Special Exhibit for Sept. 2-Oct. 4: Philippines Campaign
Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum in Carrabelle is presenting a special exhibit on the Philippines campaign. This exhibit will open on Tuesday, September 2 and be on display until Saturday, October 4. The museum is open every Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm ET. There is no charge for admission, but donations are gladly accepted.
Visitors are invited to learn about the Japanese assault on the Philippines including the Bataan Death March, a brutal forced march of Allied prisoners of war through tropical heat, humidity, and rain. Thousands died along the way due to being starved and beaten and being denied medical care.
The exhibit also explores the long campaign to liberate the islands, starting with the U. S. landing at Leyte on October 20, 1944. In an effort to hold Leyte at all costs, Japan sent five naval forces to challenge the American fleet, leading to the largest and most complex naval battle of World War II, the massive Leyte Gulf Naval Campaign.
The 38th Infantry Division, which trained at Camp Gordon Johnston, earned the nickname “Avengers of Bataan”. This division played a critical role in this campaign. In December 1944, they landed at Leyte under enemy fire with the battle still raging. In the spring of 1945, they fought a tough campaign at Zig Zag Pass in Luzon. After intense combat, the division had cleared Bataan and accepted the formal surrender of two of the most powerful Japanese army groups in the Philippines. General Douglas MacArthur is said to have personally honored them with the title “Avengers of Bataan” for their victory.
Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.
Saturday, September 20: Museum Day
ALL THREE CARRABELLE MUSEUMS JOIN TOGETHER FOR MUSEUM DAY
Carrabelle’s three museums will open their doors free of charge on Saturday, September 20 as part of the annual Museum Day celebration. In honor of this day, Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum, Carrabelle History Museum, and Crooked River Lighthouse Museum invite you to Carrabelle FL for special activities and exhibits. Camp Gordon Johnston Museum will be open from 11 am – 5 pm. Carrabelle History Museum will be open from 10 am – 5 pm. Crooked River Lighthouse will be open from 9 am – 5 pm. Guests can also enjoy the Country Farmer’s Market from 9 am-1 pm at Crooked River Lighthouse Park with local crafts, baked goods and area produce.
Each year, Museum Day goes beyond getting visitors through museum doors; it shines a spotlight on incredible culture and history exhibits. This year’s theme, “Signals & Stories: Communication Across Time” will explore flashing beacons, radio calls, whispered tales and the signals that shaped our community and beyond. Each of Carrabelle’s museums will commemorate the theme with their own focus. Camp Gordon Johnston Museum will feature wartime communication through radio signals, codes, and stories of those who trained at the camp. Crooked River Lighthouse will highlight maritime signals like daymarks, semaphore flags and light signals. The Carrabelle History Museum will focus on storytelling through personal stories, community signals, and vintage postcards.
Guests can take part in hands-on activities and discover how these signals reveal cultural traditions and military valor. From lighthouse beams to military radios to family stories, the Forgotten Coast has long relied on signals to carry meaning across time. This year’s exhibits uncover how Carrabelle’s people, places, and artifacts served as beacons—communicating to residents and visitors through leadership, and legend.
Guests can enjoy activities and discover how the Forgotten Coast has long relied on signals to carry meaning across time. These exhibits uncover how the people, places, and artifacts of our area served as beacons—sharing messages through leadership and legend. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.
INFORMATION ON THE MUSEUMS
Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum – Honors the military men and women as well as civilian personnel who trained and worked in Carrabelle and Franklin County during 1942 through 1946. The museum houses numerous displays of military artifacts, photos and memorabilia of many types. Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum is located at 1873 Highway 98 West, directly across from Carrabelle Beach where military troops practiced D-Day beach assaults. Saturday hours 11 am-5 pm. www.campgordonjohnston.com/
Carrabelle History Museum – Features local artifacts and exhibits including Carrabelle’s Native American people, Shipwrecks of Dog Island, the Steamship “Tarpon”, the original “World’s Smallest Police Station”, Carrabelle industry and culture (seafood, lumber and more) and families from the pioneer days to the present. Carrabelle History Museum is located at 106 SE Avenue B, Carrabelle, FL. Saturday hours 10 am-5 pm. www.carrabellehistorymuseum.org
Crooked River Lighthouse – The history and the science of the lighthouse are displayed through interesting exhibits, including a historical setting of the early 1900’s, various lighthouse beacons, the methods of constructing a skeletal tower lighthouse, plus the lighthouse’s original 1895 Fresnel lens! Also on display are the original Keeper’s House clock, a barometer, an antique glass fire grenade, and more. Crooked River Lighthouse is located at 1975 Hwy 98 West, Carrabelle. Saturday hours 9 am-5 pm. www.crookedriverlighthouse.com
Past Events
Sidney A. Winchester Building Dedication at Camp Gordon Johnston Museum
The Camp Gordon Johnston Association and WWII Museum was honored to dedicate our museum building on September 21, 2019 to the late Sidney A. Winchester, a Carrabelle native, U. S. Army veteran and key supporter of Camp Gordon Johnston Museum. We were joined by U.S. Congressman Neal Dunn, M.D. (FL-02) who made two very special presentations during the ceremony. Congressman Dunn presented a container of sand from Utah Beach, Normandy, France to the Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum and then presented an American Flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C. to Sidney Winchester’s wife, Bobbye, who accepted the flag on behalf of the Museum in honor of Sidney’s service both as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne and as a charter member and champion of the Camp Gordon Johnston Association. The sand from Utah Beach and the flag will be on display at the Museum. Also on this day, Camp Gordon Johnston Museum celebrated Smithsonian magazine’s 15th annual Museum Day. This national celebration honors museums that follow the example of the Smithsonian with free admission.
Click Here to see the Video of the Dedication Ceremony and Congressman Neal Dunn’s special presentations. Thanks to Mayor Brenda La Paz for this video! Click here to learn more about these events.
