Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium is a museum and aquarium devoted to seashells, conchology, and malacology, including the paleontological and archeological/anthropological aspects of the study of shells. It lies in Sanibel itself. Its history begins in 1995.
A museum inside Sanibel
You can stay in Sanibel
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium is inside Sanibel, which has 43 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
Best months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov and Dec
January, February, March, April, November and December are the mild months, with highs of 75–84°. When to go ↓
Established in 1995
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium dates from 1995. About ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
The climate here
Plan a visit to Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium around the weather below.
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium is a museum and aquarium devoted to seashells, conchology, and malacology, including the paleontological and archeological/anthropological aspects of the study of shells. The museum is located in the city of Sanibel, Florida on the Gulf of Mexico coast of Southwest Florida.
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum opened to the public in 1995, and operates as an information and reference center for national and international scientists, students, and shell enthusiasts, particularly those who are interested in the marine, terrestrial, and freshwater mollusks of the Gulf of Mexico and Florida. The Museum, which is a facility of the Shell Museum and Educational Foundation, Inc., received its first accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums in March 2010.
- Type
- Museum
- Established
- 1995
- Wikipedia readers
- 2.6K a year
Nights near Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium
For a bed close by, look to Sanibel (43) and Fort Myers Beach (65).
- 1Hertz Arena
- 2Edison and Ford Winter Estates
- 3Mound Key Archeological
- 4Koreshan State Historic Site
- 5Cayo Costa
Fort Myers Beach
5,287 people · 48% vacation homes
12 mi east of Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium
Iona
13,631 people · 32% vacation homes
10 mi northeast of Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium
Cape Coral
236,264 people
15 mi northeast of Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanibel 43% vacation homes | in town | — | 43 31 hotels · 3 motels · 5 inns & B&Bs · 3 lodges & cabins · 1 campground | 6,303 | $957K | — |
| Fort Myers Beach 48% vacation homes | 12 mi east | 15 min | 65 52 hotels · 4 motels · 5 inns & B&Bs · 1 campground · 3 RV parks | 5,287 | $642K | — |
| Iona 32% vacation homes | 10 mi northeast | 15 min | 19 7 hotels · 1 lodge or cabins · 2 campgrounds · 9 RV parks | 13,631 | $323K | — |
| Cape Coral | 15 mi northeast | 25 min | 29 24 hotels · 1 motel · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 236,264 | $374K | — |
| St. James City 43% vacation homes | 7 mi north | 10 min | 10 5 hotels · 2 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 2 campgrounds | 3,412 | $320K | — |
| Captiva 71% vacation homes | 7 mi northwest | 10 min | 8 7 hotels · 1 inn or B&B | 99 | — | — |
| Bonita Springs 30% vacation homes | 21 mi east | 30 min | 32 25 hotels · 1 motel · 1 lodge or cabins · 5 RV parks | 57,634 | $497K | — |
| Fort Myers | 21 mi northeast | 30 min | 32 24 hotels · 5 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 RV park | 101,581 | $385K | C− |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Around Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium
You can reach each of these within 64 miles.
120 mi Stadium & arenaHertz Arena
219 mi MuseumEdison and Ford Winter Estates315 mi State parkMound Key Archeological State Park
418 mi State parkKoreshan State Historic Site
518 mi State parkCayo Costa State Park
44 mi Ancient siteWarm Mineral Springs47 mi Park & preserveMyakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park
63 mi BeachSiesta BeachPhoto credits
Hertz Arena: Tthaas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Edison and Ford Winter Estates: Rolf Müller (User:Rolfmueller), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Koreshan State Historic Site: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cayo Costa State Park: https://www.flickr.com/photos/andrea_pauline/, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Warm Mineral Springs: Blas0082, Public domain · Siesta Beach: 4net, CC BY 3.0
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Your questions on Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium
Is Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium in Sanibel?
Yes. It’s inside Sanibel, FL.
When is the best time to visit Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium?
January, February, March, April, November and December, with highs of 75–84°.
What is the closest airport to Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium?
Southwest Florida (RSW), about 23 miles away.
Where should I stay near Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium?
Sanibel (in town, 43 places to stay), Fort Myers Beach (12 mi, 65 places to stay) and Iona (10 mi, 19 places to stay).
Local tips in Sanibel
Nobody has posted a tip yet; ask or answer in Sanibel’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.