Updated: 8/5/2022 
Camp Gordon Johnston World War II Museum
Carrabelle, Florida
Description

Dedicated to the memories of the “Amphibious Soldiers” of WWII, Franklin County is proud to be the location of North Florida’s premier WWII museum.

Our new facilities, located across from Carrabelle Public Beach Park, house over 4,000 square feet of artifacts, vehicles, photos, memorabilia and memories of the soldiers, sailors and other military as well as civilian personnel who trained and worked here during the WWII years. Three Infantry division and two Special Brigades left here after training to confront tyranny both in Europe and the Pacific. Learn about their dedication, fears and heroism at our museum.

The Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum is a top attraction in North Florida, located in the tiny town of Carrabelle, Florida. Housing of 1500 artifacts from WWII, each having a story to tell. It will take over two hours to take in the full tour and do justice to what is available to see and hear. Visitors often come back two times or more, always learning something new as the artifacts and displays are continually being upgraded and added onto.

Mission
Our Mission

The Mission of the Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum is to honor and preserve the heritage of the men who trained at Camp Gordon Johnston in Carrabelle during WWII. We share the real stories of the dedication, fears and heroism of the quarter of a million men who served and trained at Camp Gordon Johnston at our museum The museum promotes not only the history of WWII, but also portrays the gigantic effort that our nation poured into this conflict.

History
Our Roots

Early in 1995 a group of North Florida people began speculating on the possibility of forming a Camp Gordon Johnston Association and holding reunions of men and women who served there. It was soon discovered that a whole lot of people were electrified by the idea, and we began holding regular meetings in Lanark Village or Carrabelle. The result was a smashing first reunion March 1-3, 1996 and a commitment to hold annual reunions each March for the foreseeable future. The reunions so far have been great fun and well attended. The men and women who served came to Camp Gordon Johnston from every state in the Union during World War II and they’re coming from every state for the reunions, too. From this grew the desire and need for an actual museum. The museum also preserves an oral history, preserving the experiences of our veterans. Many of these stories are told in our publication, the Amphibian, official newspaper of the Camp Gordon Johnston Museum.

Artifact Collections

We have over 1500 artifacts, memorabilia, uniforms, weapons, photographs, clothing, displays, awards and much, much, more for our visitors to see.

Programs

Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum holds several education programs and events each year. 1. Annual Smithsonian magazine's Museum Day, 4th Saturday in September. 2. Annual Camp Gordon Johnston Reunion Days including our veterans parade, dinner dance and more, 2nd weekend in March. 3. Daily documentaries regarding WWII.

Facilities

The Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum is at a new location in a new 4,000 square foot facility. The museum is now located at Carrabelle Beach, where military troops practiced beach assaults for D-Day and other campaigns.

Auditoriums
Lecture Halls
Governance

Camp Gordon Johnston Association Inc, which operates Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum, is classified as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation with the IRS. The State of Florida, Department of Revenue has designated the Non-Profit as a tax exempt organization. Camp Gordon Johnston Association has an active board of directors.

Library

We have a research library consisting of both newspapers, magazines collectable books, and reference books as well as taped interviews with WWII veterans who come to the museum.

Access: General Public, Students, Scholars

Appointment required: False

Services

We have a small "Post Exchange" gift area. We welcome group tours.

Gift Shop
Group Tours
Hours of Operation
Sunday - Mondayclosed
Tuesday - Saturday11 AM - 5 PM

Tours will be welcomed accommodated for different hours if needed. Call 850 697-8575 and talk to our staff for arrangements. Also, for those traveling, special hours can be arranged in advance.

Admission

Free. Donations Accepted.

DISCLAIMER
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

April 27 - April 29, 2025

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

TBA

Independence, Oregon

Beginning in 2025, the OMA annual conference will be held in Spring rather than Fall

The conference this year is all about trying new things. We are hoping to organize the conference into the following four tracks: Collections Care, Leadership, Emergency Preparedness, and Tourism

Check our website for more details in early 2025

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For more information, please email connect@oregonmuseums.org.

October 1 - October 4, 2025

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2025 Annual Meeting

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Reno, Nevada

Save the Date for WMA 202

As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, join us to build relationships and soar higher than ever before. With the theme of ELEVATE, WMA 2025 will explore ways to lift up the experiences of cultural professionals and the communities they serve.

In Reno, Nevada, 4,400 feet above sea level, we will forward the progress of museums by looking to the future.

May 6 - May 9, 2025

2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) ANNUAL MEETING & MUSEUMEXPO

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

AAM 2025 will focus on the theme, Museums & Trust.

Museums have long inspired high levels of public trust, surpassing news outlets, government organizations, researchers and scientists, corporations, and social media platforms. This consistent finding underscores our institutions’ unique position in society as stewards of knowledge, culture, science, and history—areas where credibility and reliability are paramount

In an era marked by mistrust and misinformation, museums have a rare ability to counterbalance the proliferation of false narratives and polarized perspectives. Using our trusted position, we can cultivate a more healthy, empathetic, and informed society.

But to do so, we must maintain our credibility proactively, embracing thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative practices that will defend against influences like bias, resource challenges, abuse of power, and social injustice

An Incredible MuseumExpo

AAM is again partnering this year with the Museum Store Association to host an incredible combined expo hall. Find the most innovative services, products, and solutions in the museum field. With 350 exhibitors, you are bound to find the right partner for your museum’s current challenges and opportunities.

May 5 - May 9, 2025

Museum Store Association FORWARD 2025 in LA

The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Join MSA in LA

We’re excited about our next MSA FORWARD Conference & Expo in “The City of Angels” – Los Angeles, California in conjunction with the American Alliance of Museums

Join the Museum Store Association (MSA) and hundreds of nonprofit retail professionals for the 70th Annual MSA FORWARD Retail Conference & Expo, taking place May 5-9, 2025 at The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Once again, MSA FORWARD will be held in conjunction with the 2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & Expo

Learn best practices and new ideas for store merchandising, operations, marketing, and sale

Participate in dedicated networking events and create connections that will inspire new ideas

Meet with over 200 MSA vendors about your product needs

Hear from knowledgeable industry experts during session breakouts and keynote presentations

Network with AAM attendees and exhibitor

September 10 - September 13, 2025

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

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