Carrabelle’s three museums will open their doors free of charge on Saturday, September 20 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. Camp Gordon Johnston Museum will be open from 11 am – 5 pm. Carrabelle History Museum will be open from 10 am – 5 pm. Crooked River Lighthouse will be open from 9 am – 5 pm. Guests can also enjoy the Country Farmer’s Market from 9 am-1 pm at Crooked River Lighthouse Park with local crafts, baked goods and area produce.
Each year, Museum Day goes beyond getting visitors through museum doors; it shines a spotlight on incredible culture and history exhibits. This year's theme, "Signals & Stories: Communication Across Time" will explore flashing beacons, radio calls, whispered tales and the signals that shaped our community and beyond. Each of Carrabelle’s museums will commemorate the theme with their own focus. Camp Gordon Johnston Museum will feature wartime communication through radio signals, codes, and stories of those who trained at Camp Gordon Johnston. Crooked River Lighthouse will highlight maritime signals like daymarks, semaphore flags and light signals. The Carrabelle History Museum will focus on storytelling through personal stories, community signals, and vintage postcards.
Guests can take part in hands-on activities and discover how these signals reveal cultural traditions and military valor. From lighthouse beams to military radios to family stories, the Forgotten Coast has long relied on signals to carry meaning across time. This year’s exhibits uncover how Carrabelle’s people, places, and artifacts served as beacons—communicating to residents and visitors through leadership, and legend.
Visitors can enjoy activities and discover how the Forgotten Coast has long relied on signals to carry meaning across time. These exhibits uncover how the people, places, and artifacts of our area served as beacons—sharing messages through leadership and legend. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.
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. 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/
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
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. www.crookedriverlighthouse.com
