Maritime Heritage Museum

The Franklin County Maritime Heritage Museum is located just west of Apalachicola within the Franklin County Seafood Park, a 3.4 acre multi-use park which also features a boat and kayak launch, scenic boardwalk and covered picnic areas. In 2019, the Lombardi building was renovated and the park was dedicated to Olan “Buddy” Ward, an Apalachicola seafood business owner and lifelong advocate for the seafood industry.

The purpose of the exhibit is to preserve the maritime history of Franklin County that has played an important role in the county’s development. The maritime heritage exhibits are housed in distinct “rooms” within the renovated shell of the former oyster processing plant, a covered deck overlooking the waterfront and a boardwalk that will be used as part of the maritime heritage exhibits.

Each of the interior room features displays dedicated to different maritime heritage themes including oyster processing, shrimping, crabbing, fishing and early lumber, cotton and sponge industries as well as an overall timeline of each industry’s evolution. Additionally, a display dedicated to the historic Florida Seafood Festival is  featured. QR codes on each of the displays will direct visitors back to the Franklin County Tourist Development Council’s website floridasforgottencoast.com where they can access additional information about each topic as well links to other resources.

Video interviews and topic-specific videos have been conducted and recorded, professionally produced and looped on 10 large screen TVs throughout the building paired with each topic display area. One room is proposed as a theatre area with a 75” screen TV which will be used for special documentary-type videos and productions.

Exhibits, video interviews and artifacts from the county’s many maritime-related industries including cotton, steamboat, timber, sponge and railroad era were unveiled as well as a 12-foot wide timeline of Franklin County’s maritime industries. Outside, two commissioned lighthouse replica lighthouses were unveiled as sentinels overlooking Apalachicola Bay. Learn more about Maritime Heritage Museum.

Open: Monday – Friday 10 am – 4 pm