Last updated: 11/30/2021
Sanibel, Florida
Street Address
3075 Sanibel-Captiva RoadSanibel, FL 33957
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 1580Sanibel, FL 33957
phone: 239-395-2233
fax: 239-395-6706
e-mail: shell@shellmuseum.org
web: www.shellmuseum.org

Hours

Daily
10 AM - 5 PM

Admissions

Adults $9
Youth 5-16 $5
Children 4 & under free

Seniors: $10
AAA: $10
AARP: $10

Museum Type(s)

Staff

Sam Ankerson
phone:
Dr. José H. Leal
phone:
Stephanie Muddell
phone:
Ryann Powell
phone:
Description

More than thirty-five exhibits display world-wide shells, with special focus on Southwest Florida shells. Acclaimed video Mollusks in Action is shown five times daily. Store offers books and shell-motif gift items. Daily programming and demonstrations. See website for details.

Mission

The dissemination of information on Mollusks through exhibits, educational programs, library and publications.

Research Collections

The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, a specialized natural history museum, is a collecting museum. Its collection of shells and preserved specimens represents a large fraction of the global biodiversity of mollusks. The Museum houses a collection of worldwide and local mollusks that encompasses about 150,000 lots. The collection is expanding, with a growing focus on mollusks from the coast of southwest Florida, its barrier islands, and the Gulf of Mexico. The increasingly regional nature of the collection has attracted a large number of national and international students and scientists who visit the Museum to examine specimens in their fields of expertise. Records of our holdings are managed through a database management system and searches of the collection may be performed online.

Educational Programs

Volunteer docents assist museum visitors on their self-guided tours. The museum offers special programs and tours to groups of all ages from schoolchildren to Elderhostels. The Museum offers a discounted admission price for tours by groups of ten or more persons. The unique guided tour consists of a slide presentation on the lifestyles of mollusks, and a hands-on display of Southwest Florida shells. Also highlighted are certain exhibits in the Great Hall of Shells, including live mollusks. Reservations are required.

Daily Beach Walks with Museum Master Marine Bioglist
Daily Programming at 2pm - See website for schedule
Twice-Daily Live Tank demonstrations featuring local mollusks in an 8-foot long clear tank.
Weekly Adventure Cruise with Master Marine Biologist aboard a 24 passenger catamaran.
Governance

Private Non-Profit

Library
Access: General Public, Students, Scholars
Appointment required: Yes
Publications

Scientific journal, "The Nautilus", published quarterly.
Newsletter "Shell Museum News", published quarterly.

The Nautilus
Shell Museum News
Services
Gift Shop
Group Tours
ADA
Wheelchair Accessible
Exhibitions
Museum Events
DISCLAIMER
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc. and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Museum Trustee Association Spring Forum 2024

April 10 - 14, 2024

Atlanta, Georgia

Texas Association of Museums 2024 Lubock Annual Conference

April 14 - 17, 2024

Lubbock, Texas

2024 Colorado-Wyoming ANNUAL MEETING

May 1 - 4, 2024

Worland, Wyoming

West Virginia Association of Museums 2024 Conference

June 6 - 8, 2024

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

RECENT UPDATES

Museum Vendors

02/18 Tessellate

New York City, New York

10/30 Museum Fabrication Group, LLC

Denton, Texas

03/07 ConservArt Inc.

Boca Raton, Florida

Museum Associations

03/07 South Carolina Federation of Museums

Columbia, South Carolina