International Museum Day on Sanibel
Happy International Museum Day! To celebrate this educational day, we thought we’d share some of the best museums and attractions you can explore near Sanibel.
Located right on Sanibel Island, this shrine to all things shell is a perfect museum option for kids and adults alike. See some of the rarest shell specimens and get up close and personal with some of the local species you’re likely to find while doing the Sanibel Stoop.
Sanibel Historical Museum and Village
Learn the story of Sanibel as told from the Calusa and Spanish eras to the early pioneer families who settled on the island in the 1800s. Seven historic buildings were moved from their original island sites to the historical village and each building has been restored to its original state.
Known as Sanibel and Captiva’s home for all the arts, BIG ARTS has been providing cultural enrichment and fulfillment to island residents and visitors since 1979. BIG ARTS members and participants enjoy a wide spectrum of performing and visual arts events, and the community participates in more than 200 educational classes and workshops each year.
Each year, CROW cares for over 4,000 wildlife patients and more than 200 species of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife patients in its veterinary hospital, which is one of the nation’s leading rehabilitation facilities for native and migratory wildlife. CROW educates members of the public through presentations, exhibits and live video footage at its Healing Winds Visitor Education Center.
Gulf Coast Model Railroad Train Exhibit
The 43′-by-41′ Gulf Coast Railroad, in the shape of the state of Florida, was originally built at Shell Point by a small group of residents who enjoyed model railroads as a hobby and wanted to share their interest with others. To this day, resident volunteers continue to operate and maintain the railroad for thousands of visitors each year.
