The historic Fort Walton Schoolhouse was the first every schoolhouse for children at Camp Walton. Built in 1912 on the northeast corner of Shell and Miracle Strip Pathway, the schoolhouse built of native pine and oak, was the sole center for learning until 1936.
The first teacher at this schoolhouse was Miss Minnie Tippins from Andalusia, who taught a class of 15 students. In 1927, another room was added to the schoolhouse which was used as the High school. The locals also used it for town meetings, get-togethers and as a house of worship on Sundays. The school was shut down in 1936 and the building was leased out as an office to a car company. During the Second World War, the building was let out as four individual apartments.
It was only in 1974, that the Junior Service League and the Okaloosa County School Board took it upon themselves to preserve this legendary building and moved it to its current location at 107 First Street SE. Two years later, the Fort Walton Schoolhouse opened its doors again... only this time as a public museum.
The responsibility of preserving and promoting the museum was handed over to the City of Fort Walton Beach in 1986. Thereafter, several educational programs and activities have been organized here.
Today, the Fort Walton School house Museum welcomes over 3,000 children every year. Through the various activities conducted here and the numerous exhibits the Museum houses, visitors are introduced to the tremendous legacy of the schoolhouse. The museum is open from 12.00 pm to 4.30 pm everyday from August through May and from 10 am to 4.30 pm in the months of June and July.
For further information you can call the Fort Walton School House Museum at 850-833-9595.
The Fort Walton School House Museum
107 First Street Southeast
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548-5867
