History has always been good to Sanibel and Captiva.

The islands have a fascinating history as a sanctuary. It is said that Ponce de Leon was the first European to discover the islands. His landing in the 1500s also led to his discovery of a Calusa Indian culture that had existed here for centuries. Or was it the Calusa Indians that discovered him?

 

They were a hardy people who lived mostly from the sea. Their villages were scattered throughout the mangrove islands of the southern Gulf Coast, including the barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva. They built their homes on mounds of shells discarded from their sea harvests. Many of those mounds remain today, but are protected as treasured archeological sites.

The Calusa and de Leon's Spaniards were bitter opponents. Many battles took place between them. Eventually, de Leon was mortally wounded by a Calusa arrow and retreated to Cuba where he died. Ultimately, the Calusa Indians met a similar fate at the hands of European diseases for which they had not developed resistance.


Named for a Queen and captives.

The name Sanibel is credited to de Leon, who is said to have named the island Santa Isybella in honor of his Queen, Isabella of Spain. Captiva's name, on the other hand, is said to have been derived from the name given the island by Jose Gaspar, a pirate who held captives on the island as hostages for ransom.

Sanibel and Captiva's history from the 1600s through the Civil War was more romantic than violent, foretelling a future of tranquility. Skipping forward to 1884, the Sanibel lighthouse was completed and first lighted to warn ships entering San Carlos Bay. It has since become one of the most popular and enduring symbols of the islands.


The World discovers Sanibel & Captiva.

In the late 1880s, wealthy industrialists from the North, such as Thomas Alva Edison and Henry Ford, discovered the warm pleasures of Lee County. Before long, these seekers of paradise also discovered Sanibel Island. They escaped to the island to get away from the encroaching "crowds" on the mainland. Despite the absence of a bridge, or even regular ferry service, the beautiful Casa Ybel Resort - first called "The Sisters" - began to attract travelers and visitors with its relaxed island hospitality.

In 1928, docks were built at the east end of the island. Ferry service was started and would continue for 35 years. With more dependable transportation between Sanibel and the mainland, farmers and sea captains began to homestead the island. "Old Town" flourished at the east, lighthouse end of the island. Another village, Wulfert, was established near where J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge would eventually be located. Farms growing watermelon, vegetables and grapefruit were planted nearby. An inventor named Clarence Chadwick planted most of Captiva with groves of key limes. His 330-acre plantation would one day become the world-famous South Seas Resort


No stranger to stormy weather.

Sanibel and Captiva were smashed by hurricanes in 1921 and 1926, the former splitting the island and the latter demolishing farms and homes with a 14-foot storm surge.

With agriculture destroyed, hospitality soon became the islands' principal source of income. American celebrities continued to visit seeking escape from a more pressured and public world. "Lucky Lindy" Charles Lindbergh and his wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, were regular visitors. She wrote her famous best-seller, "Gifts from the Sea", while vacationing on Captiva. President Theodore Roosevelt and poet Edna St. Vincent Millay also visited.

The genius of Ding Darling.

One of the most significant visitors was cartoonist Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling, a Pulitzer Prize-winner and well-known conservationist. During his winter visits from 1935 on, he championed the cause of protecttion and preservation of the islands' ecosystem. In 1945, he prevailed upon President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to designate 6,300 acres of mangroves and estuarine waters as National Wildlife Refuge, which was named after him in recognition of his vision and dedication. It continues in its protected status today, covering nearly half of Sanibel Island's land mass. It attracts both thousands of visitors every year and more than 300 bird species, 50 species of reptiles and amphibians and more than 30 types of mammals.

In the years that followed, Sanibel and Captiva Islands continued to attract national attention, with visitors from all over the world, many of whom chose to settle here either year around or seasonally. Popular TV weatherman Willard Scott has maintained a home here and Robert Rauschenburg, who many people regard as America's greatest living artist has a place on Captiva.

A bridge over placid waters.

The Sanibel Causeway, with a drawbridge and two spoil islands, was opened in 1963, making it much more convenient for residents and visitors to enjoy the quiet ambiance of these islands. With more convenient access came fears of over-development. In 1974, the residents of Sanibel incorporated as a City, with zoning regulations to control growth and keep Sanibel the quiet sanctuary it had become. Captiva Island remains a part of unincorporated Lee County despite sporadic attempts to incorporate.

The most recent chapters of the Sanibel story are still being written, as a new bridge is being built to replace the old drawbridge and make it possible to travel to Sanibel and Captiva uninterrupted by openings for transiting sailboats. It is on track to be completed in the fall of 2007. It will continue to serve the pleasant three-mile causeway that many consider a decompression passage from the stress of daily off-island life.

From the shell mounds of the pre-historic Calusa Indians to the beaches perpetually replenished with pulverized shells, to the magnetic attraction that Sanibel's shelling beaches have for visitors, these are islands that salute seashells. One reason for Sanibel's bounty of shells is its unusual orientation in the Gulf of Mexico. Unlike barrier island that run south to north, Sanibel runs east to west for a major part of its length. This means shells carried on northbound tides are captured by the beach rather than brushing by on their way to other destinations.

