|
Special Exhibit: Sponge Diving in Carrabelle and North Florida
Opening this Friday
October 1 at 10 am
at Carrabelle History Museum
The Carrabelle History Museum is presenting a special exhibit on Sponge Diving in Carrabelle and the North Gulf Coast of Florida. This exhibit will be on display from Friday, October 1 through Sunday, October 31. The museum and exhibit are open Wednesdays 12-5 pm, Thursdays thru Saturdays 10 am – 5 pm and Sundays 12 – 5 pm
. There is no charge for admission but donations are gladly accepted.
Sponging diving started in the Bahamas and moved west to Florida in the early 1800s. From Key West it spread up the Florida Gulf Coast. “By 1879, Carrabelle had the largest sponge fleet in Florida next to Key West”, according to David Shubow in the Tequesta: The Journal of the Historical Association of Southern Florida.
Florida’s tough but soft sponges were considered to be some of the best in the world. Sponges from the northern Gulf were denser than other Florida sponges because of the colder water. Many of them were harvested just off of Dog Island. This made both Carrabelle and Apalachicola great locations for viable sponging businesses.
Eventually “new” diving technology revolutionized the industry. Heavy brass helmets, dive suits, and weights, both weighted belts and lead in the shoes, would enable divers to literally walk along the sea floor. They would breathe air through a long tube tethered to the sponge boat above them. While this allowed divers to stay down longer and harvest more sponges, it was also much more
dangerous.
This special exhibit will explore the history of sponge diving in Carrabelle and the area. Visitors can learn about the migration of Greek sponge divers to and from Carrabelle. This exhibit will include an authentic, brass sponge diving helmet used by a former local diver, a diorama of an open-air sponge market, early postcard images and historical photos of Carrabelle’s sponge boats and local sponge divers plus a fascinating video of sponge diving from the diver’s perspective.
Carrabelle History Museum is located, one block from Carrabelle Harbor, at 106 SE Avenue B, Carrabelle, FL. For more information, contact 850-697-2141 or carrabellehistorymuseum@gmail.
Volunteers are needed! In order to continue offering wonderful events to our community, we need your help! Even just a few hours would make a huge difference.
There is no admission fee for these events. Your support is vital for us to continue to offer great cultural programs. Donations may be made securely by credit card or PayPal by clicking here: Donate Online. Join or Renew your Annual Membership to the Carrabelle Historical Society and support these wonderful programs. $15 individuals, $20 families or $35 organizations /businesses. Members are also Friends of the Carrabelle History Museum. Memberships may be paid online here by credit card or PayPal - Donate Online.
http://live.oysterradio.com/
Opening this Friday
October 1 at 10 am
at Carrabelle History Museum
The Carrabelle History Museum is presenting a special exhibit on Sponge Diving in Carrabelle and the North Gulf Coast of Florida. This exhibit will be on display from Friday, October 1 through Sunday, October 31. The museum and exhibit are open Wednesdays 12-5 pm, Thursdays thru Saturdays 10 am – 5 pm and Sundays 12 – 5 pm
. There is no charge for admission but donations are gladly accepted.Sponging diving started in the Bahamas and moved west to Florida in the early 1800s. From Key West it spread up the Florida Gulf Coast. “By 1879, Carrabelle had the largest sponge fleet in Florida next to Key West”, according to David Shubow in the Tequesta: The Journal of the Historical Association of Southern Florida.
Florida’s tough but soft sponges were considered to be some of the best in the world. Sponges from the northern Gulf were denser than other Florida sponges because of the colder water. Many of them were harvested just off of Dog Island. This made both Carrabelle and Apalachicola great locations for viable sponging businesses.
Eventually “new” diving technology revolutionized the industry. Heavy brass helmets, dive suits, and weights, both weighted belts and lead in the shoes, would enable divers to literally walk along the sea floor. They would breathe air through a long tube tethered to the sponge boat above them. While this allowed divers to stay down longer and harvest more sponges, it was also much more
dangerous.This special exhibit will explore the history of sponge diving in Carrabelle and the area. Visitors can learn about the migration of Greek sponge divers to and from Carrabelle. This exhibit will include an authentic, brass sponge diving helmet used by a former local diver, a diorama of an open-air sponge market, early postcard images and historical photos of Carrabelle’s sponge boats and local sponge divers plus a fascinating video of sponge diving from the diver’s perspective.
Carrabelle History Museum is located, one block from Carrabelle Harbor, at 106 SE Avenue B, Carrabelle, FL. For more information, contact 850-697-2141 or carrabellehistorymuseum@gmail.
Volunteers are needed! In order to continue offering wonderful events to our community, we need your help! Even just a few hours would make a huge difference.
There is no admission fee for these events. Your support is vital for us to continue to offer great cultural programs. Donations may be made securely by credit card or PayPal by clicking here: Donate Online. Join or Renew your Annual Membership to the Carrabelle Historical Society and support these wonderful programs. $15 individuals, $20 families or $35 organizations /businesses. Members are also Friends of the Carrabelle History Museum. Memberships may be paid online here by credit card or PayPal - Donate Online.
No comments:
Post a Comment