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We are more than a museum.

Every object has a story to tell.

The Marco Island Historical Society (MIHS) proudly owns and curates a diverse and extensive collection of over 48,000 artifacts that document more than 6,000 years of our region’s history. This growing collection encompasses a wide array of items related to Marco Island and its neighboring areas, including Goodland, Isles of Capri, Naples, and Collier County.

At any given time, hundreds of carefully selected items from the collection are on display at the Marco Island Historical Museum. The remainder of the collection is meticulously preserved by our Collections Department in a secure, climate-controlled environment, ensuring these precious links to our past are protected for future generations to study and enjoy.

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get involved

Interested in assisting in Collections? The Collections Department offers a variety of opportunities to get hands-on with history! Become a volunteer, apply for our summer internship program, and more.

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Other Educational Opportunities

Gain practical experience or credit hours in your field of study outside of our summer internship program. Contact the Collections Department today about other educational opportunities we offer.

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How to Conduct Research

The Kathy Miracco Collections Research Center is open to Historical Society members and the general public by appointment only. The Center is a non-lending library and collections research space. Collections staff will be available to assist with your on-site research needs. Copy and scanning services are offered for a fee. To inquire about a topic or schedule a visit, email:

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image requests

The MIHS welcomes requests for reproductions of the materials in our collection for personal, academic, nonprofit, and commercial purposes. Whether you’re working on an academic project, conducting historical research, seeking visuals for commercial use, or simply interested in a personal copy, we’re here to help you access high-quality images from our extensive collections.

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guidelines

If you are interested in obtaining digital reproductions of photographs or images in the MIHS collection, please read the following guidelines before completing our Digital Image and Use Request form.

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Rights and Terms of Use

The Marco Island Historical Society (MIHS) will only grant reproduction requests for image(s) or material(s) that 1) it owns the copyright(s) for or 2) have “no known copyright restrictions.” MIHS cannot guarantee the copyright status of any image(s) or material(s), including those with “no known copyright restrictions.” It is up to the requestor to determine and obtain any other necessary permission, including that of any relevant outside parties. Examples of “relevant outside parties” include original artists, authors, owners, photographers, publishers, or any pictured individuals who have not expressly granted copyright privileges to the MIHS. Requestor expressly understands, acknowledges and agrees to indemnify MIHS from any and all claims or damages arising from use.

One-Time Use

If permission to reproduce a photograph or image is granted by the MIHS, it is thereby approved for one-time, non-exclusive, worldwide use. This means that if the image is to be used in any way other than that described by the requestor on the Digital Image and Use Request form, including re-use in another publication or format, subsequent request(s) and usage fee(s) must be submitted. If a digital copy of the image is provided by MIHS, it may not be altered, redesigned, or manipulated in any way other than that expressly stated on the Digital Image and Use Request form.

Usage Fees

The MIHS reserves the right to charge a usage fee for any images reproduced from its collections for publication, exhibition, distribution, or any other purpose. Fees support the long-term preservation of the collection and its accessibility to future patrons. However, at the discretion of the MIHS, fees may be waived or reduced if requested image(s) is (are) intended for use in a non-profit, educational, or scholarly fashion. See the latest MIHS Fee Schedule for current rates.

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Donate
to Collections

Help preserve our local heritage by donating historical objects to the MIHS collection. If you have items of significance to Marco Island or Southwest Florida history, we invite you to contact our Collections team to discuss how your artifacts can enrich our shared story for generations to come.

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frequently asked questions

Still have questions? Please email us at:

Can the Historical Society appraise objects?

No. Although the Marco Island Historical Society welcomes artifact donations, it does not provide authentication or appraisal services.

If you wish to obtain a formal, written appraisal of an object, you can consult the following professional associations to find an accredited appraiser in your area:

Is my donation tax deductible?

Yes. The Marco Island Historical Society is recognized as a qualified charitable organization, and the fair market value of your donated materials is generally tax deductible. It is recommended that you consult with your own accountant, attorney, or the IRS to ensure that you receive the maximum tax benefit. You may also refer to Internal Revenue Service Publication No. 526, Charitable Contributions, and Publication No. 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property.

