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Trip Planner:   USA  /  Florida  /  Southwest Gulf Coast  /  Sanibel Island  /  The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, Sanibel Island

4.4
#3 of 73 in Museums in Southwest Gulf Coast
Specialty Museum · Museum
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Put your hand in a tank with domestic mollusks or see fossilized shells at The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. This nonprofit museum teaches visitors all about shells and their role in art, medicine, architecture, cuisine, and even the economy. Spin the museum's classification wheel and learn how to arrange and identify Florida shells. Watch a video showing huge mollusks in their natural habitat, or use a microscope to observe micro mollusks. Kids can spend some time in the children’s learning interactive lab. Discover how to plan a Sanibel Island trip in just a few steps with Inspirock's itinerary builder.
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The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
1,651 reviews
Google
4.5
TripAdvisor
  • By Yariv G
    The National Shell Museum is a beautiful little museum with an impressive and colourful collection of shells. The shells are nicely displayed and explained. In addition to the shells, the touch tank.....  more
    The National Shell Museum is a beautiful little museum with an impressive and colourful collection of shells. The shells are nicely displayed and explained. In addition to the shells, the touch tank.....  more »
  • By almliu
    It was nice place to visit. Lots of different exhibits and our favorites were live animals/fish. Everyone super nice. Great place to visit. 
    It was nice place to visit. Lots of different exhibits and our favorites were live animals/fish. Everyone super nice. Great place to visit.  more »
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Google
  • By Larry Schapker
    Very friendly guides. Lots of shell and mollusk information!
  • By Emily Alworth
    We had the best time here after picking shells at Turner Beach. Extremely cool to learn about the creatures that inhabited the shells we found. The sea hares were our favorites. The exhibit on carrier shells is not to be missed! Nature is astounding. :)
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