What's New
Upcoming activities and recent Shell Museum developments. Also, check "General Information."
August 27, 2010
Thousands of Lee County students will benefit from new TV
August 27, 2010
The 2010–2011 Ongoing Workshop and Special Programs and Events Schedule has something for everyone!
August 16, 2010
August 15, 2010
The Sanibel-Captiva Shell club has funded the design and fabrication of a new permanent exhibit titled “World Record Size Shells” to be displayed in the “Great Hall of Shells” at The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum.
August 15, 2010
August 14, 2010
Dr. José H. Leal, Director/Curator for The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, announced that Bruce David Neville was awarded the 2010 R. Tucker Abbott Visiting Curatorship.
August 10, 2010
Help us celebrate our birthday in style!
July 26, 2010
Check the latest issue of Shell Museum News online!
July 24, 2010
Young Sanibel Visitors Share Sanibel Vacation Heritage
July 11, 2010
- Dr. José H. Leal, Director of the Bailey MatthewsShell Museum, announced that Darlene Grossman has been added to the Museum’s leadership team.
June 12, 2010
Diane Thomas, Public Programs Specialist at The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, invites all children ages five through eight and nine through twelve to participate in a “School Is Out,” coloring contest.
May 28, 2010
The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum one of more than 600 museums to offer free admission
to military personnel and their families this summer
May 4, 2010
There's nothing better than kids sharing their knowledge of mollusks
May 3, 2010
Summer Camp Registration Open
April 12, 2010
Shell Museum featured in News-Press Tropicalia Magazine
April 1, 2010
The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum has achieved accreditation from the American Association of Museums, the highest national accreditation for a Museum.
March 18, 2010
To help educate the public about the edible mollusks of the world, The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum is opening a new exhibit, “MMM. . . Mollusks.” To celebrate this occasion and to raise funds for continuation of the educational mission of the Museum, Lily & Co. has donated a necklace to be raffled off at the First Annual Edible Mollusk Festival.
March 16, 2010
On Wednesday, April 7, 2010, at 2:00 p.m., Mike Valiquette, founder of People United to Restore our Rivers and Estuaries (PURRE), will present a talk entitled, “Water Quality - Cleaning up our Own backyard.”
March 13, 2010
On March 23 and 25, 2010, artist Constance Miller will lead a Sailors’ Valentine Workshop. Attendees may join the class for one day and complete the project on their own or join Constance for a second day.
March 4, 2010
The Shell Museum will be closed on Sunday, March 7, date of its annual Under-the-Sea Fundraiser. The Museum will resume its normal operation hours on Monday, March 8, 2010.
February 20, 2010
Shell Show's Judges Program to be held at the Shell Museum On Friday March 5, 2010, at 5:45 p.m.
February 19, 2010
On March 3, 2010, at 2 p.m. at The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, Dr. José H. Leal, director/curator for The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum will present his program, “Rare and Unusual Shells from the Museum Collection.” The rarity of some of the Museum’s collection will be compared with other world rarities like the Mona Lisa and the Hope Diamond.
February 6, 2010
Dr. Greg Tolley’s “lunar lander” doesn’t settle on the surface of the moon but rather on the floor of the Caloosahatchee River.
February 1, 2010
Group photo taken at the first meeting of Florida United Malacologists (FUM), Shell Museum, January 30, 2010
January 29, 2010
December 22, 2009
The winter shelling season is off to an exciting start with the discovery of a giant tun on Saturday.
October 30, 2009
Dr. José H. Leal, Executive Director of The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum will join in the celebration by offering a program at the Museum on November 12, 2009 at 2 p.m.
October 26, 2009
FUM Coming to the Shell Museum on Saturday, January 30, 2009!
October 12, 2009
Dr. José H. Leal, Director/Curator of The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum has announced that the Museum was awarded a "Culture Builds Florida" grant by State of Florida's Division of Cultural Affairs. The grant will augment private donations designated for development of a new exhibit.
September 28, 2009
Dr. José H. Leal, Director/Curator of The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, announced that the Museum was awarded an Arts and Attractions Grant by the Southwest Florida Community Foundation in partnership with the Tourist Development Council, City of Fort Myers, and the Alliance for the Arts.
September 18, 2009
In 2005, Harlan found two alphabet cones, each displaying the pattern of his initials, HEW. This was the beginning of Harlan’s obsession with the letters on alphabet cones, an obsession that led to the publication of a four-page color brochure titled, Alphabet cones: Living, Learning Tools. The brochure includes all twenty-six letters of the alphabet and the numerals one through twelve. Harlan has generously donated the brochure to The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum.
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September 11, 2009
Voted "Best Of The Island" in Museum Category
August 28, 2009
The first meeting of the Florida United Malacologists (FUM) will occur Saturday, January 30, 2010, at The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum (BMSM) in Sanibel, Florida. The one-day gathering is designed to enhance communication among professional, amateur, and student malacologists, with topics including but not limited to biology, ecology, paleontology, archaeology, and conservation.
August 11, 2009
Cartoons provide the perfect medium for introducing children to drawing. Children, especially young children, have fewer creative/artistic inhibitions than adults.
August 4, 2009
Museum Offers New Program For Families On Vacation
July 26, 2009
Dr. Gary Schmelz and Anne Joffe will be leading a Shell Museum sponsored trip to Chub Cay from October 27, 2009 to November 3, 2009.
July 3, 2009
Ryan Paravate of Cumming, Georgia won the children’s coloring contest
June 20, 2009
Winner Awarded Museum Store Gift Certificate
May 12, 2009
The Shell Museum was the natural “expert partner” for explaining why Sanibel is the shelling capital of North America and teaching the audience how to find, clean, and transport shells as well as use them for a family-friendly craft.
April 24, 2009
Seashells of Sanibel & Captiva Islands Updated: Presentation Focuses On Museum’s Scientific Collection And Its Contribution To Research And Education. This is one you won't want to miss. Hear about the great finds of the 2009 season.
April 8, 2009
New laminated guide sheet "Seashells of Sanibel and Captiva Islands" released!
March 28, 2009
"Under The Sea" fundraiser made possible through the support of the local business community
March 28, 2009
Please plan to attend
March 24, 2009
Beat The Heat and Shell-e-brate Summer With The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum - children's summer camp adventures
March 1, 2009
Review the week's schedule and read what past shell show participants shared about their experiences
March 1, 2009
After the presentation Peter Dance will release his new book, "Sea Shells On My Mind" and Harlan Wittkopf will release the fifth edition of his book, "The Sanibel Kaleidoscope." Authors will be available for autographs after the program.
March 1, 2009
Diane Orvis Thomas joins Museum leadership team
February 5, 2009
On Saturday March 14, 2009, José H. Leal, Ph.D., director/curator of The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, will lead a natural history trip to Cayo Costa State Park. The park is located directly south of Boca Grande and West of Pine Island and N. Fort Meyers.
January 8, 2009
Dr. Aswani Volety, Professor of Marine Science and the Chair of the Department of Marine and Ecological Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University will kick of the 2008 Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum Natural Sciences Lecture Series.
January 1, 2009
2009 Calendar Of Events
October 17, 2008
Over the next several months, Julie Olander, an internationally recognized artist, will be teaching a series of four classes for both adults and children at The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum. The first workshop will be held on November 5th and 6th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
January 1, 2008
The new poster Seashells of Sanibel and Captiva depicts 65 species of local seashells found on the islands.