Destin
Destin traces its immediate history to a fisherman, Leonard Destin, who moved here from New London, Connecticut. For decades, he and his descendants fished the local waters close to the shores with seine nets from small boats called yawls, which they operated with oars. The oldest seine fishing boat still in existence is Primrose, a 1920s-era boat now restored and on display at Destin's History and Fishing Museum. Now no longer a small fishing village, first-time visitors are still discovering what brings people back to Destin's shores year after year... the beautiful white sand beaches, emerald-green waters, friendly atmosphere, and, of course, fishing in the "World's Luckiest Fishing Village".
Fort Walton Beach
The earliest settlers in Fort Walton Beach are thought to have settled as far back as 12000 BC. Archaeological evidence dates Indian settlements back to 600 AD. The Indian mounds in downtown Fort Walton Beach serve as a reminder of their presence, and their language is apparent in words like Okaloosa and Choctawhatchee. Europeans arrived between 1500 and 1700. Spanish conquistadors and native tribes battled for control of the area. Following the American Revolution, Andrew Jackson served as Territorial Governor. During the Civil War, a small Confederate contingent called Walton Guard camped in front of the Indian mounds and guarded the coast. In 1932, Camp Walton was renamed Fort Walton and 21 years later the word "beach" was added. Eglin AFB marked a turning point in the area's history and still provides a large portion of the area's economic stability and growth.
