Museum Day at Carrabelle History Museum
October 5 @ 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Carrabelle’s three museums will open their doors free of charge on Saturday, October 5, 2024 as part of the annual Museum Day celebration. In honor of this day, Carrabelle History Museum, Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum, and Crooked River Lighthouse Museum invite you to Carrabelle FL for special activities and exhibits. Carrabelle History Museum will be open from 10 am – 5 pm. Camp Gordon Johnston Museum will be open from 11 am – 5 pm. Crooked River Lighthouse will be open from 9 am – 5 pm for this event. Guests can also enjoy the expanded Country “Super” Market from 9 am-3 pm at Crooked River Lighthouse Park with local crafts, baked goods, area produce and a food truck.
Each year, Museum Day shines a spotlight on culture, science, and history, and this year’s theme is “Pieces of History”. Carrabelle’s museums will each commemorate it with their own unique focus and interpretation, from intricate Native American pottery shards and shells unearthed from ancient middens, to the powerful artifacts of WWII and the historic Fresnel lens that guided sailors to safety. Visitors will learn how these pieces of the past reveal stories of cultural practices, military valor, and technological innovations. Visitors are invited to explore how each piece of history contributes to a broader understanding and provides insights into the diverse stories of Carrabelle’s past.
Author and speaker Robert Jacob will be featured at two locations on Museum Day. Robert has over 50 years of experience in living history portrayals and is passionate about dispelling myths and inaccuracies found in historical records. He has written several books, including A Pirate’s Life in the Golden Age of Piracy, Pirates of the Florida Coast: Truths, Legends, and Myths, and Blackbeard: The Truth Revealed. He will be at the Crooked River Lighthouse from 9 am – 12 pm ET for a book signing and informal discussions and upstairs at the Carrabelle History Museum from 2 pm – 4 pm ET for a book signing and to discuss the Pirates of the Florida West Coast. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.
INFORMATION ON THE MUSEUMS
Carrabelle History Museum – Features local artifacts and exhibits including Carrabelle’s Native American people, Shipwrecks of Dog Island, the Steamship “Tarpon”, the original “World’s Smallest Police Station”, Carrabelle industry and culture (seafood, lumber and more) and families from the pioneer days to the present. Carrabelle History Museum is located at 106 SE Avenue B, Carrabelle, FL. Saturday hours 10 am-5 pm. www.carrabellehistorymuseum.org
Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum – Honors the military men and women as well as civilian personnel who trained and worked in Carrabelle and Franklin County during 1942 through 1946. The museum houses numerous displays of military artifacts, photos and memorabilia of many types. Plus the Motor Pool building displays the museum’s military vehicles on site – WWII DUKW, German Lieferwagen, and WWII Jeep. Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum is located at 1873 Highway 98 West, directly across from Carrabelle Beach where military troops practiced D-Day beach assaults. Saturday hours 11 am-5 pm. www.campgordonjohnston.com/
Crooked River Lighthouse – The history and the science of the lighthouse are displayed through interesting exhibits, including a historical setting of the early 1900’s, various lighthouse beacons, the methods of constructing a skeletal tower lighthouse, plus the lighthouse’s original 1895 Fresnel lens! Also on display are the original Keeper’s House clock, a barometer, an antique glass fire grenade, and more. Crooked River Lighthouse is located at 1975 Hwy 98 West, Carrabelle. Event hours 9 am-5 pm. www.crookedriverlighthouse.com
Carrabelle History Museum
106 SE Avenue B
Carrabelle, FL 32322 + Google Map
850-697-2141