The Sanibel Historical Village will offer free admission for all visitors on Saturday, June 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be no guided tours that day due to the number of guests and the smaller number of docents. “We will have docents stationed in some of the buildings, and an audio self-guided tour is available to all, as well as a written booklet.” “We would love to offer our usual guided tours, but most of our docents have gone north for the summer, and with the crowds we expect to host, it would be impossible,” said Emilie Alfino, executive director. The free admission day started as a way to draw locals to the village. Now, it is open to all visitors. Sanibel Historical Museum & Village tells the story of Sanibel from the Calusa and Spanish eras to the early pioneer families who settled on the island in the 1800s. It tells of warriors, adventurers, fishermen, farmers and proprietors. The village houses nine structures that have been relocated from their original sites, restored and preserved. Visitors trace the footsteps of the island’s past as they meander along a handicapped-accessible path lined with buildings that represent “old Sanibel,” as Sam Bailey used to say. Visitors can tour a pioneer home, fishing cottage, post office, schoolhouse, tea room, general store and other structures. Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. from now through July 31. The museum closes for the summer on August 1 and reopens on October 18. Sanibel Historical Village is located at 950 Dunlop Road (next to BIG ARTS) and there is handicap access to eight of the nine buildings. Regular admission is $10 for adults age 18 and over; no charge for members and children. For more information, call 472-4648 or visit www.sanibelmuseum. org.
-Island Sun Vol. 29 No. 50 June 10, 2022