Agenda 03/12/2024 Item #16D 5 (To continue the loan of ancillary items on displaly with the world-famous Key Marco Cat at the Marco Island Historical Museum)03/12/2024
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to approve an Extension of Loan Agreement with the University of Pennsylvania Museum
of Archaeology and Anthropology allowing the Collier County Museums and the Marco Island Historical
Society to continue to exhibit fourteen (14) artifacts from the 1896 Pepper-Hearst Archaeological Expedition
to display at the Marco Island Historical Museum.
OBJECTIVE: To continue the loan of ancillary items on display with the world-famous Key Marco Cat at the
Marco Island Historical Museum.
CONSIDERATIONS: The exhibit, “Paradise Found: 6,000 Years of People on Marco Island,” has been a
transformative event for the Marco Island Historical Museum (MIHM) and the community it serves. The average
annual visitation to the MIHM between 2014 and 2018 was 18,373 visitors. In 2019, the museum welcomed 35,783
visitors, an annual record and an increase of 95% over the previous five-year average. The museum also recorded
its four (4) highest months for visitation ever in 2019. In 2014, the Marco Island Historical Museum was outside the
top ten (10) of TripAdvisor’s “Things to do on Marco Island” - today, it is number one on the island and in the top
ten percent (10%) internationally for places to visit on TripAdvisor.
The loans have also brought the MIHM unprecedented cachet and media coverage. Thanks to the loans, the MIHM
has been mentioned in all major Lee and Collier County print publications, as well as in numerous national
publications, including Smithsonian, Forbes, USA Today, Archaeology, American Archaeology (cover story),
Anthropology News, Boston Globe, First American Art, and others. It was also featured on the NPR radio program
Gulf Coast Live and the statewide PBS television program How To Do Florida. The Florida Anthropology Society
highlighted the exhibition on its annual Florida Archaeology Month poster, which featured the Key Marco Cat. The
MIHM was awarded the 2019 Museum Excellence Award from the Florida Association of Museums for its efforts
in bringing these loans - and their accompanying exhibition - to fruition.
On May 11, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners (Board) approved a loan agreement with the University of
Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology allowing the Collier County Museums and the Marco
Island Historical Society to borrow sixteen (16) artifacts for display at the Marco Island Historical Museum until
2024 (Agenda Item #16.D.3). The University of Pennsylvania loan agreement currently presented for Board
consideration will allow us to keep fourteen (14) of those items currently on display through April of 2025. A
combination of the fragility of some objects and the Penn Museum’s own planned display of other artifacts means
they can only extend the loan for an additional year. The general terms of the new loan are the same as for the
previous objects borrowed from the University of Pennsylvania.
The Board-approved Memorandum of Understanding specific to the exhibition project outlines each organization’s
roles and responsibilities in hosting the exhibition. In general, the Museum Division has assumed responsibility for
site security and costs related to insurance, crating, and shipping. The Marco Island Historical Society has assumed
responsibility for mount making and case modifications, environmental monitoring and reporting, upgrades to the
interpretive aspects of existing exhibits, and miscellaneous other costs. The term of the agreement extends through
thirty (30) days after the satisfactory return of the artifacts to the lending institutions.
FISCAL IMPACT: In preparation for the exhibit (which opened in January 2019), the Museum Division invested
approximately $350,000 in the MIHM for security surveillance systems and the installation of a backup generator.
The Marco Island Historical Society invested over $250,000 in permanent facility upgrades for this exhibit and will
continue to invest operating expenses in enhanced marketing and exhibit refinements for the new pieces being
brought in. Operating expenses associated with providing insurance coverage and manned security are
approximately $60,000 annually. This cost will be covered by the Marco Island Museum, cost center 157470.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, is approved as to form and
legality and requires majority vote for approval. -JAK
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03/12/2024
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no Growth Management impact associated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION: To approve an Extension of Loan Agreement with the University of Pennsylvania
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology allowing the Collier County Museums and the Marco Island Historical
Society to continue to exhibit fourteen (14) artifacts from the 1896 Pepper-Hearst Archaeological Expedition to
display at the Marco Island Historical Museum.
Prepared By: Amanda Townsend, Director, Museum Division
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. Extension of Loan Agreement LO-2020-3 (PDF)
2. MOU fully executed (PDF)
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COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.D.5
Doc ID: 27934
Item Summary: Recommendation to approve an Extension of Loan Agreement with the University of
Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology allowing the Collier County Museums and the Marco
Island Historical Society to continue to exhibit fourteen (14) artifacts from the 1896 Pepper -Hearst Archaeological
Expedition to display at the Marco Island Historical Museum.
Meeting Date: 03/12/2024
Prepared by:
Title: – Public Services Department
Name: Todd Henry
02/07/2024 9:28 AM
Submitted by:
Title: Department Head – Public Services Department
Name: Tanya Williams
02/07/2024 9:28 AM
Approved By:
Review:
Museum Amanda O. Townsend Additional Reviewer Completed 02/07/2024 2:29 PM
Operations & Veteran Services Jeff Weir OVS Director Review Completed 02/12/2024 3:14 PM
Public Services Department Todd Henry Level 1 Department Review Completed 02/13/2024 12:00 PM
Public Services Department Tanya Williams PSD Department Head Review Completed 02/29/2024 9:05 AM
Office of Management and Budget Debra Windsor Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 02/29/2024 9:24 AM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 02/29/2024 10:20 AM
Office of Management and Budget Blanca Aquino Luque OMB Reviewer Completed 03/06/2024 10:38 AM
County Manager's Office Dan Rodriguez Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 03/06/2024 11:01 AM
Board of County Commissioners Geoffrey Willig Meeting Pending 03/12/2024 9:00 AM
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Packet Pg. 919 Attachment: Extension of Loan Agreement LO-2020-3 (27934 : Extension of Loan Agreement with University of Pennsylvania)
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Packet Pg. 920 Attachment: Extension of Loan Agreement LO-2020-3 (27934 : Extension of Loan Agreement with University of Pennsylvania)
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Packet Pg. 921 Attachment: Extension of Loan Agreement LO-2020-3 (27934 : Extension of Loan Agreement with University of Pennsylvania)
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Packet Pg. 922 Attachment: Extension of Loan Agreement LO-2020-3 (27934 : Extension of Loan Agreement with University of Pennsylvania)
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Packet Pg. 923 Attachment: Extension of Loan Agreement LO-2020-3 (27934 : Extension of Loan Agreement with University of Pennsylvania)
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Packet Pg. 924 Attachment: Extension of Loan Agreement LO-2020-3 (27934 : Extension of Loan Agreement with University of Pennsylvania)
16.D.5.bPacket Pg. 925Attachment: MOU fully executed (27934 : Extension of Loan Agreement with University of Pennsylvania)
16.D.5.bPacket Pg. 926Attachment: MOU fully executed (27934 : Extension of Loan Agreement with University of Pennsylvania)
16.D.5.bPacket Pg. 927Attachment: MOU fully executed (27934 : Extension of Loan Agreement with University of Pennsylvania)
16.D.5.bPacket Pg. 928Attachment: MOU fully executed (27934 : Extension of Loan Agreement with University of Pennsylvania)
16.D.5.bPacket Pg. 929Attachment: MOU fully executed (27934 : Extension of Loan Agreement with University of Pennsylvania)