In 1913 Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt and Shark Hunter Russell J. Coles visited Captiva on a houseboat barge and Roosevelt said he would return. He did return again 1917. 

As a child, Teddy suffered from extreme asthma and found that strenuous exercise helped his health. He embraced a rugged persona and loved exploring nature. His intense interest in animals at a very young age was obvious. He even created a makeshift museum of natural history with the animals he preserved after catching them. He was a true conservationist and naturalist.

After the Sanibel lighthouse was completed in 1884, families started to arrive and by 1889, there were 21 houses, 40 families consisting of less than 100 people living in only 21 homes on Sanibel, that’s 2 families in most homes.

These rugged homesteaders included Anna and Sam Woodring (Woodring Point), The Nutt Family (Gray Gables) on what is now West Gulf Drive, The Rutland’s (The Rutland House is preserved in the Sanibel Historical Museum), and Capt. William Reed (First Post Office at Reeds Landing Tarpon Bay).

In 1895, the Matthews Hotel (known as the Island Inn today) opened as a small rooming house operated by Hallie Matthews. By 1896, The Sisters Hotel had grown to three buildings and during that time there were only 2 hotels The Matthews & The Sisters Hotel and 1 church on Sanibel.  The Sears family was one of the most frequent visitors to the Matthews Hotel.

Starting in 1907, the Steamboat “Thomas A. Edison” transported guests to Sanibel from Fort Myers frequently and on several occasions, Mr. Edison visited Sanibel. This steamboat was later destroyed in a fire in 1914.

On January 18^th, 1911 Thomas Edison and his next door neighbor Henry Ford took the excursion steamboat the “Uneeda” to Sanibel. In Mr. Ford’s letter he stated, “there wasn’t much to do once we got to Sanibel, but the ride was pleasant.”

Casa Ybel Resort has an amazing story to tell. One that we are able to share with you visually, thanks to the efforts of David E. Carter for preserving valuable photographs and post cards as part of the Pfeifer Vintage Photo Collection as the Sanibel Public Library.

After the Sanibel lighthouse was completed in 1884, homesteaders began arriving.

It was in 1889 that a traveling evangelist preacher by the name of Reverend George Barnes’ boat ran aground on Sanibel and he decided to stay on the Island and homesteaded 160 acres of land. Barnes built his first home, a small stilt cottage on Tarpon Bay.

Shell Harbor, its canals, and Hugo Lindgren Article Provided by Deane Manolis (January 2003)

Ever wonder why only one of the three bridges over the Shell Harbor canal system is boater friendly? Or why there is a lagoon or basin east of Lindgren Blvd. at East Gulf Dr.?

The J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge was born through the efforts of Ding Darling and his island neighbors from land that was donated by concerned citizens and acquired by the federal government...

Some of Sanibel's most shocking images showing the island devoid of beachfront homes and condos were taken from the air well before the causeway was built, visitors had to take the Ferry from Punta Rassa, or fly in on a small plane.

Located off Casa Ybel Road near what it now called Airport Way was a grass airfield that hosted many small planes in its two plus decades in existence...

Travel back in time to the 1940’s and 1950’s on Sanibel Island and catch a glimpse of the island’s economy...

Although things have changed over the years, Sanibel remains the charming and naturally beautiful place for which it has achieved international renown. In 1963 the causeway was built linking Sanibel and Captiva to the mainland. The resulting explosion in growth led Sanibel Island residents who were afraid of losing the island’s charm and natural beauty...

In 1928 a ferry service began to and from the mainland. On June 25, 1928, the first Kinzie Ferry sailed from Punta Rassa to Sanibel...

Some things have not changed - like the Islanders love for wildlife, beautiful beaches, fun in the sun and all our furry friends. Judging by the happy faces in this video, all creatures great and small love the islands.

Prior to the Causeway being built in 1963, Sanibel and Captiva residents relied on the “Santiva” mail boat to deliver their mail to the islands...

After World War II, the nation’s economy expanded and visitors began to come to Sanibel and needed accommodations. Mom and Pop hotels began to appear as well as shops, real estate companies and restaurants...