A VINTAGE VIEW OF SANIBEL
Trace the island’s past with a visit to the Sanibel Historical Museum & Village
Although the Sanibel Historical Museum & Village meticulously preserves the island’s past in buildings from yesteryear, it wouldn’t be possible without the dedicated people working behind the scenes—board members, volunteers and guest speakers.
There are many things to do on Sanibel, including exploring beautiful beaches, riding miles of bike paths, attending art exhibits and concerts. But there’s only one place where you can immerse yourself in the history of the island, where you can go back in time to the days of hardy pioneers building lives for themselves on a swampy, prairie-like island in the Gulf of Mexico. That place is the Sanibel Historical Museum & Village, tucked behind city hall and the popular BIG ARTS complex. The sleepy village is made up of nine authentically restored historical buildings that were transported from their original island locations to form a charming glimpse into the past.
Visitors can experience just about all aspects of early island life. There’s a Cracker home, a one-room schoolhouse, post office, tea room, fishing cottage, and Sears kit home beach cottage. “People don’t realize that Sanibel started as a farming community that was very successful for a number of years due to rich soil and available fresh water,” says Emilie Alfino, the executive director of the Sanibel Historical Museum & Village.
“It wasn’t until farming died due to saltwater from hurricanes, and the extension of the railroad into Southwest Florida, that tourism took over and it slowly became a destination for people seeking their little piece of paradise with beaches and shells and fish,” she notes.
A favorite of visitors is Morning Glories, a Sears kit home built around 1925. The historic cottage was milled in New Jersey and came to Sanibel in kit form—some 30,000 pieces by rail and barge—at a cost of $2,211. It represents the start of the “snowbird” phenomenon, as its owners traveled from their northern home to spend winters on the island. In that way, Morning Glories illustrates the gradual transformation of Sanibel from an agricultural settlement populated by pioneers into a community serving tourism and part-time residents.
“Morning Glories is so lovely that we actually have visitors ask if they can sign up on a waiting list to spend a weekend there,” Alfino says.
Other favorites include Rutland House—the island’s history museum until other buildings were moved to form the village as it is today. Rutland House is a typical “Cracker house,” with high ceilings for ventilation and raised off the ground to protect against flooding and critters. There is cross-ventilation throughout. It’s constructed of slash pine; the resin in the wood hardens and protects it from insects and water.
The hip roof is tin, meant to reflect heat, deflect windstorms and collect rainwater. Cracker-style homes were designed perfectly for the early settlers. “Many people are fascinated by the kitchen in particular, as it is full of things that can help with chores that must be done without electricity,” Alfino explains.
A pavilion is planned to house a timeline of Sanibel and world events, and serve as a gathering place for tours, training and other endeavors.
“My favorite is the Bailey General Store,” she says. Frank Bailey, one of the island’s earliest pioneers, came to farm in 1895 and soon became owner of the island’s only general store, known then—and today—as the Sanibel Packing Company. The fourth generation of the Bailey family still runs it, albeit in another location.
“We’re lucky to have the store as part of our village,” Alfino adds. “It was the social center of the island, with telegraph and telephone service and a ferry landing. People voted there and socialized there.” Over time, its slogan came to be: “If we don’t have it, you don’t need it.”
The museum holds several events, including Twilight Talks and Volunteer Updates. A popular talk this past season highlighted the 40th anniversary of Sanibel’s affordable housing program. Another talk, Locally Homegrown on Sanibel, featured people who grew up on the island in the 1950s and ’60s. Porter Goss and Jean Woodring spoke about the 1974 birth of the city of Sanibel; Betty Anholt and Charles LeBuff discussed Sanibel’s and Captiva’s history of conservation; and Gayle Pence and Alex Werner talked about the nonprofit that runs the village.
The museum exists with a small stipend from the city, and donations and memberships. A gala fundraiser takes place annually; this year raising $135,000 with the theme, “It Takes a Village.” Funds will help pay for upcoming projects. A pavilion is planned to house a timeline of Sanibel and world events, and serve as a gathering place for tours, training and other endeavors. Improvements to and maintenance of the buildings are an ongoing expense.
“It isn’t easy keeping these old buildings alive and ready to welcome visitors,” Alfino says. “It’s truly a labor of love, and with more than 100 volunteers, we’ve managed to do it since we started in 1984. And we’re not going to stop in our mission to preserve, share and celebrate Sanibel’s history.”
The museum exists with a small stipend from the city, and donations and memberships. A gala fundraiser takes place annually; this year raising $135,000 with the theme,
“It Takes a Village.”