In 1896, a six-inch-tall wooden artifact was unearthed on present-day Marco Island. The carved statue was called the Key Marco Cat when it was discovered to be a piece of Pre-Columbian Native American art. As part of its collection, the Smithsonian Institution considers the artifact to be one of the finest pieces of art in North America. The Key Marco Cat has been returned to its original home, as it and other similar artifacts are going to be collectively featured in an exhibit at the Marco