Sanibel Historical Museum and Village
Sanibel Historical Museum and Village
Sanibel Historical Museum and Village
4.5
Historic SitesSelf-Guided Tours & RentalsHistory Museums
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Full view
About
SHMV is a charming village museum that tells the island's history through nine accurately restored original buildings, photographs, exhibits, and live presentations from 1896 to 1927. Admission details: Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is normally open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays. Summer hours: Open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 1 - July 31. Fall hours: Closed from August 1 to October 15. Admission is free for SHMV members and $15 for non-members (adults ages 18 years and up). Guests can take self-guided tours using written guides and audio recordings available in every building. Full guided tours are available at 10:30 a.m., depending on docent availability. No reservations are required, and there is no additional fee.
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4.5
387 reviews
Excellent
264
Very good
105
Average
13
Poor
3
Terrible
2
barbijd92
Sanibel, FL37 contributions
Feb 2021
History in a beautiful setting! The historical village is more than old buildings- it is old buildings with a story, the story of people, of the land, and beautiful foliage. it is the story of the different plants (gumbo limbo anyone?) and how Sanibel went from agriculture to tourism and conservation. The delightful volunteer storytellers are well versed in the history of the island and each building, I could not hear enough. My husband and I went there 2/13/21, due to my upcoming knee surgery I had to use a wheelchair, they provided one for free. We spent hours going through the village, and we are not done, this is a must do again. I felt as if I was back in time, and I learned so much about the island I call home. Don't blow through here and not read everything, appreciate every little bit of history. Make sure to talk to the volunteers, they are a wealth of information. Then stop at the gift shop and buy books on the history of Sanibel or Lee County or shells, buy some sea grape honey, and some Sanibel coloring books for the grandkids.
Written 14 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Departure282900
5 contributions
Mar 2020
The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is a truly underrated experience for those who love the island, its charm and history.
Consisting of about a dozen original buildings from the early 20th century, well before the causeway was built, when the only means of accessing Sanibel was the ferry, the historical village includes the (second*) original Bailey's General Store, several original homes, the original Post Office and school building, and MANY fascinating historical objects and displays.
Volunteers give informative talks about life on the early island, and a real sense of what it meant to live there.
We have been coming to Sanibel since the early 1970's and I had never visited the museum; what a fool I've been! A really great time and great teaching opportunity for kids.
* -- The original original was destroyed in a hurricane.
Consisting of about a dozen original buildings from the early 20th century, well before the causeway was built, when the only means of accessing Sanibel was the ferry, the historical village includes the (second*) original Bailey's General Store, several original homes, the original Post Office and school building, and MANY fascinating historical objects and displays.
Volunteers give informative talks about life on the early island, and a real sense of what it meant to live there.
We have been coming to Sanibel since the early 1970's and I had never visited the museum; what a fool I've been! A really great time and great teaching opportunity for kids.
* -- The original original was destroyed in a hurricane.
Written 18 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tnvolfam
Franklin, TN29 contributions
July 2021 • Couples
We are in our mid 50s and appreciate local history. If you enjoy local history, this is a wonderful collection of historical buildings that tells and shows the story of Sanibel beginnings. For about an hour, you can immerse yourself into 1920s island life. Well worth the visit.
Written 30 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Phil R
Woodbridge, CT7 contributions
Jan 2020
If you are at all interested in the history of Sanibel from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s this is an excellent place to visit. There is an introductory 18 minute video which is quite interesting. Guided tours are available but after the video you can get a lot out of visiting the buildings on your own. The old Bailey’s general store and the one room Island schoolhouse were two of the more interesting buildings to me but the entire village was educational and worth visiting.
Written 10 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
upone2000
Grand Rapids, MI71 contributions
May 2021
Open Tuesday-Saturday @ 10am. Quite a few building with artifacts and pictures. There’s a few volunteers posted around that are willing to share some history of the buildings and families that once lived there. Small gift shop in one of the buildings, some local history books available. A few buildings are air conditioned. Entry fee is $10 per person. Well worth it.
