COMING SOON! Special Exhibit for December 3-6: Freedom Truck Mobile Museum
Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday!
The Freedom Truck rolls into Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum December 3–6, 11 am–5 pm ET, with an interactive journey through America’s founding. Test your knowledge, sign the Declaration of Independence digitally, and discover 50 American heroes.
Explore this special exhibit and the museum’s WWII history on the Forgotten Coast! See below for more details!
Special Exhibit for October 6-31: Operation Torch – Campaign in North Africa
Visitors to Carrabelle can check out some fascinating history this October at the Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum with a special exhibit on Operation Torch, the Allied campaign in North Africa that served as a critical testing ground for amphibious landings and armored warfare tactics that would later be employed during the Normandy Invasion. The exhibit will be on display Tuesday, October 6 through Saturday, October 31, with the museum open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. Admission is free, with donations gladly accepted.
The exhibit features historic photographs, maps, and authentic artifacts from the North African campaign, including weapons, currency, and helmets. A special highlight is a Top-Secret copy of the operational plans for Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily, prepared in Tunisia during the final days of Operation Torch. Visitors can also discover Camp Gordon Johnston’s own connection to Operation Torch, when the camp’s 61st Medical Battalion deployed with the First Engineer Special Brigade.
Located at 1873 Hwy 98 West, directly across from Carrabelle Beach, where beach assault training took place in 1942–1943, the Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum offers visitors a chance to see history up close while exploring one of Carrabelle’s unique local attractions.
Coming to Carrabelle This December: Visitors will have another opportunity to explore history when the Freedom Truck mobile museum rolls into Camp Gordon Johnston December 3–6. This national mobile museum offers an interactive experience designed for all ages, making it another unique attraction for visitors planning a trip to Carrabelle this winter. Save the date!
Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.
Special Exhibit for November 3-28: Honoring our Native American Servicemembers
Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum in Carrabelle is excited to announce a special exhibit honoring Native American Servicemen, opening Tuesday, November 3 and on display until Saturday, November 28. November is National Native American Heritage Month, and the museum salutes their service and sacrifice. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm ET with free admission.
“During World War I and World War II, hundreds of American Indians joined the United States armed forces and used words from their traditional tribal languages as weapons. The United States military asked them to develop secret battle communications based on their languages—and America’s enemies never deciphered the coded messages they sent. “Code Talkers,” as they came to be known after World War II, are twentieth-century American Indian warriors and heroes who significantly aided the victories of the United States and its allies.
The Code Talkers’ role in war required intelligence and bravery. They developed and memorized a special code. They endured some of the most dangerous battles and remained calm under fire. They served proudly, with honor and distinction. Their actions proved critical in several important campaigns, and they are credited with saving thousands of American and allies’ lives.” (Source: The National Museum of the American Indian).
Visitors are invited to learn about the Native American Servicemembers, including members of the Choctaw, Navajo, Cherokee, Pima, Comanche and other nations that served their country in World War II. Guests can discover the story of the Code Talkers, who used their unbreakable code based on their native tongues to help defeat the enemy and the stories of the seven Native American Medal of Honor Recipients from WWII.
Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.
Special Exhibits for December 1-January 2: Anniversary of Pearl Harbor & Christmas During the War
Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum in Carrabelle is presenting two special exhibits in the month of December. The focus of one exhibit will be on commemorating the Anniversary of Pearl Harbor and the focus of the other exhibit will be on exploring Christmas During the War. These two exhibits will open Tuesday, December 1, 2026 and be on display until Saturday, January 2, 2027. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm ET and there is no charge for admission.
In honor of the Anniversary of Pearl Harbor, Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum is presenting an exhibit commemorating this dark day in America’s history. World War II came home for the United States on December 7, 1941, when the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan attacked the US Western Fleet at the American base Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. President Franklin D. Roosevelt called it “a date which will live in infamy”. Learn about those that planned the attack, the sole Japanese POW taken, and the heroic efforts by Doris Miller of the USS West Virginia to shoot down attacking Japanese planes. This attack resulted in the declaration of war with Japan and the US entering World War II. Luckily, the Pacific Fleet’s aircraft carriers were at sea on that day, and escaped damage to fight later. “Remember Pearl Harbor” became the rallying cry of Americans as they enlisted by the thousands and built up the immense industrial effort needed to achieve victory in 1945.
The second special exhibit for this month will reflect on what Christmas was like during the war. Americans had to learn to do with less during the years they were fully engaged in fighting World War II. That had a significant impact on every aspect of American life including how Christmas was celebrated. Americans were encouraged to make their own toys and decorations, and commercially-made gifts emphasized materials that were not needed for war, including cloth, paper and wood. For example the popular Lionel Train toys were converted to cardboard and people learned how to cook and bake with corn syrup once sugar became scarce. Learn more about how rationing changed toys, food and even decorations during the war.
Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.
COMING SOON! Special Exhibit for December 3-6: Freedom Truck Mobile Museum
In Celebration of America’s 250th birthday, Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum is hosting the Freedom Truck, a traveling mobile museum, to Carrabelle December 3-6 from 11 am – 5 pm ET. This special exhibit offers visitors a unique chance to explore the story of America’s founding through an interactive experience for all ages. Visitors can test their knowledge, digitally sign the Declaration of Independence, and discover the stories of 50 American heroes. The Freedom Truck offers a fun, hands-on way for families and history enthusiasts to explore America’s past. Learn more at Freedom250.org/freedom-truck.
While visiting, guests can also explore Camp Gordon Johnston Museum’s exhibits honoring the soldiers who trained in Carrabelle and the Forgotten Coast during World War II. Located at 1873 Hwy 98 West, directly across from Carrabelle Beach, where WWII beach assault training took place, the museum offers a fascinating look at the area’s military history. It’s a great opportunity to combine this special national-history exhibit with a visit to one of the Forgotten Coast’s unique attractions. For more information, visit Freedom250.org or CampGordonJohnston.com, call (850) 697-8575 or email museum@campgordonjohnston.com. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.
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.
