Carrabelle History Museum

The Carrabelle History Museum is housed in a historic building, that for 75 years, was Carrabelle's City Hall. Now a museum, its mission is to preserve the history and culture of Carrabelle, the surrounding Forgotten Coast, and North Florida. Personal memorabilia and local artifacts tell the story of Carrabelle from the perspective of its long term residents. Exhibit items include ancient Native America pottery shards and artifacts, fascinating fossils, tools and other artifacts from the turpentine, lumber and commercial fishing industries, nautical artifacts and history, a Civil war display... and an endless supply of fascinating stories.

The museum also has an exhibit about the steamship “SS Tarpon” which served the city with weekly visits from 1902 to 1937 including the amazing tale of its deadly wreck and the men who survived it. And the original World's Smallest Police Station can be found on display right inside the Carrabelle History Museum.

Carrabelle’s “First People”
Growing collection of pottery shards and other artifacts from Carrabelle’s “first people”, native peoples who lived here over two thousand years ago.

The Steamship Tarpon
The SS Tarpon was key to building our community in the early 1900′s before sinking off the port of St. Andrews. The exhibit focuses on the local residents and heroes who were part of the crew. This is thought to be one of the most complete accounts of this ship in the country.

Founding and Boomtime of Carrabelle
Artifacts include a rare Civil War era salt kettle found buried in the harbor at Alligator Point, historic photos of the Carrabelle Harbor, local railroad artifacts and more.

Work Life
Artifacts and photos of various local industries such as seafood, logging, and gas stations that have supported the economy of Carrabelle through the years. This exhibit contains interesting artifacts like oyster tongs, hand made nets and oars and a cat face cutter that was used to get the rosin out of pine trees to make turpentine, tar and pitch.

Family Life
Photos and artifacts of Carrabelle families from the pioneer days to the present containing a butter churn, an old ice box, and more.

Local Notables and Heroes
Highlights items such as the original “World’s Smallest Police Station”. This exhibit highlights some of the notable people of Carrabelle including famous baseball player, Buck O'Neil and a new display honoring five military veterans representing WWI, WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War. This exhibit also contains historic photos, books, scrapbooks about Carrabelle as well as a collection of the oldest city records available.

The Carrabelle History Museum is open Wednesday 12-5 pm, Thursday 10 am-5 pm, Friday 10 am-5 pm, Saturday 10 am-5 pm and Sunday 12-5 pm. We gladly open any other day by appointment except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. Just call 850-697-2141 or 850-524-1153 to arrange a tour. Private tours, field trips and buses are welcome.

Exhibits

Come see the special exhibits on the CC Land Turpentine Camp, the last turpentine camp in Franklin County. Plus the fascinating exhibit on Sponge Diving in North Florida.

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