Special Exhibit Honoring Carrabelle’s African-American Pioneers

The Carrabelle History Museum is pleased to announce a special exhibit for February in honor of Black History Month, recognizing the remarkable achievements of several notable African-American individuals with ties to Carrabelle. This exhibit will be open from Sunday, January 19, through Sunday, March 2, 2025. Visitors can explore the exhibit at the Carrabelle History Museum on Wednesdays from 12 to 5 pm ET, Thursdays through Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm ET, and Sundays from 12 to 5 pm ET. Admission is free, with donations warmly welcomed.

The exhibit offers an inspiring journey into the lives of just a few of the extraordinary individuals who exemplify the resilience and talent of Carrabelle’s African-American community. John C. Robinson, the “Brown Condor” and “Father of the Tuskegee Airmen,” overcame significant barriers to pioneer aviation achievements and contribute to Ethiopia’s resistance against Mussolini’s forces. John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil, a celebrated Negro Leagues baseball star, became Major League Baseball’s first African-American scout and coach, co-founding the Negro League Baseball Museum and earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The exhibit also shares the story of Abraham Allen, one of Carrabelle’s original founders, who laid a foundation for progress, while his daughter, Laura “Aunt Laura” Wiggins, became a cherished midwife, delivering babies and providing care for the community. The legacy continues with Aunt Laura’s granddaughter, Classie Lowery, known as the “Mother of the Hill,” who raised and educated 26 children while dedicating herself to faith and community service.  The exhibit also honors the broader contributions of Carrabelle’s African-American community, highlighting their vital roles in shaping the town’s early history and culture. Visitors are invited to celebrate these remarkable lives and achievements.