top of page
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum on Sanibel Island, Florida

About The Museum

Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium is the only accredited museum in the United States devoted solely to shells and mollusks.

Our Vision: The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium is a natural history museum that educates, inspires, builds community, and connects people through their love of shells, the diverse animals that create them, and the natural environment.

Our Mission: To use exceptional collections, aquariums, programs, experiences, and science to be the nation’s leading museum in the conservation, preservation, interpretation, and celebration of shells, the mollusks that create them, and their ecosystems.

Who We Are

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium is a registered 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit with AAM accreditation.

Our Story

Started by a local shell collector in 1984, we've grown into a national and international resource for the study and distribution of knowledge about mollusks.

Contact Us

3075 Sanibel Captiva Rd.

Sanibel, FL 33957

239-395-2233

info@shellmuseum.org

bottom of page