Carrabelle History Museum

Carrabelle History Museum Founded in 2009, our mission is to preserve the history of Carrabelle to preserve the past, to educate today and to inspire the future.

The museum is located in the Old Carrabelle City Hall built in 1933 as project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) by local mason Marvin Justiss. The museum has 4 rooms to display its collections and a long entry way for special displays. The Carrabelle Treasures Room is filled with items and photographs of the people, places and events important to the people and City of Carrabelle includi

ng the actual surveying equipment use to produce the 1957 map of the City. There is a nice collection of artifacts that show that native peoples lived here in the 150 to 900 AD period. The Apalachee tribe were a nomadic people who had many villages along the the shore of St. George Sound and all the major rivers in those times. Archaeologist have found evidence of villages, middens (garbage piles) and burial grounds throughout St. James Island dating back over 3000 years. The next room as you tour the museum is the "Work Life" Room filled with artifacts and photos of various industries such as seafood, logging, naval stores, mechanics and gas stations that have supported the economy of Carrabelle through the years. Highlights in that room include a shrimp net with a turtle excluder, oyster tongs, hand made nets and oars. Interesting equipment from Jackson's Standard Station, Ganders Hardware and Bragdon's Garage each have a story. Milton Cox's cat face cutter was use to get the rosin out of pine trees to make naval stores such as turpentine, tar and pitch. The Family Life Room is next featuring many photos of Carrabelle families and artifacts actually used by Miss Ruth Garner, Miss Janie Brown and other local treasures. The highlight of this room is the photos of families from the pioneer days to the present. High School Year Books are a very popular spot where everybody likes to look up their own photos or check out their grandparents. The Library Room finishes up our little tour. The star of this room is the original "World's Smallest" Police Station. There are also old photos, books, scrapbooks and newspapers about Carrabelle. Items such as the medical bag of the beloved midwife "Miss Tillie" Miller is displayed along with those from other noteworthy citizens.

In observance of Memorial Day, we honor the memory of those who have sacrificed their lives for our country.
05/25/2026

In observance of Memorial Day, we honor the memory of those who have sacrificed their lives for our country.

Remembering and Honoring this Memorial Day - Petty Officer David Learoy Rickards U.S. Navy (October 12, 1921 - May 30, ...
05/25/2026

Remembering and Honoring this Memorial Day - Petty Officer David Learoy Rickards U.S. Navy (October 12, 1921 - May 30, 1944)

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David Rickards was born on October 12, 1921 in Carrabelle to Omer “O. E.” Rickards, a fisherman, and Della Rickards. At the age of 20, David Learoy Rickards registered for military service in Franklin County. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II becoming an Aviation Radioman Petty Officer Second Class. He role as a radio operator aboard naval aircraft was a critical part of the aircrew.

On May 30, 1944, Rickards died while in service to his country when the Naval aircraft that he was aboard tragically crashed near Chincoteague Naval Auxiliary Air Station in Virginia. The crash took the lives of all eleven of the crew. There is a plaque at the Carrabelle Airport in memory of him and two others.

His story reflects the deep local roots and ultimate sacrifice of so many Franklin County service members. Join us in remembering the services and sacrifices of veterans like Rickards and other local heroes from WWI through Vietnam.

In observance of Memorial Day, we wanted to take a moment to honor another local veteran who died in service to his coun...
05/24/2026

In observance of Memorial Day, we wanted to take a moment to honor another local veteran who died in service to his country - Robert “Cliff” Millender (Feb, 13 1948 in Carrabelle, FL-Feb 14, 1970, due to injuries sustained in Vietnam)

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Robert “Cliff” Millender was born February, 13 1948 in Carrabelle, Florida. He died on February 14, 1970 due to injuries sustained in combat in Vietnam.

He grew up in Carrabelle and his father was an oysterman. In school he was named most athletic and in his senior year, Mr. CHS. He was quarterback of Carrabelle High School's football team. He was an all-conference player for basketball and football. He entered the Army on Aug 7, 1968.

Specialist Robert Clifford “Cliff” Millender (SP4) served in the U.S. Army, Company D, 3rd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, of the 9th Infantry Division (Old Reliables) in Vietnam. Millender’s tour in Vietnam began on February 5, 1969.

On March 3, 1969, Cliff Millender was wounded in the head and neck by an explosion while coming to the aid and assisting his fellow soldiers during an ambush. The combat wounds he received left him in a coma. His mother, Estelle Millender, while on her way to visit Cliff in the hospital in Japan, suffered a stroke and subsequently died before ever seeing her son.

