Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium

Name: Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium
Address: 3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel, FL, 33957, US
Telephone: +12393952233
Rating: 4.7

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Sanibel, FL
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, i

nhabitants 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.

05/29/2026

Today, learn about the Beck's Volute (𝘈𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘪) with Dr. José H. Leal.

05/28/2026

Our Summer/ Fall online lecture series is back! Beginning Wednesday, June 24, hear from four different experts in their respective fields on topics ranging from beachcombing the Gulf Coast, to Cuttlefish, to solar-powered sea slugs, and underwater predator-prey interactions.
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/

05/27/2026

Back to an all-time favorite in Southwest Florida: The main photo highlights the complex system of *columellar folds* (arrows) of a Common Nutmeg (*Cancellaria reticulata*).

We chose to illustrate a pure white (“albino” or “albinistic”) Nutmeg today because of its intrinsic beauty. In many species of gastropods, the sturdy *columellar muscle* (not shown) anchors the animal to its shell; the columellar folds serve as attachment zones for the muscle. All photos by José H. Leal.

05/21/2026

Stay cool this summer by joining one of our expert educators on a Beat the Heat Beach Walk! Participants will explore the beach at Gulfside City Park on Sanibel Island and learn about various local shells and mollusks. $15 for adults, $5 for Members and youth. Register at ShellMuseum.org/beach-walks

05/20/2026

The stunning Carmine Marginella (*Eratoidea hematita*) is one cool Florida shell! It boasts a very nice bright-pink shell with a super-glossy surface that makes it look like hard candy! The species is found in deeper water from South Carolina to Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. The shell here illustrated, measuring 14 mm (about 0.6 inch) was collected in deep water off Cedar Key, west coast of Florida. Illustration: James F. Kelly.

05/19/2026

Come check out our new arrivals at the Museum Gift Store! Shop in-store daily from 10-5 (and Members, don’t forget you get a 20% off discount), or online at the link in bio or at Store.ShellMuseum.org.

05/18/2026

A stretched-out Texas Lightning Whelk: A couple of weeks ago, Penny Lane Landry of Portland, Texas, posted in social media a series of photos of a most unusual shell that she found in Nueces Bay, the innermost body of water in the Corpus Christi estuary. Read more about here: https://shellmuseum.org/blog/a-stretched-out-texas-lightning-whelk/

05/15/2026

Today, learn about the Cockscomb Pearl Mussel (𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘢) with Dr. José H. Leal

05/14/2026

Join us June 9th as we kick off our Beat the Heat Beach Walks! Explore the Sanibel beach in the early morning and learn about various local shells and mollusks with Museum Educators. These early morning walks last about an hour and take place at Gulfside City Park on Sanibel Island. $15 for adults, $5 for Members and youth. Register at link in bio or ShellMuseum.org/beach-walks

05/13/2026

This shell of an immature Queen Helmet (Cassis madagascariensis) measures only 16.7 mm (approximately 0.66 inch; the species can grow to 410 mm, or 16.1 inches). It was dredged in 1981 off Boynton Beach (Palm Beach County), Florida and donated to the National Shell Museum & Aquarium in the early years of the institution. It’s remarkable how much that immature shell already resembles adult shells of the species. Already present on the shell are typical Queen Helmet features such as the general shape, reticulated sculpture, outer lip, and axial (“vertical”) ribs called varices (singular varix) (arrow). Varices indicate periods of diminished growth rate that are common in helmets, bonnets, and triton snails, among others. The shell was identified by Chris Whitt and photographed by José H. Leal. Read more about Queen Helmets here: https://shellmuseum.org/blog/the-mighty-queen-helmet/

Address

3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road
Sanibel, FL
33957

Telephone

+12393952233

Website

http://www.shellmuseum.org/, https://linktr.ee/Shell_Museum_and_Aquarium

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