Can I loan my item to the museum?

The Marco Island Historical Society is unable to accept long term loans, loans for unspecified periods of time, or loans that are not related to a specific exhibit. We may seek out artifacts in support of upcoming exhibits and programs, but these loans are for a limited time and are based on our needs as determined by the curatorial staff.

Will my artifacts be used in an exhibit?

The Historical Society cannot guarantee that any objects, photographs, or documents donated to the MIHS collections will be exhibited. Only a small percentage of the over 48,000 items are on view at any given time, but our collections are utilized daily for research, education, community engagement, programming, and more.

Can I donate an artifact without an appointment?

No. Artifacts cannot be accepted for the collections without prior communication with MIHS Collections staff. Learn more about how to donate an object to our collections here.

How is the decision made to accept or decline an item?

While every item is unique, we evaluate several factors when considering donations: the historical or cultural importance of the item to Marco Island, its physical condition, whether the MIHS already has a similar piece, the item’s history of ownership and use, and storage needs.

Can I leave materials to the MIHS in my will?

Yes. Please contact our Curator of Collections at curator@themihs.org. Please note that bequests must meet collections requirements.

I’m still not sure if my item is right for the MIHS. Should I still fill out the donation form?

Yes! Even if you are unsure, the donation form is the best way to contact us to start the conversation.

Someone from my family has donated an object to the museum. Is it on view in the museum?

To enquire whether a particular object is on view in the museum or to arrange a private appointment, contact our Collections Staff at collections@themihs.org.

What do we collect?

The MIHS collects a wide variety of items related to the history of Marco Island and its surrounding community. To learn more about what type of materials we do and don’t accept for the MIHS collections, visit our Donate to Collections page.

Does your collection only contain items that are rare or valuable?

Our museum acquires objects primarily for their historical relevance to Marco Island and the surrounding communities. This historical significance does not necessarily correlate with rarity or financial value. Often, the most ordinary, everyday objects, the kind anyone might use or save as mementos, tell the most compelling stories about our past!

Is all of your collection on view in the museum?

The MIHS is a proud steward of over 48,000 objects in our collections, although only around 2% of those items are on display at any given time. Due to space and conservation concerns, some objects cannot be displayed at all or may only be on view for a short period of time. To ensure that our collections are visible to the broadest audience possible, we proactively provide access in a variety of different ways including research, social media initiatives, image requests, educational programs and lectures, and temporary exhibits.

Are the MIHS collections available for research?

Yes, you can explore our collections online or in person at the Kathy Miracco Research Center by appointment. We are happy to accommodate as many research requests as possible. For further information or to schedule an appointment, please contact us at collections@themihs.org.

I found an item in your online collection, but there isn’t much information available. Could you provide more information?

Some objects currently have only basic information, but we are actively working to expand and enrich the details in our collection records. For specific research inquiries or to obtain collection images, please contact us at collections@themihs.org.

How do I obtain an image from the MIHS collections or secure rights to use an MIHS image or other collections content for publication or commercial purposes?

If you wish to use any MIHS collections content for personal, educational or commercial purposes, you must obtain prior written permission from the Historical Society. To request permission or image reproductions, please visit our Image Request page.

MAKE HISTORY MATTER

Become a member today and help us tell the many stories of Marco Island’s history and heritage.

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Image and use fee schedule

MIHS Members receive 10% discount on all digital and photo copy services

Digital Services

  • Digital services include scans of photographics and/or documents. All prices are per page.
  • Photographs are saved as JPEG files unless otherwise requested
  • Documents can be saved as either JPEG or PDF files.
  • No physical reproductions are made by the MIHS. Requestor is responsible for printing and all associated costs.
Product price
Digital Scan at 300 dpi $20 / scan
Digital Scan at 600+ dpi $30 / scan
CD with requested materials Add $5

Photocopy Services

  • Photocopies of materials are in Black & White only
Quantity price
1-10 pages Free
10+ pages 10¢ / page

Delivery

  • Unless otherwise requested, all digital materials will be delivered via email.
  • If purchasing materials on a CD, the CD will be mailed to preferred address for no additional cost.

Payment

  • Check
  • Credit card by phone
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