Carver-Hill Museum

The Carver-Hill Museum preserves the history of Carver-Hill School, the school for Crestview’s African American children during segregation, and the wider story of Black education in Okaloosa County. The school received support from philanthropist Julius Rosenwald’s school-building fund, and it was named for Dr. George Washington Carver and Reverend Hill, a local minister. It served students until Okaloosa County’s schools were desegregated.

The museum is at 895 McClelland St in Crestview, phone 850-682-4003, with information at carverhillmemorialandhistoricalsocietyinc.org. Exhibits document the school’s teachers and staff, classes, sports teams, band and drama club, along with memorial dedications honoring people connected to the school and the community it served.

The Carver-Hill Memorial and Historical Society, Inc. runs the museum, which grew from the efforts of the late Caroline Baker Allen. Longtime educators Samuel Alphonse Allen Sr., a science teacher and civic leader, and Florence Gilmore Hayes, an elementary teacher, are honored among the society’s founders. Former students often volunteer as guides and share their own memories of the school, which makes a visit feel personal.

The museum’s website points readers to From Cabin to Campus, Nancy M. Kenaston’s history of the struggle to educate African American children in Okaloosa County’s public schools. Call ahead to confirm hours and to plan a visit, especially for school or community groups.