Destin History & Fishing Museum — Attraction in Destin

The museum is a Non-Profit kind run by a Board of Directors. Since founding in 2005 the museum has preserved and taught the Destin’s history. The museum features the history of the early pioneers from the 1830s and the history of the fishing industry from seine boats to the boats that you can see in the Destin Harbor today. To preserve Destin’s history by stimulating interest in and understanding of the village of Destin, its history and its fishing and tourism industries, through experiences that educate and inspire. The Museum houses books, manuscripts, photographs and a large variety of artifacts that are held in storage or placed on temporary or permanent exhibition. It sponsors several programs and events held throughout the year including the Gumbo Contest, Night at the Museum, Literary Garden Party, Halloween Haunted Walking Tour, the annual Holiday on the Harbor Lighted Boat Parade and many others. There are many ways for the Destin community to support the Museum including visiting the Museum, attending a program or event, spreading awareness of the Museum in person or online and donating a monetary gift or Destin related historic items. And one of the best ways to support the Museum is to donate your time by volunteering… A very special museum, indeed!

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This small, local museum in Destin offers a focused glimpse into the region’s fishing heritage, but it’s definitely a niche experience. Our visit with kids highlighted both its strengths and its limitations.

While the space is compact and the number of exhibits limited, our children enjoyed it—one fascinated by fishing, the other by reading detailed descriptions. That said, this isn’t a modern or interactive museum. Exhibits are mostly static, and the experience leans heavily on reading and plaques rather than engaging displays.

For families with kids who enjoy reading or have a specific interest in fishing history, it can be a worthwhile stop. Otherwise, younger or more active children may find it underwhelming. The museum would benefit from more hands-on activities, child-friendly attractions, or even audio guides to enrich the experience.

A quiet, educational stop if you’re looking to learn a bit about the local culture—but expect a traditional museum setup rather than an...

This place was neat! While this is my 7th year coming to Destin to visit I wanted to take my daughters to do something different. It was very quiet, the tickets are cheap & they even give you a discount for children that are in school. I love the nostalgia of this place!! My 5 year old sat at this kids table that had coloring pages & crayons, so she sat & colored while my teen wondered around. Our fav part of the museum was the kitchen area w/ the sowing machine & other neat knickknacks! We loved the old pianos & they had this old wheel chair that looked similar if not exactly like the one from the movie “The Secret Garden”

We ventured in the First Post Office Destin ever had & it was the cutest neatest thing ever! They have a letter you can read from a desperate mother pleading for her son not to go to the military. You could feel her pain just reading her letter!

We enjoyed our trip here! Very educational & if you have enough kids w/ you they have a...