Nestled back on Stahlman Drive near our Destin Community Center lies a small house-like building showcasing the history of fishing in our beach town, known as the Destin History and Fishing Museum. January is a great time visit and see first hand the journey our city has gone through since Leonard Destin landed ashore in 1835.
The Destin Fishing Museum opened October 1, 2005 with a goal to share the story of how our small fishing village became a major tourist attraction. It houses thousands of historic photographs, artifacts, fishing equipment, murals, fish mounts and even some historic boats from the early days. There is even an entire section dedicated to our famous Destin Fishing Rodeo that showcases notable catches, records, and more.
Outside the front door is what is known as Museum Heritage Park. Wander through and see restored boats such as the Primrose, the last seine net boat in Destin. You’ll also find the old Destin post office that was built in 1936, restored and full of exhibits. Another favorite is the huge replica of a Megladon Shark jaw, a perfect place for a photo opportunity.
Upon entering, you’re greeted by the staff who offer a variety of ways to experience the museum. From scavenger hunts, to self guided tours with or without audio headsets, to having a staff member lead you through and answer your questions, the choice is yours. The museum is currently open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am-4pm with a small admission fee to the public ranging up to $5 a person.
In one corner you’ll find cabinets of old black and white photos from the early days, with women and men posing by their monster catches on the docks of what is now Harborwalk Village. See images from Destin’s first Rodeo, families posing by fish boards, and even proud anglers posing next to fish 3 times the size of themselves. In the days without rules or regulations, these photos showcase a different time and culture when it came to the sport of fishing.
From there you can wander through the backside of the building, which houses the bulk of the exhibit. Destin’s history hangs on the walls from the times of Indians, stories of how life was back then paired with artifacts and photos. As you move through, you’ll learn how the boats and fishing equipment evolved over time, what commercial fishing was like and why it was important, and how our city has changed over the years as fishing grew.
Pause at large exhibit in the middle of the room and you’ll notice over 70 locally caught fish, mounted, with details of the species of fish and where they can be found in our Bay or Gulf. Next to that is the history of fishing poles and bait, what was used to catch this variety of fish. As you near the end and where you started, you’ll find the museums gift shop with a variety of t-shirts, seashells, posters, history books, ornaments and more.
The Destin History and Fishing Museum has added a variety of new upgrades for the 2020 season, trying to maximize their space and make better use of technology. Some of the most recent exhibit additions include:
– Stories of Bruce Cheves, voice and weigh-master of the Destin Fishing Rodeo for the last 35 years, which have been digitized and matched to visuals so guests can watch on an iPad and listen through headphones. 4 have been completed and are ready to play, with a goal of 12 total stories to be available in the future.
– A new Lionfish exhibit, detailing out why they are a problem and how we can help. This exhibit includes detailed replicas of Lionfish up close and personal.
– Ten shocking Marine debris facts about the harmful trash in our ocean, how long it’s been there and how much it’s estimated to weigh.
– A Fisherman’s Logbook wall of 4 TV screens, playing vintage, archived, digital photos of party boats, charter fishing boats, Leonard Hutchinson collection and a variety of surf fishing, diving, pier fishing and more.
– A new Victrola display, that will have 110 records of digitized songs to be selected and played. Each song chosen by a guest will be paired with trivia questions about value, history of the Victrola, etc. Currently 17 are available to play with the rest coming soon.
– Paired with 6 framed stain glass windows are photos and written history of our Destin schools, Community Center, Blessing of the Fleet and our early churches.
– A hands on activity: a knot tying station where guests can practice tying knots that fishermen use.
– Kids Fish School, with foam fish replicas that can be weighed, measured and compared to other Anatomy of fish.
– A Bay Ecology section, with help from the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, with information on Oysters and their impact on our Bay waters.
– A Beach Ecology section, with information on sea turtles and why we work so hard to protect them.
– A Calhoun family display with archives and digital photos of landscapes, aerials, etc.
Along with all the upgrades inside, they also continue to add new life-size displays outside like historical boats, etc.
Kathy Marler Blue, Executive Director of the Destin Fishing Museum, says they try to make upgrades constantly depending on funding and community support, and encourages people to continually visit to see all the new additions.
The Destin History and Fishing Museum is a must for any fishing enthusiast, history buff, or anyone with interest in the evolution of our fishing village. Make plans to stop by and support this non-profit and all that they’re doing to preserve and showcase Destin’s rich history.
