Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium

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Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium BMNSM&A is a natural history museum, and the only US museum devoted primarily to shells and mollusks.
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The non-profit Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum features more than 30 exhibits of mollusks from around the world. Exhibits are devoted to shells in art and history, shell habitat, rare specimens, fossil shells, common Southwest Florida shells, and more. Explore the aquarium gallery filled with living mollusks from around the world, including the Giant Pacific Octopus, cuttlefish, sea hares, inhabitants of the Great Barrier Reef, fighting conchs, and the rare Junonia. Pop up into the middle of an oyster bed, then engage with animals in the two Touch Pools! The Museum Store offers a wide selection of shell books, exquisite jewelry, fine home décor, and unique gifts.

10/20/2026

Coral Reefs make great habitats for Mollusks. We have several types of coral featured in our Coral Reefs exhibit, including Candy Cane Coral, Leather Coral, Hammer Coral and Frogspawn Coral. Today, learn about the significance of Coral Reefs and the mollusks in this exhibit with Educator, Savanna.

More information can be found about our aquariums at https://shellmuseum.org/exhibits/living-gallery-of-aquariums/

Our new Special Exhibition 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘟-𝘙𝘢𝘺 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘑𝘪𝘮 𝘞𝘦𝘩𝘵𝘫𝘦" is now open! Historically, X-ray tec...
10/17/2026

Our new Special Exhibition 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘟-𝘙𝘢𝘺 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘑𝘪𝘮 𝘞𝘦𝘩𝘵𝘫𝘦" is now open!

Historically, X-ray technicians have used X-ray machines to make images – called radiographs – of the human body and other subjects, including shells. Shells are a great subject for X-ray imagery, as the process reveals internal structures, the shapes of empty spaces within shells, and a perspective of what lies behind a shell’s external appearance. Shell Architecture exhibits 23 photographs encompassing a range of local and global mollusks including gastropods, bivalves, marine, and terrestrial species.

The exhibition is open during regular Museum hours, from 10am to 5pm daily with paid admission. It is on view through summer 2027.

The presenting sponsor of the exhibition is Bank of the Islands, with additional support from the Boler Family Foundation.

Learn more about the Museum’s permanent and special exhibitions at ShellMuseum.org/exhibits.

10/16/2026

A large, fascinating example among scallops that stands out is the Weathervane Scallop, 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘴, reaching up to 28cm, approximately 11 inches in size. Beyond its remarkable size, it may live up to 20 years of age. Today, learn more about this incredible shell with Science Director and Curator, Dr. José H. Leal.

Visitors can learn more about the Great Hall of Shells by visiting https://shellmuseum.org/exhibits/great-hall-of-shells/

Walk along the shoreline of Gulfside City Park on our Beat the Heat Beach Walk on Thursday, October 22 at 7am! Participa...
10/15/2026

Walk along the shoreline of Gulfside City Park on our Beat the Heat Beach Walk on Thursday, October 22 at 7am!

Participants will learn about various local shells and mollusks and see a picturesque sunrise. This walk will last for approximately one hour.

Register online at https://shellmuseum.org/learn-and-experience/field-education/ $15 for adults; $5 for members and youth

The Alternate-ribbed Scallop (Caribachlamys mildredae) is one of the most elegant species in the diverse scallop family ...
10/14/2026

The Alternate-ribbed Scallop (Caribachlamys mildredae) is one of the most elegant species in the diverse scallop family Pectinidae. Its shell reaches 40 mm (about 1.6 inches); the anterior auricle (“ear-like” expansion near shell beak) in this species is much larger than the posterior one.

In addition, the left valve is more compressed than the right one and the shell sculpture pattern is complex, with ribs on the surface of the left valve bearing distinctive scale-like projections.

The color is variable, from whitish to orangish-red, mottled with brown, or white. The species is restricted to the east coast of Florida, Florida Keys, and northern Caribbean Sea.

Read more about the specimens in the illustrations here: https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/3820968319 and here: https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/3820977306

Illustrations: Chris Kovaz.

10/13/2026

Another fascinating animal with spooky features for the month of October is our Red Abalone. They have long black tentacles on the outside of their foot that they use to navigate their surrounding environment, such as detecting physical contact, or even changes in the flow of water. Learn more about these creatures with Senior Aquarist, Claire. See more of the incredible animals we have in our aquariums by visiting https://shellmuseum.org/exhibits/living-gallery-of-aquariums/

Virtual lecture reminder! Join us on Wednesday, October 14th at 5:30pm for a virtual lecture titled "Picking up the Piec...
10/12/2026

Virtual lecture reminder!

Join us on Wednesday, October 14th at 5:30pm for a virtual lecture titled "Picking up the Pieces: Tracking Elusive Predators on Mollusks" by Matthew Ajemian, Ph.D., Associate Research Professor, Florida Atlantic University.

This talk covers how Dr. Matt Ajemian's team uses innovative methods and technologies, including shell fragmentation, eDNA, and acoustics to detect and study predator-prey interactions (a “who crushed who”?) within various underwater habitats and conditions. Attendees will also experience how Ajemian’s team uses specialized tags to track the foraging behavior of a large predator, the whitespotted eagle ray, in Bermuda and Florida. The talk closes with a discussion of the relevance of the findings to marine ecosystem ecology and applied shellfish restoration projects occurring in the state of Florida and beyond.

There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Register in the link in bio or at: https://www.shellmuseum.org/learn-and-experience/lectures/

Cool shell: The Exquisite False Dial (*Spirolaxis centrifuga*) is a delicate and attractive species of the sundial snail...
10/12/2026

Cool shell: The Exquisite False Dial (*Spirolaxis centrifuga*) is a delicate and attractive species of the sundial snail family Architectonicidae. Exquisite False Dials may grow to approximately 4.5 mm (0.18 inch) in diameter. The shell in this species is open-coiled, with successive whorls (individual shell “turns”) not touching each other and maintaining a consistent distance from the neighboring whorls. The Exquisite False Dial is found from off North Carolina to Brazil, including the southern Gulf of Mexico and northern Caribbean. Illustration: James F. Kelly.

Read more about the specimen in the illustration at https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/3341054415

The museum will be open this Sunday, October 11 for regular hours, from 10am to 5pm! Spend a relaxing day learning about...
10/09/2026

The museum will be open this Sunday, October 11 for regular hours, from 10am to 5pm! Spend a relaxing day learning about shells and mollusks and dive deeper into their unique structures.

Visitors will have the chance to see more than 60 species of mollusks and other animals in our living gallery of aquariums and lots of shells on display throughout our Great Hall of Shells.

We offer daily Keeper Chats at 11 am and 2pm and Great Hall of Shells Spotlight tours at 3pm.

We look forward to your visit!

Learn more about the museum at shellmuseum.org

10/08/2026

It's International Cephalopod Awareness Day! One of our most unique ones that is perfect for October is our Flamboyant Cuttlefish, featuring vibrant pink and purple colors. Learn more about the Cuttlefish today in honor of this occasion with Senior Aquarist, Jake. To see more of the incredible animals we have in our aquariums, visit https://shellmuseum.org/exhibits/living-gallery-of-aquariums/

Address

3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road
Sanibel, FL
33957

Telephone

+12393952233

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