Sanibel in Lee County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Miss Charlotta’s Tea Room
| — | Sanibel Historical Museum and Village | — |
Photographed by Brandon D Cross
1. Miss Charlotta’s Tea Room Marker
Built in 1926 as a service station, this structure was first used as a temporary store after the 1926 hurricane destroyed Bailey's wharf store. Later Frank Bailey's sister-in-law, Charlotta Matthews, established it as a tea room to welcome ferry patrons. Charlotta and her mother Hallie "Granny" Matthews owned and operated the Matthews Hotel (now the Island Inn) on West Gulf Drive, where Charlotta prepared the light refreshments served at her tea room. A small golf course was built behind the Tea Room, the island's first, to help entertain the men. This building sat facing San Carlos Bay, adjacent to the new Bailey's General Store, one-half mile west of today's causeway entrance to the island.
Erected by Sanibel Historical Museum and Village. (Marker Number 8.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1926.
Location. 26° 26.422′ N, 82° 4.556′ W. Marker is in Sanibel, Florida, in Lee County. It can be reached from Dunlap Road east of Wooster Lane, on the right when traveling west. The marker is located within Sanibel Historical Museum and Village. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 950 Dunlap Road, Sanibel FL 33957, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast. It is also in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Burnap Cottage (a few steps from this marker); Sanibel Surrey (a few steps from this marker); The Packing House (a few steps from this marker); Sanibel School for White Children (a few steps from this marker); Sanibel Island (within shouting distance of this marker); Shore Haven (within shouting distance of this marker); Sanibel Post Office (within shouting distance of this marker); Caretakers’ Cottage (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sanibel.
Also see . . .
1. Timeline of Miss Charlotta’s Tea Room part of holiday exhibit. (Submitted on November 14, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Sanibel History. (Submitted on November 14, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
3. Sanibel Island & Captiva Island History. (Submitted on November 14, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
Photographed by Brandon D Cross
2. Miss Charlotta’s Tea Room Marker
Photographed by Brandon D Cross
3. Miss Charlotta’s Tea Room, Historical Register Plaque
Photographed by Brandon D Cross
4. Miss Charlotta’s Tea Room
Credits. This page was last revised on January 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 181 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 14, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
