By Barbara Palmgren
Several years ago, I began teaching a class for the Center for Lifelong Learning at the UWF Emerald Coast Campus. This non-profit organization offers adult classes designed to provide unique learning experiences. Classes are scheduled in the fall and winter semester over an eight-week period. I usually offer my class one semester a year in the winter semester.
My class, titled “The Museum Trail,” is a weekly visit to one of our county museums. Following the museum visit, the class might enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. I value keeping things local. So, we might have a delicious lunch overlooking the water at Dewey Destin’s original restaurant on Calhoun Avenue. Not that this is a lunch and learn experience, but it could be. During winter term, visitors might see their first pelican perched on a piling on Dewey’s dock.
Focused now on learning about the first museum in this new series, let’s enter the Destin History and Fishing Museum at 108 Stahlman Ave. close to Highway 98 and open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p m. Ticket prices are Adults $10, Military and First Responders $9, Seniors $8, Students $5 and 5 and under are free. The museum features the history of what used be a sleepy fishing village in the 1830’s to the tourist attraction it is today.
Is Destin truly the “Luckiest Fishing Village in the World?” You might agree after visiting the museum and wandering into a large room to view movies and a huge scoreboard of competitors prize catches for the Destin Fishing Rodeo fall competition. One can be mesmerized and get “hooked” on fishing just by viewing all the fish caught during October each year.
But, is luck the reason for Destin’s success? There is rich history that began this story and the museum honors and exhibits that history. Books, manuscripts, photographs, exhibits and artifacts educate the community and visitors. The museum opened in 2005 close to the foot of the Destin Bridge and directly across from the Destin Community Center.
Outside the museum is an old sein fishing boat and the original Destin Post Office. Inside is the history of settlers and businesses surrounding an immense wall with examples of fish that can be caught in the Gulf waters. The Mike Long Fish Wall encircles the center of the main room and is the centerpiece of the museum. Yes, there are 25 sharks or parts of sharks throughout the museums. But, don’t worry about the shark with a large open mouth; he is no longer a predatory danger for tourists! Interactive touch screens and friendly volunteers and staff help visitors learn more.
I met Kathy Marler Blue, former Museum Director and a member of one of Destin’s founding families in 2017. Together we worked with several other museums to form the Greater Okaloosa Museum Coalition. When Kathy retired in 2021, she passed her responsibilities to Vivienne Williams. Vivienne earned a Master’s Degree in Public History from the University of West Florida. A lifelong Florida resident, Vivienne learned about museums first hand with an Internship at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Conn.
No, Vivienne did not trade Mystic Pizza for Destin’s seafood, because her love of the white Destin sands would always win. Don’t believe me? Vivienne’s favorite exhibit or place in the museum is the front exhibit room where visitors learn about what makes Destin so special. And, yes, one of those reasons is that famous white sand.
