Sanibel Historical Museum and Village set for reopening
The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village will reopen to visitors for the season on Oct. 19.
Among this season’s highlights are two Twilight Talks and the annual gala fundraiser, which this year will be a movie premiere on Feb. 22 at The Community House on Sanibel. The full-length movie, “Secrets and Stories of the Sanibel Lighthouse,” contains not only interesting stories about the history of the lighthouse but also the history of Sanibel.
The museum will be reaching out to current members and is seeking new members.
“We are again offering a reciprocal museum membership, but this time at the reduced rate of $100 per year,” Executive Director Emilie Alfino said. “We are members of the North American Reciprocal Museum family, and a membership at the $100 level or above offers members free admission to more than 1,000 participating arts, cultural and historical institutions, along with botanical gardens, children’s museums, science and technology centers, and more. Many institutions include a discount at their gift shops.”
For a complete list of participating venues, visit http://narmassociation.org.
In addition, members at the $150 level or above are invited to attend the Volunteer Updates. These are casual relaxed talks by a variety of island icons and held for the benefit of the museum’s volunteer docents. Previous speakers have included Porter Goss, Ralph Woodring, Gene Gavin and former museum President Alex Werner. They are held on the first Mondays of January through March at noon.
New volunteers are also always needed. Training will begin on Nov. 8 and 15. Those interested in volunteering can contact Alfino for more information at 239-472-4648 or info@sanibelmuseum.org.
The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. In accordance with the city’s regulations, masks are required inside the buildings.
Full guided tours are available only if reserved in advance for groups of no more than six, depending on docent availability. This precautionary measure is due to COVID-19.
“We hope to be able to resume our regular tours at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. as soon as possible and within safety guidelines,” Alfino said.
Admission is $10 for ages 18 and older; children and members are free.
For more information or to donate, call 239-472-4648 or visit www.sanibelmuseum.org.
The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is at 950 Dunlop Road, Sanibel.