Preserving the History and Culture of Carrabelle, Florida

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.

Speaker Program: History, Culture, and Stories of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Florida

The Carrabelle History Museum is presenting a fascinating speaker program about the History, Culture, and Stories of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Florida on Saturday, January 17, 2026, from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm ET at C-Quarters Marina, 501 St James Ave (Hwy 98), Carrabelle, FL. This program will feature Misty Penton, Bio Archeologist, Muscogee/Creek Storyteller and Tradition Keeper, Education Director of the Fred George Museum, and founder of the Wildwood Preservation Society. There is no charge for this event.

At this session, Misty will discuss the rich history, culture, and stories of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Florida, a people whose resilience has endured despite the hardships of the Trail of Tears and centuries of efforts to erase their identity. Learn how small groups avoided removal by hiding in the swamps of North Florida, preserving their traditions through strength and secrecy. Misty will share the enduring legacy of Ekvnv Hvtke Tvlwv (White Earth Tribal Town) located at nearby Blountstown, FL—the only ceremonial square grounds east of the Mississippi with unbroken ceremonies since prehistoric times. Discover the sacred art of shell carving, a tradition dating back to the Mississippian era, and explore how generational storytelling, oral traditions, and sacred ceremonies continue to guide and sustain the Muscogee people today. Through Misty’s presentation, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the enduring spirit of the Muscogee people and their unbroken connection to the land, culture, and ancestors.

Misty Penton is the Tradition Keeper and Storyteller for the Muscogee Nation of Florida and serves as the Education Director for The Museum at Fred George Park and Greenway in Tallahassee, operated by the Wildwood Preservation Society. She also works as the Museum Director/Curator for the Muscogee Nation of Florida and an Education Specialist at WFSU Public Media. Penton holds a Master of Science degree in Physical and Biological Anthropology from the University of Oregon and two Bachelor of Science degrees in Political Science and Anthropology from Florida State University. She grew up near the land that is now Leon County’s Fred George Park and Greenway and helped create a coalition to help found the new county park.

 Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

Speaker Program: “French, Spanish and British Years: From Discovery to an Exceptionally American Florida”

The Carrabelle History Museum is proud to present a fascinating speaker program, “French, Spanish and British Years: From Discovery to an Exceptionally American Florida”, featuring Clinton Flowers, Interpretive Aide at the Missouri State Museum. This free program will be held Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET at C-Quarters Marina, 501 St James Ave (Hwy 98), Carrabelle, FL. There is no fee for this program, but donations are welcome.

Flowers will discuss the critical events and interactions among France, Spain, and Britain that contributed to the development of the modern State of Florida. The narrative encompasses episodes of conflict, deception, and strategic alliances, while recognizing the enduring legacies of Florida—now celebrated as the “free state of sunshine!”

The Louisiana Purchase of 1803, though not directly including Florida, transformed the young nation and indirectly reshaped Florida’s role. Occurring during a period characterized by exploration, conquest, and expansion, it marked a major enhancement of American power, providing new territory, resources, wealth, and international influence. Once ruled by Spain, then Britain, then the U.S., Florida’s path to statehood reveals a layered history. While many believe Spain made the first permanent settlement at St. Augustine in 1565, the French actually established one earlier in 1562—decades before Jamestown. Divided into East and West Florida, the region remained outside the Continental Congress, yet was deeply entwined with America’s expansion story.

Clinton Flowers works as an Interpretive Aide at the Missouri State Museum, a history and cultural division of Missouri State Parks, in the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. He has retired from a career as Program Manager in the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Flowers has a Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. As a certified Interpretive Aide, he provides guided tours and has developed history programs about our nation’s westward expansion, Lewis and Clark, the steamboat industry, and the Louisiana Purchase. In addition, he has been a long-time visitor to Florida’s Forgotten Coast. Flowers brings both expertise and personal passion to this talk.

 Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.