Santa Rosa County, Florida, rests in the cradle of American history.  Even before the first European settlements were established, Native Americans roamed freely through the area and found an abundance of food in the woodlands and bays.  The area became a county in 1842 and many settlers found a lucritive business in harvesting timber; by the late 1850’s, Santa Rosa County was the most industrialized area in the state.

Today, it is one of the fastest growing counties in Florida.  As more newcomers move in, we have realized that there is a need to document and preserve our rich heritage, in addition to providing an opportunity for others to learn more about us.  

 Three small county museums operated by volunteers are open a few days a month, but the Santa Rosa Virtual Museum will open the doors of history to the masses.     

The Santa Rosa Virtual Museum is an interactive website that intends to document the history of Santa Rosa County through a series of photographs with descriptions, interactive maps and multimedia stories, in addition to a photo gallery of artifacts from local museums and private collections.