Carrabelle in Franklin County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
A Bustling Seaport
Early 1800s
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Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 16, 2025
1. A Bustling Seaport Marker
From Faraway Ports
Life changed dramatically with the influx of people from many nations. Large ships of Spanish explorers came in search of gold. A few French expeditions and British observers also journeyed here. With plunder on their minds, pirates lay in wait behind present-day Dog Island.
On the Streets of Rio Carrabelle
A colorful mix of Native Americans, ship hands, bootleggers, businessmen, loggers, and soldiers could be seen on the streets of Rio Carrabelle, as the town later became known.
1821
Florida was acquired from Spain as a U.S. Territory.
1840
Steamboat navigation was well established on the Apalachicola and Carrabelle Rivers.
1845
Florida was admitted as the 27th U.S. state.
Steaming Mail!
As there were no roads or bridges, contact from the outside world came by water. Mail was brought by steamship to present-day Apalachicola, then on to Rio Carrabelle in smaller steamboats.
[captions]
Schooner Joseph H. Cooper, loading 300,000 feet lumber, in front of McKissacks Pharmacy, Carrabelle, Fla.
Terminus of the C.T. & G.R.R. at Carrabelle
Steamer Crescent City leaving for Apalachicola
Erected 2009 by Florida Coastal Management
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Hispanic Americans • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1821.
Location. 29° 50.834′ N, 84° 39.84′ W. Marker is in Carrabelle, Florida, in Franklin County. It is at the intersection of Marine Street and Avenue F South, on the right when traveling south on Marine Street. The marker is mounted on the south side of the Carrabelle Riverwalk & Wharf public restroom building. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Carrabelle FL 32322, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Panhandle. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Land and Sea Provide (here, next to this marker); Welcome to the Carrabelle Riverwalk and Wharf (here, next to this marker); From Sails to Rails (here, next to this marker); From Boom to Bust... and Back Again! (here, next to this marker); A Coastal Gem (here, next to this marker); Carrabelle Historic City Hall (approx. Ό mile away); Georgia Florida & Alabama Railroad (approx. Ό mile away); The Legend of Tate's Hell (approx. Ό mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Carrabelle.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Carrabelle
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 16, 2025
2. Carrabelle Riverwalk & Wharf Public Restrooms
Looking north; the Carrabelle River is on the left. This marker is the rightmost of three interpretive panels on the south side of the building.
Also see . . . Carrabelle, Florida (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: In 1528, the first Spanish expedition of Pαnfilo de Narvαez passed through the area on its way from Tampa Bay to the Rio Grande. From the late 17th century through early 18th century, a few passages referring to the area are mentioned. Carrabelle, Dog Island, and St. George Island served as points to stage raids on local ports, as well as San Marcos de Apalache in 1677 and 1682.(Submitted on May 9, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)In 1876, explorer Nathaniel Holmes Bishop of Medford, Massachusetts, navigated the Crooked River through the lowlands east to the Ochlockonee River. In 1877, Oliver Hudson Kelley from Massachusetts founded the town and named it Rio Carrabella, after his niece, Caroline Hall. The following year, the first U.S. post office was established with its address as Rio Carrabella. Hall served as the town's first postmaster. The Town of Carrabelle was incorporated on December 24, 1881.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 6, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 17 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 9, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