On February 14, 1970, Cliff succumbed to his wounds. He was 22 years old. Cliff’s name appears on the National Vietnam Memorial Wall and he is interred in the Evergreen Cemetery in Carrabelle.

A sincere thank you to the family of Cliff Millender for loaning his Purple Heart, American Flag and several other priceless items to us for his display. It is our honor to help share his story in our Honoring Our Veterans display.

As we approach Memorial Day, we take a moment to honor a local veteran who died in service to his country - John Judah M...
05/24/2026

As we approach Memorial Day, we take a moment to honor a local veteran who died in service to his country - John Judah McKnight (May 18, 1922-October 14, 1944), US Navy, WWII.

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John Judah McKnight was born in Port St. Joe and lived in Carrabelle where his father worked as a fisherman. He registered for the draft in June of 1942 but then joined the Navy and was assigned to the USS Houston, a light cruiser.

The Houston steamed to the western Pacific in October of 1944 and while there came under attack by torpedo bombers. Repelling the attack, the Houston’s gunners shot down four planes on Oct 12, but when under attack again on the 14th, a bomber managed to get a torpedo in the water, and it struck the Houston. On October 14, 1944, the USS Houston’s was struck by a Japanese torpedo after successfully shooting down three of the four attacking planes. The ship was immediately dead in the water without power. The USS Houston was leaning over in the water, and the men were ordered to evacuate the ship. Four officers and 51 enlisted, including McKnight, perished in the attack. (Credit Lisa Keith-Lucas, Camp Gordon Johnston Museum).

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The Honoring Our Veterans display - three years ago, with a huge amount of help from Lisa Keith-Lucas, Archivist and Camp Gordon Johnston Museum, we created what was intended to be a temporary display honoring a few of our local military veterans. After it was finished, we found that we simply could not bear to remove the display. Instead, it became our continued deep honor to help tell the stories of these veterans - some who served honorably and returned home and some who paid the ultimate sacrifice and gave the "last full measure of devotion" to our country.

Please note that every Franklin County Gold Star Service Member (those who died in military service to our country) are recognized and honored at Camp Gordon Johnston Museum. We appreciate their continued assistance in helping us do our small part in remembering the legacy of a few of these men.

In honor of Memorial Day, we are honored to share the story of a Carrabelle military veteran who died in service to our ...
05/23/2026

In honor of Memorial Day, we are honored to share the story of a Carrabelle military veteran who died in service to our country - Claude Leonard Stokes (June 25, 1921 in Sumatra, Florida-Jul 11, 1953 North Korea).

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Claude Stokes was born June 25 1921 in Sumatra, Florida and raised in Carrabelle. He was working as an oysterman when he registered for the draft in 1942. During WWII, Stokes served in the US Army at Ft. McPherson, GA.

He served again in the Korean War with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, with rank of Private E-1 and his specialty was Light Weapons Assault Crewman.

On July 6, 1953, near the end of the Korean War, a large Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) unit attacked and overran the U.S. Army outposts on Pork Chop Hill, North of Yeoncheon, Korea, in an attempt to seize whatever territory possible before the impending armistice agreement. After fighting for the position for four days, on July 10, the 7th Infantry Division Commander determined that the CCF disregard for casualties and desire to hold the outpost outweighed the position’s tactical value, and ordered a withdrawal that was eventually completed on July 11. The U.S. never again controlled Pork Chop Hill, preventing thorough recovery efforts for those who were killed or went missing during the fighting.

Claude Stokes was killed in action on July 11, 1953, after being hit by an enemy gr***de and small arms fire during the second phase of the battle of Pork Chop Hill (July 5-11 1953) while the Armistice was being negotiated. His remains were unable to be recovered in the aftermath of the battle, and he is still unaccounted for. He was first listed as MIA, and eventually was declared KIA.

Stokes was awarded a Purple Heart and, thanks to the efforts and research of Lisa at the Camp Gordon Johnston Museum, has recently been enrolled in the Purple Heart Hall of Honor. He is also memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Credit for this history and photo of Claude Stokes and his service goes to Lisa Keith-Lucas, Camp Gordon Johnston Museum.

On this day in history - May 20, 1865 – the Union Army delivered the news of President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Pr...
05/20/2026

On this day in history - May 20, 1865 – the Union Army delivered the news of President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation to the state capital of Florida - Tallahassee. While this proclamation was first issued by Lincoln two years earlier, numerous telegraph lines suffered damage during the war, leading to delays in sharing the news of the surrender to various areas in the southern states.

