Sanibel Island Florida

Sanibel Island is a barrier island situated off shore from Fort Myers on the Gulf Coast of Florida. The white sand of the beaches on one side of the island are dotted with shell and the streets are named after shells with the main street being Periwinkle Street.

On one side of the island there are wetlands and marsh areas with small lush green islets. This is truly a “tropical Island paradise” with palms, pines and other tropical plants lining the streets and instead of large neon signs and billboards there are smaller less obvious signs for the many art galleries, cafes and boutique styled shops.

For the beach lovers, lazing on the sand watching pelicans and other sea birds is a delight or you can collect many different types of shells for a great collection.

Some beaches to visit include Bowman’s Beach, which is quite secluded. It has a barbecues and an outdoor shower. Tarpon Bay Beach is good for recreational vehicles with ample parking.

Lighthouse Beach is the site of an historic yet fully functioning lighthouse. There is a fishing pier and a boardwalk which follows a nature trail through the adjoining wetlands. Away from the beach the Gulf Side City Park is a good spot for a snack with picnic tables under shady pine trees. Bailey Matthews Shell Museum and Gift Shop is worth a look and very informative.

These natives used conchs, clams, whelks, oysters and other seafood for food and their empty shells were crafted into tools. It was reported that the Calusa Indians have proved to be skilled builders and craftsmen.

They have even perched their huts high atop shell mounds to provide protection from storm tides, and its nice to know that some of their shell mounds, which were also employed for ceremonial, ritual and burial sites, remain intact today.

Sanibel Island, Florida was believed to have discovered by a famous explorer named Juan Ponce de Leon. He named the island Santa Isybella after Queen Isabella in 1513 while searching for his Fountain of Youth. It was him and his Spanish seamen who battled the hostile Calusas for years, but he retreated to Cuba and died there eventually after he suffered a fatal arrow attack in 1523.

The Spanish were unsuccessful in forming any kind of permanent settlement in Sanibel Island, Florida. Nevertheless, their infiltration introduced European disease and slavery to Sanibel Island, Florida. As noted, the Calusa population all but became extinct by the late 1700s when the Sanibel Island, Florida was overcome by yellow fever, tuberculosis, and measles.

After the Spanish period, the Sanibel Island, Florida became a haven for infamous pirates. Then, there happened the Indian raids from the Seminole Wars which kept settlers and fishermen of Sanibel Island, Florida at bay and discouraged any permanent settlements on the island for a number of decades.

Although Florida was admitted into the Union in 1845 as the 27th state, it was only after the countrys Civil War that increased military activity was able to secure the Sanibel Island, Florida and deem it safe for settlers. Then, in 1870, the US government ruled that Sanibel Island, Florida would become a lighthouse reservation, leading to the lighting of Sanibel Lighthouse in 1884.

In 1892, with a permanent population nearing 100, Sanibel Island, Florida built its first schoolhouse, and by the 20th century, it supported flourishing farm communities. And, it was in 1945 that all parts of Sanibel Island, Florida were declared a national wildlife refuge.

Today, six thousand acres of sensitive upland and estuarine habitat on Sanibel Island are now held in the public trust by the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife refuge.

With the half century of effort dedicated by the island residents, more than 750,000 people now enjoy a Sanibel Island vacation each year.