Written 26 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BenM555
Plymouth, MA15 contributions
Jan 2022
We were so glad we went here. It put Sanibel Island in perspective. After a short film, we toured the historical buildings (moved from other sites) by ourselves, but there were informed, friendly docents nearby to answer our questions.
Written 14 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveler09947501810
1 contribution
Nov 2020
I was so interested to find out the history of Sanibel, which depicts a much different picture from current Sanibel. The buildings that have been restored and moved together represent all aspects of life as Sanibel developed over time. The cracker houses and the houses built from Sears Roebuck kits are amazing and beautifully restored. Agriculture and fishing were the two main industries. We were surprised to learn that Sanibel tomatoes were highly sought after and sent to wide ranging locations including NYC. This is a great way to find out how the island developed and the amount of work it took to survive on the island in earlier years given the hurricanes and mosquitoes. Well worth your time.
Written 4 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fritomann
Portage Lakes, OH267 contributions
May 2024 • Solo
Since hurricane Ian in 2022 there isn't a lot to see on Sanibel Island except for Hurricane Restoration projects.
The causeway is open and still there are construction gangs tying up access to everything. This will go on for years; take my word for it.
I timed my visit in May, 2024 around the published schedule for the museum being open, and it was. The main reason for this visit was to get my US Lighthouse Society passport stamps for the Sanibel Island lighthouse and there is also a stamp for the Historic Village. Got 'em both.
Fritomann is a museum rat and lighthouse climber and these stamps were crucial. And there is another lighthouse stamp available at the Sanibel Captiva chamber of commerce and visitors center right at the causeway terminus.
The volunteers at the Historic Village were glad to see anyone who comes in and they were busier than I thought they would be, since the museum hadn't yet reopened back in October, last time I was on Sanibel. And most of the buildings and displays here are still closed.
But when I showed my USLHS passport to the receptionist, she knew exactly what I was therefore. We had a nice long conversation about collecting lighthouses. I am kind of surprised when someone takes an interest in this hobby of mine.
The causeway is open and still there are construction gangs tying up access to everything. This will go on for years; take my word for it.
I timed my visit in May, 2024 around the published schedule for the museum being open, and it was. The main reason for this visit was to get my US Lighthouse Society passport stamps for the Sanibel Island lighthouse and there is also a stamp for the Historic Village. Got 'em both.
Fritomann is a museum rat and lighthouse climber and these stamps were crucial. And there is another lighthouse stamp available at the Sanibel Captiva chamber of commerce and visitors center right at the causeway terminus.
The volunteers at the Historic Village were glad to see anyone who comes in and they were busier than I thought they would be, since the museum hadn't yet reopened back in October, last time I was on Sanibel. And most of the buildings and displays here are still closed.
But when I showed my USLHS passport to the receptionist, she knew exactly what I was therefore. We had a nice long conversation about collecting lighthouses. I am kind of surprised when someone takes an interest in this hobby of mine.
Written 28 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Johmo
Whitefish, MT131 contributions
June 2022
Reassembled , restored, and stocked with every imaginable household item in the pioneers homes, school, and country store. The introductory video is a must see to get an in depth greeting to who lived in these very houses. Fascinating.
Written 12 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mainzer
DeLand, FL366 contributions
Nov 2020 • Friends
I like learning Florida’s history and this is a must see. It’s like walking back in time, with recorded messages and live people who answer your questions. We took lots of pictures, and spent the afternoon wondering around the village
Written 5 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I didn't see anyone in a wheelchair the day we were there. However, to see some of the historical buildings you had to go up/down steps. Probably best to check with them.
Written 20 January 2018
jackiebahler
Sanibel Island, Florida
do you have wheel chairs for the tour or is it all walking?
Written 7 January 2017
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