Great Loop: Carrabelle Florida

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Moorings Marina - Carrabelle Florida

Ode to Historians

Historians are the curators of a city.  To have passionate historians researching, collecting, displaying and sharing tales of days gone by gives continuity to the present and reminds you that today's world is built on the efforts of those that have gone before.  Life was difficult and often tragic for our predecessors.  They didn't have the safety nets we take for granted.  They have to survive without antibiotics, medical or dental care, no phones to call for help when your horse kicked you or you were bitten by ever present snakes. Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, natural disasters - you were responsible for rebuilding and recovering.  There were no insurance companies or FEMA to provide immediate assistance.


The Carrabelle History Museum

The Carrabelle History Museum is a wonderful community resource which adds color and vibrancy to the past.  It provides the foundation to interpret and understand what came before as well as the events and forces that influence and define today's experiences.  If you are lucky, as we were, you'll be greeted by one of their wonderful docents who will escort you through their rooms of exhibits in the building which previously served as the town hall, police station, and administrative center for the city.  The building was securely constructed from concrete blocks and continues to survive the often harsh and stormy weather of the gulf coast.


Sponge Divers Suit

The museum was founded in 2009 and over the years have collected the many items you find on display.  An hard hat sponge diver suit, complete with helmet and weight belt was donated by a local, as were a great percentage of the items on display.  Tamara Allen and Sheri were two of the docents that performed excellently imparting their stories of Carrabelle's past and not so distant past.  


Amphibious Training at Camp Gordon Johnson

I highly recommend a visit not only to this museum but also the nearby World War II museum at Camp Gordon Johnson.  You'll leave with a deeper understanding of the Florida Gulf Coast and the people who have passed through this area over time.

Two stories which illustrate the hardships experienced by early residents of the area are:

Our Trip to Carrabelle

The trip from Apalachicola to our slip in Carrabelle was about 30 miles.  We travelled across a large bay behind barrier islands in light winds.  It was a very pleasant trip.  Only saw a couple of porpoises along the way.  It gave us time to enjoy the day and Beth baked a loaf of bread while we were underway.

Here are some photos we took of our arrival in Carrabelle.


Entrance to Carrabelle Channel


Carrabelle City Front


Shrimp boat on the city front



Voyage Log




Location: Carrabelle, FL 32322, USA

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