If there’s anywhere in Destin that will transport you back to the old fishing village of the 1800s, it’s the Destin History & Fishing Museum.
The Destin History & Fishing Museum is located at 108 Stahlman Avenue at the foot of the Destin Bridge. It sits directly across the street from the Destin Community Center and down the road from the Destin Library.
This isn’t a place that visitors would typically find if they weren’t looking for it since it’s off on a side street away from the main attractions of Destin, but it’s a great stop to add to your visit.
Here you will find endless amounts of data depicting the rich history of the Destin fishing industry and the founding families who shaped the growth of early Destin.
The museum has over 75 fish mounts of locally caught fish, including the most common varieties such as Grouper, Shark, Mahi Mahi, Snapper, Marlin, and Cobia along with more rare varieties as well.
Vintage photographs, artifacts, antique fishing equipment, and documents of early Destin are found in every other corner of the museum as well.
Don’t miss the Destin Fishing Rodeo gallery—especially if you visit in October during the Fishing Rodeo. There is a new shark exhibit on display too with shark trivia, photos, information, and coloring pages for the kids.
The outdoor museum park has historical boats and several other exhibits on display, including the original Destin Post Office that was in operation for over 17 years.
Visit the museum at the beginning of your trip because you will see Destin (especially Destin Harbor) in a different light after getting a glimpse into all the history there.
This is also a great activity to do on a rainy day in Destin or when you have red flags flying at the beach and can’t swim.
The white sand beaches are definitely Destin’s number 1 tourist attraction, but fishing is a close second. Destin is known as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” and here you will find out how it all started.
Small guided tours are available or you are welcome to explore the museum at your own pace. There are QR codes on the exhibit so you can listen to the information at each stop if you want. They offer a scavenger hunt for kids to encourage them to engage with the exhibits.
The museum staff are volunteers and long-time Destin residents who have a lot of passion for the area. They can tell you about local fishing, fishing history, and pretty much anything about Destin. They are happy to answer any questions you have.
Kathy Marler Blue is the associate director of the museum. She’s a wealth of information about the history of Destin if you get a chance to chat with her. She is a 4th generation Marler, which was one of the earliest families to settle in Destin after it was founded in 1835.
There is a small admission charge for the museum unless it’s one of the handful of free charge days that they offer throughout the year as open house events. Young children are always free.
The museum has several events throughout the year to help raise funds for operations such as fish frys, a gumbo cook-off, garden party, cards and cakes, and the “Night at the Museum” party which is also a silent auction. Area businesses donate time, products and expertise to help put on these events.
Last year they added the “Haunted Historic Destin Ghost tour” where volunteers dressed up as historical ghost figures and told stories to kids. In the summer they offer a “Kids Summer Series” with different activities and learning opportunities.
The Destin History and Fishing museum also sponsors the big annual boat parade on Destin Harbor that has been going on for over 35 years. More information on that event is in my post here: Best Places to Watch the Destin Harbor Boat Parade
For more information, visit their website: Destin History and Fishing Museum website
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