As a result, shells are an important part of island life. Shellers come here specifically for the abundance of shells. Their posture while scouring the beaches with eyes focused on the ground has even created the nickname, The Sanibel Stoop. If you can't gather all the shells you want on the beach, for some reason, many shops on the island sell shells. We even have a Shell Museum, one of the very few in the world.

Incidentally, as an intricate part of the islands' ecology, live shells are protected by State law that prohibits harvesting them. How do you know if a shell is olive? If it has an inhabitant, whether it appears to be living or dead, it is considered a live shell. With such an abundance of dead shells, there should be plenty to gather without breaking the law. The law also prohibits gathering live sand dollars, starfish or sea urchins.


Headline News: Shell found.

Thousands of species of colorful shells wash up on our beaches, from common scallop clam shells to unusual tulips, olives, paper fig shells and the rare brown-speckled junonia. In fact, the junonia is so special that, if you find one, you can get you picture in the island newspapers. (You know an island where a seashell is news is a quiet place to relax and get away from it all.)

Generally, the best time for shelling is from an hour before low tide to an hour after, especially if there has been a storm or rough surf the night before. The best place to shell? Pick your beach. Obviously, pick a beach with the fewest shellers on it for maximum results.

Identifying a few of the shells you might find:


Cockle Shell

This heart cockle shell is one of our islands' most common, although it is a rarity in other parts of the world. Some islanders often use the larger cockle shells for soap dishes.


Olive Shell

This shell is named for its oval shape. It can be found in a number of colors and variations and often boasts a shiny finish.


Sand Dollar Shells

The name "sand dollar" is a reference to their round flat shape, which is similar to a large coin. This shell is protected on Sanibel and Captiva. While alive the sand dollar is thin and flat and a brownish color and bristled with tiny tubes that permit it to breath, move and camouflage itself.


Junonia

This is perhaps the islands' most elusive and coveted shell of all! Its cream colored outside is speckled with brown spots and the animal that calls this shell home is likewise marked. If you happen to find one of these rare shells, you picture can appear in the local papers.

Lighthouse Beach:
As the name suggests, this beach is at the lighthouse end of Sanibel. There is a farely generous parking area and a nature trail that leads to the lighthouse and a fishing pier.

Gulfside City Park:
This pine-shaded beach includes picnic tables. It is accessed mid-island off of Algiers Lane, which in turn is reached via Casa Ybel Road. Parking is available.

Tarpon Bay Beach:
This popular beach is little further down the island. It is accessed off of Tarpon Bay Road. Parking is near by, including for RVs, but requires a short hike to the beach itself.

Bowman's Beach:
This beach is one of Sanibel's most private, mostly because of its remoteness from Gulf-front hotels or resorts. It is a county park and the only beach area with barbecue grills. There also is an outdoor shower. Bowman's is accessed at the end of Bowman's Beach Road, off of San-Cap Road.

Turner Beach (Blind Pass):
This beach is popular with shellers and anglers. It is sits on both ends of Blind Pass Bridge. Parking is limited. Swimmers are cautioned about swift currents and eddies around the pass.

Captiva Beach:
At the very tip of Captiva Island, the beach here is an excellent place to enjoy our spectacular sunsets. Parking is limited.

Causeway Beaches:
Many people find the beaches along the causeway to be the most inviting. Cars and RVs can pull off the road and park right at the water's edge. They are not as sandy as the beaches on the Gulf side of the islands, but they are pleasant, have good fishing and are good for sail-boarding. You can have the shelter of your vehicle nearby.

Statistically speaking... Who lives here and why.

The above tips are offered by:

During your stay, if you are interested in shelling, fishing or snorkeling trips, why not contact Captain Joey at 472-8658?

Directions to Southwest Florida International Airport

Periwinkle Way to Causeway Blvd to Summerlin Road (approx 6 miles) turn right on Gladiolus Blvd, follow across US 41, Gladiolus becomes Six Mile Cypress Pkwy/Ben C Pratt Blvd, turn right on Daniels Pkwy follow for approximately 3 miles to right turn onto Treeline Ave to left into the Airport. (Look for airport signs).

Picking up Someone at the Airport?
RSW now provides a parking lot for cars waiting for arrivals. Instruct your incoming party to call you on your cell phone when they have received their baggage. You then can drive the few hundred yards to the pick-up point in front of their exit.

Airport Trivia
Why is it called RSW? Before becoming an international airport several years ago, it was known as Southwest (Florida) Regional Airport.

Southwest Florida International Airport also serves as a port of arrival for Naples and Collier County, Port Charlotte and Charlotte County and rural Hendry County.

Major Highways
Summerlin is a major thorough fare that extends from the Sanibel Causeway east and north as far as Colonial Boulevard.