Bell's Baby

The Marco Island Historical Society (MIHS) is losing a star in Austin Bell, its curator of collections since 2013. Well-wishers and museum leaders gathered Wednesday, February 21, in the lobby of the Marco Island Historical Museum to honor Bell. Bell has accepted the position of chief curator of the Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee. 

“This was my baby before we had our baby,” Austin Bell said of the Marco Island Historical Museum. Bell was sort of a baby himself when he first came to the fledgling museum shortly after graduating from the University of Florida.

As MIHS leaders lined up to honor him, Bell stood by, accepting their lavish praise with his trademark humility.

"When Austin came here, he was single,” said Linda Sandlin. “And over the course of his time, we had the privilege of attending his and Erin's wedding at the beautiful historic Marco Chapel. They raised their first daughter, Chloe, here.”

Alan and Linda Sandlin are Cushing Society Members at the MIHS. The museum’s Sandlin Gallery hosts rotating exhibits. Alan Sandlin told the audience how MIHS landed Bell.

"I remember bringing you up here when you first came to the Island,” Alan Sandlin told Bell. "We were kind of at that point where we really needed to have a world-class person here. So, we went to Mr. William Marquardt, who was the curator of the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. We asked if he had anybody in mind that would work well down here, where we have such a powerful Calusa story to tell. He said, ‘Yes. Austin Bell. He's just graduating and he's going to be looking for a job, and you need to get to him right now.' And we did. Dreams are built on people's shoulders, aren't they? This man right here catapulted us from a little hometown museum to a world-class museum.”

MIHS CEO Pat Rutledge said it’s easy to see Bell’s impact on the museum.

“Austin Bell’s accomplishments in that decade?” Rutledge said. “All I have to do is ask you to look around. Because if you do you will see permanent galleries that Austin curated. In the Sandlin Gallery, temporary exhibits that Austin curated. If you look outside the building, you’ll see our permanent outdoor exhibit that Austin curated. His legacy will live on here. We’re grateful. We’re proud of you. We’re going to miss you."

Tom Wagor, a former MIHS board president, added a little levity when telling of being asked to mentor Bell.

"How am I going to mentor this guy?” Wagor said. "He's so far above me in terms of all of this historical stuff. I’m just a board president trying to figure out the finances.”

Wagor took Bell to lunch at Rookies a number of times, where he attempted to impart wisdom to Bell.

“Do you remember those lunches at Rookies?” Wagor asked Bell rhetorically. “Did you learn anything from me?"

Bell was ready with a witty response.

“I learned that Rookies had the best burgers on Marco,” Bell deadpanned, much to the audience’s enjoyment. But when he scanned the audience, Bell became emotional. 

"I learned a lot from everybody in this room,” Bell said. "And I'm not very emotional, but this is really actually hitting me with all of you here. I couldn't have done anything here without the support of all of you and the community. I'm so grateful to have had this opportunity. I have learned so much - sometimes the hard way - on how to do things. I think I'll carry those lessons with me for the rest of my career and the rest of my life. The awesome thing about Marco Island is that the history here is just incredible. That's not going away with me. That stays here and that will continue on forever. I've just been privileged to be a steward of that for a few years. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for the Marco Island Historical Society and the museum here. I think it's just going to get better and better and better. I will never forget it. Marco Island will always be special to us."

Linda Sandlin may have said it best.

“I’m so happy for Austin,” she said, “but I’m sure going to miss him."