Meet the Man Behind Bimini’s Historic Dolphin House Museum

Advertisement

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – If you’ve ever visited Bimini, chances are you’ve seen the colorful, mosaic-covered mansion known as Dolphin House, a local treasure built almost entirely from recycled materials. Since the late 1980s, it’s stood proudly in Alice Town as both a work of art and a symbol of island pride.

Retired teacher, author, and historian Ashley Saunders, now 80 years old, began building the house nearly four decades ago after a life-changing encounter with a pod of wild dolphins.

“The Dolphin House all started because I went swimming in the ocean with a bunch of wild dolphins,” he recalled. “I didn’t go expecting any inspiration or miracle, but a miracle did happen. During the encounter, the artist in me was apparently sleeping, and the dolphin woke up the artist in me.”

Without formal funding, Saunders turned to recycling as his method and message.

“I didn’t have the money to build Dolphin House, so my concept was to recycle and do the work myself,” he said.

Every wall tells a story, from broken tiles and glass bottles to beach debris and leftover construction scraps, all woven into intricate mosaics that celebrate Bimini’s culture, resilience, and history.

Inside, the first floor features a museum and gift shop, filled with artifacts, sculptures, coins, and books documenting the island’s rich heritage.

Nearly 39 years into construction, Dolphin House continues to evolve, drawing visitors from over 80 countries who come to marvel at its artistry and message of sustainability.

“People have been inspired by coming here,” Saunders said. “That’s one of the things about coming to Dolphin House, when you come here, you will be inspired.”