History of Apalachicola, Florida
Did you know that tiny Apalachicola once was the third busiest seaport on the Gulf? The prosperous 19th Century days were fueled first by cotton then lumber booms. The area played a role in the War of 1812, was pivotal in forcing a declining Spain to cede Florida to the U.S. in 1821, and, during the Civil War, was an important jumping off point for Southern blockade runners attempting to outfox Northern blockaders just offshore.
restored Victorian elegance
The 20th Century seemingly bypassed Apalachicola and it became a sleepy fishing village with an old Florida "feel" thanks to its treasure trove of Victorian architecture. Today those historic structures have been renovated and, in 2008, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Apalachicola "one of a dozen distinctive destinations in the U.S."
Apalachicola may be a travel destination now with several hotels and B&B's, many shops and boutiques and more than a dozen seafood restaurants, but it retains its character. It's still a working fishing village.
Shrimp boats and oyster skiffs are common sights in Apalachicola -- and each proudly wears a patina brought on by long use and hard work. Shrimp nets are attached to the tall vertical outriggers, and when a shrimper is fishing, the outriggers are lowered close to parallel with the water and the boat pulls the nets behind it to catch shrimp.
Most shrimp boats here range between 35 and 60 feet in length, and most do their shrimping in the Gulf of Mexico. Oyster skiffs are built of wood by local craftsmen and typically range between 22 and 26 feet in length. The small shelter at the stern of the skiff is to protect the oysterman from rain or wind on his way to and from the oyster reefs or bars in Apalachicola Bay.
Apalachicola is a 10-minute drive from St. George Island, a 30-minute drive from Cape San Blas.
