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 1933 during the Depression as a work program to employ locals. The museum has exhibits rooms to display collections, a large entry hall for special displays, and a workroom/office for the volunteers to process the incoming artifacts. We have several displays that highlight Local Heroes; 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.
Right On Time: Buck O’Neil and Black Baseball
Carrabelle History Museum is presenting a fascinating history program entitled, “Right On Time: Buck O’Neil and Black Baseball”. This program features author, Wes Singletary and baseball aficionado, Josh Weaver and will be held Saturday, November 20, 2021, at 10 am - 12 pm in the upstairs room at C-Quarters Marina, 501 St. James Ave (Hwy 98), Carrabelle, FL.
John Jordan "Buck" O'Neil was born in Carrabelle, FL on November 13, 1911. He became a famous first baseman and manager for the Kansas City Monarchs, a Negro Leagues team. In 1956 he joined the Chicago Cubs as one of the first African-American scouts in Major League Baseball. Then the first African-American coach in the Major Leagues in 1962. Buck also founded the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City, MO and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS: Wes Singletary is the author of numerous books and articles including ones on John Henry "Pop" Lloyd, Al Lopez, the 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords, and Apalachicola native Jimmy Bloodworth. A USAF veteran, Wes earned a Ph.D. in history from Florida State University, and is currently AP United States History Professor at Lawton Chiles High School. He has taught as an adjunct history professor at Tallahassee Community College for 27 years.
Joshua Weaver has a passion for baseball. He graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in History. Joshua’s profession is social work, but dreams of becoming a baseball historian. He has authored the children's book, A Visit to Oriole Park at Camden Yards with the Orioles Mascot. Joshua has traveled to all 30 active Major League Ballparks. He has visited several baseball museums around the county including National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame, and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The museums all feature exhibits on Buck O'Neil. He is currently assisting in the expansion of the museum's Buck O'Neil exhibit.
There is no fee for this program. Donations are gladly accepted to defray costs. Sponsored by C-Quarters Marina and Shaun Donahoe Realty. Funding in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council. Seating will be limited and masks are optional. Attendees are asked to follow health guidelines including social distancing and sanitizing hands. For more information, contact 850-697-2141.
Sponge Diving in Carrabelle and the North Gulf Coast of Florida
Now through December 31, 2021
Funded in part by Franklin County Tourist Development Council