General

CAMP WALTON SCHOOLHOUSE MUSEUM





About Museum

The Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum is a historic two-room structure that maintains and interprets for exhibition items from the early history of Camp Walton and education in the county covering the years 1911 to the 1930's. 

Hours

Regular Hours: (Labor Day through Memorial Day): Monday-Saturday 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Summer Hours: (Memorial Day through Labor Day): Monday-Saturday 12:00PM to 4:00PM

Pictures of the Schoolhouse decorated for Christmas:
 

Location

127 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548



Museum History

                                                                   1912 - 1936


In the heart of historic downtown Fort Walton Beach is where the Camp Walton Schoolhouse can
be found. 

The school was originally located across the street from the present day Chamber of Commerce on Main Street, later to be named Miracle Strip Parkway (Highway 98).  It has been moved three different times. 

This building was the first schoolhouse constructed for the children of Camp Walton, later to be Fort Walton Beach.  Local citizens built the school of native pine and oak in 1911.  When the school opened in 1912, there were 15 students and one teacher.  Eight grades were taught in this one-room school. 

In 1927 another room was added to the building for the high school students.  Grades 9 to 12 met in this room with their teacher.  

 In 1936 the school was closed when the new all brick Fort Walton School was built. The old school building was purchased by John Brooks of the Gulf View Motor Company and moved to Fourth and Tupelo.  It was used as an apartment house for several families during World War II. The building was eventually sold to Dr. and Mrs. Langston who continued to use it as rentals. By the 1970's the building was in bad shape and was left to deteriorate.

It was scheduled to be burned by the fire department, but members of the Junior Service League convinced the Langstons to donate the building to become a historic museum.

 
The preservation of the school building was undertaken by the Junior Service League and the Okaloosa County School Board in 1974.  They moved the school to First Street and opened the building to the public as an educational museum in 1976.  In 1986 the City of Fort Walton Beach assumed the operation of the building and its programs.  It continued to serve as an educational museum for fieldtrips and summer visitors through 2005.

In January 2006 the Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum was moved to join the Indian Temple Mound Museum, the Fort Walton Temple Mound and the Garnier Post Office Museum to create a Heritage Park.  The buildings are now open for visitors six days a week.  Look for additional information on programs, special events, guest speakers and field trips.