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 Country Farmer’s Market from 9 am-1 pm at Crooked River Lighthouse Park with local crafts, baked goods and area produce.
Each year, Museum Day goes beyond getting visitors through museum doors; it shines a spotlight on incredible culture, sciences, and history exhibits. This year Carrabelle is celebrating the theme, “Pieces of History: Shells and Shards” and each of Carrabelle’s three history museums will each commemorate it with their own unique focus and interpretation.
Explore Pieces of History, where every piece tells a story. From the intricate Native American pottery shards and shells from a midden that reveal ancient cultural practices, to the remnants of WWII that highlight the courage of America’s soldiers, and the historic Fresnel lens that guided sailors to safety, these fragments together form the rich mosaic of our shared heritage.
Pieces of History weaves together the diverse historical narratives represented by Native American pottery, WWII artifacts, and a historic Fresnel lens. This event shares the idea that history is composed of various fragments that, when pieced together, form a comprehensive picture of our past. Each fragment, whether it be cultural, military, or technological, provides unique insights into different eras and aspects of human experience.
Pieces of History offers a unique and engaging way to connect and emphasize that each fragment—whether a pottery shard, a wartime shell, or a lens piece—contributes to our understanding of the past. Visitors can gain a richer, more interconnected view of history and appreciate the multifaceted nature of our heritage.
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. Saturday hours 9 am-5 pm. www.crookedriverlighthouse.com
Carrabelle History Museum
106 SE Avenue B
Carrabelle, FL 32322 + Google Map
850-697-2141