The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum
Sanibel, Florida
We can’t say enough about the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum!
Shelling enthusiasts who flock to Sanibel’s beaches for these gems of the ocean will not want to miss this favorite among Sanibel attractions.
After spending a day or two on the beach, visitors to Sanibel can’t help but delight in nature’s treasures that speckle her shoreline. From conchs to coquinas, starfish to sea urchins, Sanibel offers one of the widest varieties of shells found in the world.
Even if you are planning your trip to the beach only for water play and tanning, Sanibel will beguile you into becoming a collector.
History of the Shell Museum
With more than 30 exhibits that highlight the role of shells in history and art, the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum offers an amazing showcase for everyone in your family to enjoy. The museum opened to the public in November of 1995 after years of work and fundraising by Sanibel residents and fans of shelling. Its founding committee was formed back in 1985 (becoming The Shell Museum and Research Foundation, Inc. in 1986), with the world famous malacologist R. Tucker. Abbott, Ph.D. serving as its founding director. Under his influence, the founding committee renamed itself The Shell Museum and Educational Foundation, Inc.
Abbott passed away only two weeks before the museum’s grand opening. The museum derives its name from a donation of eight acres of land by Francis, Samuel and John Bailey in memory of their parents, Frank P. Bailey and Annie Mead Matthews. Since opening, the museum has provided information and resources for shell enthusiasts and students alike. It plays an active roll in the funding of Lee County schools, and it collaborates with other educational institutions both national and international. The museum focuses specifically on the mollusks of the Gulf of Mexico and the state of Florida, and it began its accreditation process in 2002.
Visiting the Shell Museum
Our visits to The Shell Museum are always a great time.
Upon entering the Great Hall of Exhibits, children are given a shell scavenger hunt that requires them to search all the exhibits for particular shells. Children receive a small gift when they have completed their task.
Also for children, there is a learning lab that contains a live mollusk tank for the children to experience the creatures that create the many beach wonders throughout the museum. Other exhibits in the Great Hall include the development of conchology, displays of landshells, fossil shells, and shell habitats around Sanibel (including wharves, mangrove estuaries, marine and land habitats), and a collection of the most frequently spotted species on Sanibel’s beaches.
You can learn about the contributions of mollusks to medical science, especially in the treatment of cancers and viruses, and see rare or high quality shells of great value. A life-sized model teaches about the first inhabitants of Sanibel and Captiva, the Calusa Indians, and the role that shells played in their culture as tools.
Learn about the most circulated form of currency in history, the cowrie shell. Spend time gazing at a beautiful collection of sailor’s valentines (shell art designed in the early 19th century by island women of the Caribbean), and be amazed by micromollusks, the smallest shells in the ocean.
Micromollusks are the “minis” that some shell collectors search for with a passion. These are tiny shells, some as small as a grain of sand, that resemble much larger shells in many cases. Minis are easily found on the beaches, although many people overlook them in their search for more traditional shells. Minis have become favorites of some of our friends we have invited to Sanibel for their vacations. Once you are made aware of them, you will want some for your collection as well.
When I was first introduced to Sanibel in the early years of my marriage, I instantly became an avid shell collector. In truth, I came to Sanibel expecting to spend my days dozing on a beach towel and reading. Instead I fell in love with the rich bounty on Sanibel’s shores. Collecting shells is always fun because each shell is different from the next and all are so beautiful.
When you visit Sanibel and experience shelling as one of her most charming aspects, you will not want to miss a visit to The Shell Museum. It is a delight for all ages, and will deepen your appreciation for the role that shells have played on Sanibel’s shores throughout history.
The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum is located at 3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road (239-395-2233 or toll free 888-679-6450) and is open daily 10AM-5PM. Children under 4 receive free admission, children ages 5 to 16 are $4, and adults 17 and up pay $7.