Museums in Destin-Fort Walton Beach

What do Ernest Hemingway’s fishing rod and the fastest plane in the world have in common? They can be found in Destin-Fort Walton Beach! You may find our museums a little quirky, but we think that’s what makes them special.

The Destin History & Fishing Museum pays homage to our roots with over 75 species of fish mounted on its walls and counting. For an impressive collection of early Southeastern Native American pottery and Civil War artifacts, check out the Indian Temple Mound Museum in Fort Walton Beach. The Emerald Coast Science Center is an interactive museum for families on all things science, technology, engineering, art and math. You can even meet the collection of birds, reptiles and small mammals, each one named after a famous scientist.

Since 1971, the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida has been collecting and preserving material culture pertaining to local and regional history and houses an extensive collection of artifacts. Visit the Air Force Armament Museum, the only museum in the world dedicated to artifacts that tell the story of Air Force weaponry. The world’s fastest plane and biggest bomb are housed at the museum and the museum is free and open to the public year-round.