| The Museum |
| In 1989 a small group of local citizens formed the Barrier Island Parks Society (BIPS), a non-profit, citizen support organization which directly supports our affiliated island state parks including Gasparilla, Cayo Costa, Don Pedro and Stump Pass, their lighthouses, ehibits, personnel and natural assets. Our commintment is to conserve and preserve the environment and our local history through outreach and education.. The group's stated purposed included the installation of a museum of local history in the lighthouse, a goal that was realized 10 years later, in March 1999, when the building opened to the public the Boca Grande Lighthouse Museum. The lighthouse and museum are located inside Gasparilla Island State Park and are operated and maintained by BIPS. |
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| Exhibits |
| Exhibits in the museum include displays on the Native Americans who first visited these shores, the Spanish who arrived in the 1500s, the local fishing industry, the history of the lighthouse, the development of the railroad, Port Boca Grande and the town of Boca Grande, tarpon fishing, and the geology, flora and fauna of the Charlotte Harbor estuary. Included in your visit are the incomparable views of the Gulf of Mexico, Boca Grande Pass and Charlotte Harbor. |
| Gift Shop |
| The museum's unique gift shop features items relating to lighthouses, local history, and Southwest Florida nature. You'll find clothing, hats, jewelry, nature and history books, posters, maps, lighthouse and wildlife art, photographs, and more. The museum is supported solely through donations and gift shop sales. |
| Hours & Fees |
| November - May Open 7 days a week Monday - Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday 12noon - 4pm June - July September - October Open 5 days a week Wednesday - Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday 12noon - 4pm |
| The museum is closed the entire month of August and the following major holidays: New Years Day, Martin Luther King's Birthday, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. There is a $2.00 per vehicle fee to enter Gasparilla Island State Park. the museum suggests a donation of $2.00 per person to offset operating expenses. The lighthouse is accessible to people with disabilities. |
| Public Tours & Other Uses |