A world-class shell collection in the heart of historic Port Gamble, Washington. Free. Open daily.
Tucked away on the second floor of the Port Gamble General Store & Café, the Sea & Shore Museum is one of the Pacific Northwest's most remarkable hidden gems. Thousands of marine specimens — gathered across four decades of expeditions to more than 40 countries — fill every display case with color, texture, and natural history.
From the rare and delicate Paper Nautilus and Chambered Nautilus, to one of the most comprehensive cone shell collections ever assembled, to a massive shark jaw that stops visitors in their tracks — there is something extraordinary around every corner.
The Port Gamble General Store & Café is honored to steward this collection and share it with every visitor who walks through our doors. Don't miss it when you visit — and bring the kids. They will absolutely love it.
Tom Rice was born in Port Gamble, the son of a family whose roots in this town stretch back to 1858. As a child, he walked the local beaches with his grandmother, picking up shells — a quiet habit that became the defining passion of his life. He went on to collect specimens across more than 40 countries, spanning every ocean on Earth.
A founding member of the Conchologists of America, Tom published 108 issues of his celebrated magazine "Of Sea and Shore" between 1970 and 2007. He later moved to Rawai Beach in Phuket, Thailand — and built a second collection that became the world's largest private shell museum. Tom passed away in February 2022, and his legacy endures in every case on this floor.
