I revisited the Destin History and Fishing Museum this week. I say revisited because I had been there a looong time ago when the museum was just getting started. That was in 1987. At that time, it was a real community effort to put the little museum together. Local fishermen donated taxidermied versions of their prize fish and old fishing equipment for display, while others donated time and money to refurbish the empty building that had been donated for the attraction.
Destin has always been known as the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village and the names of the original fishing families who founded the city can be found in the phonebook today. It was a reasonable assumption that a museum was needed that told the story of those families and the hardships they endured living on the remote barrier island that was Destin in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Today the museum is housed in the old Destin library, with over 4400 square feet of exhibit and research space. Artifacts of both fishing and daily life donated by Destin residents are artfully displayed, telling the story of those early pioneers. An early 20th century kitchen is set up in one corner, showing life before dishwashers and running water. Portraits of Destin’s founders hang on the walls above pieces of furniture and an old pump organ.
A display on Destin seine boats shows how the fishermen fished with nets, then hauled their catch to Pensacola to sell. It’s amazing to think they took those tiny boats into the gulf. You can even see a fishing rod and reel once owned by Ernest Hemingway along with a photo of him catching a fish.
Then, of course, there are the fish. Dozens of wahoo, blue marlin, black fin tuna, dolphin (the fish not the porpoise), red snapper, king mackerel, grouper, amberjack and several different species of sharks swim through a painted sea, showing the variety of fishes found in the gulf, the same ones you’ll find on your plate and any of the seafood restaurants in town.
A visit to the Destin History and Fishing Museum isn’t complete without a trip to the Destin docks as well. When you leave the museum, walk across the street and down to the harbor. Around 5 PM every day you can see the boat crews unloading the day’s catch and filleting them and you’ll see many of the fish that are on display in the museum.
The Destin History and Fishing Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for Seniors & Military, and $3 for children 4 and over. Children under 4 are free. Call 850-837-6611 for more information.
Tags: attractions, beach towns, day trips, destin, fishing, history, museums, things to do