Marco Island Historical Society gets $10K grant

The Marco Island Historical Society received a $10,000 grant from the Collier Community Foundation to help preserve two historic gears from the original Marco Island ferry. The roughly 400-pound iron gears once raised and lowered the ferry’s loading ramp and were recovered from the Marco River near Snook Inn. The ferry transported people, vehicles and shipments between Marco Island and the mainland from 1912 to 1938. The grant completes the society’s annual Summer of Giving fundraising campaign supporting conservation and installation of the gears. Once restored, they will become a permanent exhibit in the Pioneer Era gallery at the Marco Island Historical Museum.