Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, located in lovely Sanibel, Florida, is considered as the only shell museum in the United States that solely focuses on mollusks and shells. The nationally and internationally renowned museum started as a local shell collector’s dream in 1984, and eventually morphed into a nonprofit.
Inside the museum showcases both temporary and permanent exhibits, including The Great Hall of Shells, which showcases half a million shells. There is also a living aquarium gallery called Beyond Shells that features over 50 species of marine life. On the topic of living exhibits, the museum showcases a virtual and in-person Octocam that live streams the life and antics of a Giant Pacific Octopus! (A fun fact is that the Octopus is nocturnal.)
Serious shell and mollusk enthusiasts can become a member of the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, and like many nonprofits, it relies on donations and volunteers to successfully run the facility. The museum also provides extensive education for visitors of all ages, including adult education classes, beach walks, lectures, and K-12 programs.
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