The Walton County Heritage Museum was mentioned in the article,
"14 Best Towns in Florida in 2024." Thank you, Travel Lemming!
Walton County's 200th Anniversary • December 29, 2024
Walton County was created from Escambia and Jackson counties on December 29, 1824 (Fla. Terr. Acts 1824, 3d sess., sec. 2, p. 260). The county was named for Col. George Walton, Jr., Secretary of the West Florida Division, 1821-1826.
The "Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert" named in the third line below was the daughter of George Walton. Although this paragraph from The Southern States of North America: A Record of Journeys by Edward King (1875) mentioned her as a celebrity living in Mobile, her ties to Florida are irrefutable.
Former Walton County Heritage Museum Director and DeFuniak Springs native Brenda Rees will be presenting a living history tribute to Octavia at this year's Chautauqua Assembly on Saturday, March 16, at 9:00 a.m. For more information about Brenda, see the Florida Chautauqua Assembly and the "Treasure" at left.
To learn more about Walton County's history, be sure to read our Walton Relations newsletters. Sam Carnley and Bruce Cosson have been presenting the history of the county, beginning with its prehistoric era, since the July 2023 issue. They also will be presenters at this year's Chautauqua Assembly.