Welcome the Carrabelle History Museum

We opened in April of 2009, and since then, residents of the community have generously shared their pictures, genealogy, memories, household and work items to build our collection. Our first artifact was the medical bag of beloved midwife Tillie Miller, donated by Rita Brown Millender and John Brown. From then Carrabelle History Museum has grown to house thousands of items in its collections. Gratefully, we still receive wonderful local artifacts.

The museum is located in the Old Carrabelle City Hall, built by local mason Marvin Justiss in 1938 during the Depression as a work program to employ locals. The museum has two floors of exhibit rooms and areas to show collections with a large foyer for special displays. We have several exhibits that highlight the Shipwrecks of Dog Island; Carrabelle’s Heroes & Notables; the story of Tate’s Hell Swamp; the Steamship Tarpon, which was key to building our community in the early 1900's; and Carrabelle's "First People", Indigenous people who lived here thousands of years ago.

There is no charge for admission. Donations are warmly welcomed.
We are located in the heart of downtown, at 106 SE Ave B, Carrabelle, FL and are open:
Wednesday & Sunday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM  |  Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM  (Closed Monday & Tuesday)

SPECIAL EXHIBIT: VINTAGE OFFICE - Relics from City Hall's Past

Thru Sunday, June 1

This special exhibit offers a nostalgic look into the daily workings of Carrabelle’s city government and the tools that helped keep the city running. 

Step back in time and explore original artifacts from Carrabelle’s historic City Hall office. This fascinating display features an authentic 1953 Underwood Standard Typewriter used by the Assistant City Clerk Mary Mathes, a mechanical adding machine, official city log books, a municipal court log from the 1940s (showing lots of charges of fighting and disorderly conduct), and a small black book belonging to City Clerk Charles Lee Daniels. Visitors can also see vintage receipt books, the original city seal stamp, and an assortment of rubber stamps once used for municipal business—each item offering a tangible link to Carrabelle’s mid-20th century administration.

Typewriters revolutionized record keeping. Before their widespread use, government staff painstakingly hand wrote every record. The introduction of typewriters marked a new era of efficiency and organization in municipal operations.

Whether you're a history buff, longtime local, or curious visitor, this special exhibit brings to life the everyday workings of Carrabelle’s past and celebrates the people and processes behind the paperwork.

This exhibit is sponsored by C-Quarters Marina, Duke Energy, Shaun Donahoe Realty, and funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

MUSEUM INFORMATION

 

ADDRESS: 106 SE Ave B, Carrabelle, FL 32322
PHONE: (850) 697-2141
EMAIL: carrabellehistorymuseum@gmail.com
Wednesday & Sunday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Visit us in the heart of downtown. The Museum is one block south of US 98. Turn south on Marine Street and left (east) at the first corner, 3rd building on your left.  CHM is within walking distance to the Carrabelle Visitors Center.

 

DONATE TO THE MUSEUM

Donate to the Carrabelle History Museum via PayPal or credit card. You don't need a PayPal account to make a donation. Select one of the suggested donations, or enter any amount.



Funded in part by Franklin County Tourist Development Council