Wynnehaven Beach in Okaloosa County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

MISSING

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Dr. Beal's Shell Museum

Photographed by David J Gaines, April 8, 2013

1. Dr. Beal's Shell Museum Marker

Inscription. Dr. James Hartley Beal (1861-1945) was an influential pharmacist, chemist, lawyer, educator, and scientist. Despite his busy life, he began collecting land and marine shells, purchasing his first specimen, in 1888. The Fort Walton Beach resident bought this house in early 1928. The building was used by Dr. Beal as his office and housed his extensive shell collection. By 1940, his collection had grown to be one of the largest shell collections in the world. The nearly two million shells were donated to Rollins College, where they remained on display until 1988. They were then transferred to the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida, Gainesville. The house was extensively remodeled and converted into the Summerhouse Restaurant, which operated there from the 1980s until 2004. It was originally located at 2 Miracle Strip Parkway in Fort Walton Beach. The building was slated for demolition in the fall of 2004. In order to save the building, Dr. Beal’s Shell Museum was purchased and moved by barge to its present location.

Erected 2007 by Hubert Alan Laird and the Florida Department of State. (Marker

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Number F-616.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.

Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 30° 24.646′ N, 86° 46.568′ W. Marker was in Wynnehaven Beach, Florida, in Okaloosa County. It was on U.S. 98, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Mary Esther FL 32569, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was on the Florida Panhandle.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found 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 5 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: In Memory of UH-60M Crew "Mojo 69" (approx. 3.6 miles away); C-46 Commando (approx. 4½ miles

Photographed by David J Gaines, April 8, 2013

2. Dr. Beal's Shell Museum Marker

away); 1st Air Commando Group B-25 Medium Bomber (approx. 4½ miles away); Combat Talon Aircrew S-01 (approx. 4½ miles away); MH-53 Pave Low (approx. 4½ miles away); Operation Kingpin (approx. 4½ miles away); Combat Talon Aircrew S-59 (approx. 4½ miles away); HH-3E "Jolly Green Giant" (approx. 4½ miles away).

Additional commentary.
1. Sign no longer in place…
Sign has been gone for sometime now. The house is in terrible shape and has been for sale the last several years.

— Submitted May 10, 2025, by Frank Hardy of Navarre, Florida.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 9, 2013, by David J Gaines of Pinson, Alabama. This page has been viewed 2,064 times since then and 132 times this year. Last updated on April 21, 2013. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 9, 2013, by David J Gaines of Pinson, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.