The Marco Island Historical Society has announced the “Summer of Giving 2026,” a fundraising campaign to support the conservation and installation of two massive historic gears that once raised and lowered the loading ramp on the original Marco Island ferry.
The gears will ultimately become a permanent feature in the Marco Island Historical Museum’s Pioneer Era gallery.
Before a bridge connected Marco to the mainland, the island depended on a ferry. From 1912 until 1938, every vehicle, visitor and shipment bound for Marco Island crossed by way of a ferry. Today, all that physically remains of this link to the island’s past are two iron gears, together weighing approximately 400 pounds.
“Saving and sharing Marco Island’s unique history is what the Marco Island Historical Society is all about,” said MIHS CEO Pat Rutledge. “The ferry gears were rescued from the river bottom and saved from oblivion. They are a tangible connection to Marco Island’s past and conserving them ensures that future generations can experience and appreciate this important piece of our history.”
Donations of any amount to help preserve the historic ferry gears and install them as a permanent exhibit will be recognized on an acknowledgment panel in the museum’s Pioneer Era Gallery. To be included on the panel, contributions must be received by Aug. 10.
For information about giving levels or to donate, visit themihs.org or call 239-389-6447.
The Marco Island Historical Museum is located at 180 S. Heathwood Drive. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free and the site is fully ADA compliant and accessible to all visitors.
‘Wake Up’ with Rotary speaker series
Marco Island Sunrise Rotary has slated a “Wake Up” speaker series.
Each Tuesday morning, the club invites the community to Wake Up to Rotary with an “engaging, informative and inspiring speaker.”
Speakers scheduled for July and August are: State Representative Yvette Benarroch, July 7; City Manager Casey Lucius, July 14; Women’s Care Center’s Julia Swezd, July 21; MIA Student/S4TL Delegate Ava Richardson, Aug. 4; Meals of Hope, Founder/CEO Steve Popper, Aug. 11; Mosquito Commissioner Ed Brandt, Aug. 18; FC Naples’ Chris Johnson, Aug. 25.
Meetings begin at 7:15 a.m. at Stonewalls Restaurant, 551 S. Collier Blvd., Marco Island.
For more information, contact Bill Morris, 247 N. Collier Blvd., Suite 202, Marco Island; or via email at wgm@wgmorrislaw.com or call 239-642-6020. You can also visit the Sunrise Rotary website, marcosunriserotary.com.
Beach cleanup
Friends of Tigertail is hosting a quarterly beach cleanup at Tigertail, from 8 until 10 a.m., Saturday, July 11.
Volunteers should meet at the Tigertail Beach Kiosk. Plastic gloves and garbage bags will be provided. Wear shoes that may get wet. It is recommended you bring sunscreen and a hat and your own water container to reduce waste.
Youth participants will receive a certificate of appreciation for volunteering.For more information, visit FriendsofTigertail.com.
Live, work or play on Marco Island, South Naples or Everglades City? If so and you have something you’d like featured in Now You Know, send your information to mail@marconews.com.
This article originally appeared on Marco Eagle: Now You Know: Historical Society ‘gears up’ for Summer of Giving;
Reporting by Will Watts, Special to the Eagle / Marco Eagle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Will Watts, Special to the Eagle | USA TODAY Network
