections for the Marco Island Historical Society (MIHS) and author of Images of America: Marco Island, with a master's degree in museum studies from the University of Florida. Kaitlin Romey is collections manager for the MIHS with a master's degree in museum studies from the University of Kansas. Most of the images in this book are drawn from the MIHS collections, which Austin and Kaitlin work to preserve and share via award-winning exhibits at the Marco Island Historical Museum.