Wall of Fame

Before Sanibel and Captiva became tourist destinations, a diverse array of intrepid explorers made their mark. Today, about 80 of them greet visitors as they enter Sanibel's Mermaid Kitchen & Cake Factory, where a vast mural bearing the likenesses of these trailblazers covers a wall near the front door.

Artist, entrepreneur and former Bubble Room owner Katie Gardenia commissioned the work. She sold the popular Captiva eatery two decades ago, returning a few years back to put her artistic flair to work on a vacant Sanibel restaurant. That became Katie Gardenia's Kitchen & Mermaid Club, a whimsical mix of mermaid kitsch and island history. She hired local window washer Tim Mako to paint the mural, which took three months. The restaurant's current owner, Ken Hoover, has preserved the work.

Among those pictured: CIA chief Porter Goss, who lived on Sanibel for many years; Thomas Edison, who wintered in the area; renowned artist Robert Rauschenberg, who lives and works on Captiva; and Today show personality Willard Scott, who vacations on Sanibel. Other subjects include Maybelle Stamper, a reclusive artist who spent decades on Captiva, and Ding Darling, the award-winning political cartoonist behind the Sanibel wildlife refuge that bears his name. And seated astride a donkey are John, Francis and Sam Bailey, grocery store owners and long-time local supporters of good causes. You'll also spot Dick Kearns, thumb firmly planted against his nose. "He's thumbing his nose at the drawbridge when it first opened," says Hoover.

Mermaid Kitchen & Cake Factory 2055 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. (239) 472-1242.