Museum & Village celebrates Sanibel’s buried treasure
Ahoy, mateys! Hoist the Jolly Roger!
The Sanibel Historical Museum & Village is being overrun with pirates beginning this week through the month of April as the Village celebrates buried treasure and Sanibel’s notorious celebrated pirate, “Caesar the Great.”
Legend recounts that Caesar inhabited the island in the early 1800s and amassed a treasure that has never been found. Could it be buried on Sanibel? He sailed the waters and sounds between Sanibel and Gasparilla, plundering as he went.
Elinor Dormer, historian and a founding member of the Sanibel Historical Museum & Village, documents Black Caesar and his exploits in her excellent book about the history of Sanibel, “Sea Shell Island.”
During the month of March, the Museum Gift Shop will feature pirate-themed items, including games, books and treasure maps. Children who visit the Museum will be invited to go on a pirate treasure hunt throughout the Museum’s seven historic buildings and choose a special prize from the Gift Shop’s treasure chest.
The Sanibel Historical Museum & Village is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing Sanibel history. The Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located at 950 Dunlop Road (next to BIG Arts). Admission is $5 for adults, 18 and older. Children and members are free. The Village is handicap accessible and a special docent-led tour of all seven historic buildings is available at 11 a.m.
For more information, visit www.sanibelmuseum.com or call 472-4648 during business hours.