Carrabelle Museum Day

Carrabelle’s three museums will open their doors free of charge on Saturday, October 5, for their annual Museum Day celebration. Camp Gordon Johnston Museum, Carrabelle History Museum, and Crooked River Lighthouse Museum will host special activities and exhibits. Camp Gordon Johnston Museum will be open from 11 am–5 pm, Carrabelle History Museum from 10 am–5 pm, and Crooked River Lighthouse from 9 am–5 pm. Visitors can also enjoy the extended Country Market at Crooked River Lighthouse from 9 am–3 pm, featuring crafts, baked goods, and produce. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

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 for a book signing and informal discussions and upstairs at the Carrabelle History Museum from 2 pm – 4 pm for a book signing and to discuss the Pirates of the Florida West Coast.

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.

Carrabelle History Museum

Features local artifacts and exhibits including Carrabelle’s Native American people, 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.

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.