The statue of the mysterious cat Key Marco on Marco Island (10 photos)

Egypt is especially famous for its cat artifacts. Other cultures have them, too. But this Florida museum figurine stands out in culture and art.





In front of the Marco Island Historical Museum in Florida stands a tall statue of a cat-like creature, a stunning replica of a mysterious local artifact.



Key Marco, which may be between 500 and 1,500 years old

In 1896, the Smithsonian Expedition to Marco Island began excavating a mud-filled pond known as the "Yard of the Pile Dwellers." There, deep in the preserved mud, they discovered the "Key Marco Cat," a six-inch wooden carving of a kneeling cat-man, likely carved by the island's indigenous Calusa people. The researchers concluded that the figurine was carved in the likeness of a Florida cougar, and its anthropomorphic features suggest that it was made by a local artist sometime before European settlement on the continent.





A Larger Replica of It

The world-famous Key Marco cat is currently on long-term loan from the Smithsonian Institution to the Marco Island Historical Museum. Along with the adorable cat-human figurine, there are other artifacts found during the same excavation.



You can learn about the cat's history and mystery at the museum, and admire a large replica of the artifact in the courtyard of the Marco Island Historical Museum.



Cover of "The Nine Lives of Florida's Famous Cat Key Marco"

Austin Bell, curator of collections at the Marco Island Historical Society, dedicated a book to the discovery, "The Nine Lives of Florida's Famous Cat Key Marco."



Illustration from the book showing the birth of the cat

The cat became one of the most famous artifacts in Florida, and it has had something of a fascinating history since its discovery. It has been displayed in various museums and changed hands several times, all of which is described in this book.



On Marco Island, the cat man has become something of an object of local identity and pride, because his image and small copies are everywhere: on street signs, in jewelry and souvenirs, in local businesses. Thus, a small wooden find has affected the lives of the people of Marco Island.





cat Ki Marco