Florida's Emancipation was officially proclaimed by Union Brigadier General Edward M. McCook on the steps of his headquarters, the Knott House. This declaration, made just eleven days after the Civil War's conclusion, marked the ending slavery in the state. As a result, many Floridians celebrate May 20th as Emancipation Day.

Do you have historic photographs of early Carrabelle mayors? The Carrabelle History Museum is currently searching for ph...
05/15/2026

Do you have historic photographs of early Carrabelle mayors? The Carrabelle History Museum is currently searching for photos to include in our upcoming exhibit, “Foundations of Freedom – Carrabelle’s Role in America’s Story,”.

We are especially looking for photographs or information related to these early Carrabelle mayors:

• Mr. Ogletree (1893-1897)
• J.M. Hilliard (1899)
• J.J. Cason (1905-1906)
• H.L. Mattair (1906-1916) – notably survived being shot in 1913 and was re-elected in 1914
• W.M. Robinson (1916-1920)
• A.T. Everitt (1920-1922)

These early civic leaders helped shape Carrabelle during its formative years, and we would love to include their stories and images in this special exhibit celebrating Carrabelle’s role in America’s democratic history.

If you have photographs, family records, or information to share, please contact the museum at [email protected] or call 850-697-2141. Photos can be scanned and returned.

Help us preserve and share Carrabelle’s story for future generations!

🌊 A summertime scene from long ago in Lanark, FloridaBoys and girls enjoying the water beside the Pavilion in Lanark. 📸 ...
05/12/2026

🌊 A summertime scene from long ago in Lanark, Florida

Boys and girls enjoying the water beside the Pavilion in Lanark.

📸 Credit: State Archives of Florida. Taken 1915.

We invite you to explore more pieces of our local past and discover the stories that shaped our community. Come see us at the Carrabelle History Museum, located at 106 SE Avenue B in Carrabelle!

🕰 Hours:
Sundays: 12–5 pm
Wednesdays: 12–5 pm
Thursday–Saturday: 10 am–5 pm

☀️ A perfect day in Franklin County, Florida… April 1961This vintage photo captures sunbathers soaking up the warm sunsh...
05/07/2026

☀️ A perfect day in Franklin County, Florida… April 1961

This vintage photo captures sunbathers soaking up the warm sunshine on Dog Island beach in Franklin County, Florida. Dog Island has long offered a quiet escape where folks could unwind, enjoy the natural beauty, and listen to the gentle rhythm of the waves.

Do you have memories of time spent on Dog Island? We’d love to hear your stories!

Visit us at the Carrabelle History Museum, one block from the Carrabelle harbor at 106 SE Avenue B. Open Sunday and Wednesdays 12- 5 pm and Thursday to Saturdays from 10 am - 5 pm.

Taken April 1961. Credit: State Archives of Florida.

🎉Happy 88th Birthday to the Historic Carrabelle City Hall! 🎉On May 2, 1938, the doors of Carrabelle’s City Hall opened t...
05/02/2026

🎉Happy 88th Birthday to the Historic Carrabelle City Hall! 🎉

On May 2, 1938, the doors of Carrabelle’s City Hall opened to the public for the very first time! Now home to the Carrabelle History Museum, this two-story brick building was once called “one of the finest buildings in the state for a city of this size.”

Built by local master mason Marvin N. Justiss, who is said to have built half of Carrabelle, this structure was crafted with concrete blocks he hand-made in wooden forms—each weighing more than 60 pounds! A true testament to the craftsmanship of its time. It is a two story brick vernacular style of that period.

This was the era of steamships, ferries, new bridges (the Apalachicola / Eastpoint bridge had just been built 3 years earlier!), and big band swing and jazz music, all the while the N***s were already consolidating power and World War II was brewing.

Today, this cherished building not only tells Carrabelle’s story—it is a part of that story. Inside, visitors can explore artifacts and displays including the original jail cell door and a display looking at the building techniques used to build City Hall and many other historic downtown buildings and shaped historic downtown Carrabelle.

Come check out the historic City Hall, a restored original jail cell door and a display on the construction methods of the City Hall building (as well as many other downtown commercial buildings).

📍 Come visit us just one block from the harbor at 106 SE Ave B, Carrabelle, FL.
🕰 Open Wed 12-5, Thurs-Sat 10-5, and Sun 12-5.
🎟 Admission is always free!

For more info, contact us at 850-697-2141 or [email protected]. Let’s celebrate 88 years of history, heritage, and heart in the building that helped shape Carrabelle!

Address

106 SE Avenue B
Carrabelle, FL
32322PHONE850-697-2141

Opening Hours

Wednesday 12pm - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+18506972141

Website

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