Museum Day

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, Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum, Carrabelle History Museum, and Crooked River Lighthouse Museum invite you to Carrabelle FL for special activities and exhibits.

Crooked River Lighthouse will be open from 9 am – 5 pm for this event. Camp Gordon Johnston Museum from 11 am – 5 pm. Carrabelle History Museum from 10 am – 5 pm. 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 Carrabelle’s own A Train Stop food truck with delicious food. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

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.

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.  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.

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.

INFORMATION ON THE MUSEUMS

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/

(850) 697-8575
museum@campgordonjohnston.com

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

850-697-2141
carrabellehistorymuseum@gmail.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

850-697-2732
carrabellelighthouse@gmail.com