The Great Hall of Shells
The Great Hall of Shells is the historic heart of the Museum, with extensive permanent exhibits of shells in a striking octagonal gallery space with 30-foot ceilings. Following significant damage from Hurricane Ian in 2022, the Museum embarked on a full re-design and re-installation of the shell exhibits and the Great Hall.
Phase 1 of the new shell exhibits is now open, featuring extraordinary specimens from all over the world that are highlights selected from the Museum’s collection of nearly 600,000 shells. Themes of these exhibits include global biodiversity, shapes and colors, and time and evolution; and special focuses on groups including cones, cowries, volutes, murexes, scallops, and carrier shells.
Phase 2 exhibits are under construction and will open later this summer. They include exhibits of Southwest Florida shells, world record-sized shells, land snails, fossils, shells in human creativity and culture, the Calusa, and conservation and environmental issues as they relate to mollusks. Once Phase 2 exhibits are installed, the Museum’s rebuilding from Hurricane Ian will be complete.
