PASS-A-GRILLE BEACH, Fla. — The barrier islands suffered some major losses during Hurricane Helene. The damages impacted businesses and homes, both old and new.

It left many wondering how much of the area’s history was washed away.

Gulf Beaches Historical Museum preserves history for all the barrier islands in the Tampa Bay area. It was once a place of worship, and the old pictures of the more-than-a-century-old building help tell the story. 

What You Need To Know

  • Gulf Beaches Historical Museum, which preserves history for all the barrier islands in the Tampa Bay area, sustained damages from Hurricane Helene

  • Friends of the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum Board President Christine Oertle said the damages sustained to the museum are reminiscent of the impacts from the historic hurricane of 1921

  • A company was able to pack up items from the museum and put them in storage while they rebuild

  • The museum doesn’t have an opening date yet, as they’re still waiting on permitting and work to start

“It looks rough now. The hurricane shutters are still up. They’re not taking them down until after hurricane season ends,” Friends of the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum Board President Christine Oertle said.

The hurricanes weren’t kind to the barrier islands or the museum this year. Like most homes and businesses on Pass-a-Grille Beach, the drywall is cut and the floors are damaged.

It’s the kind of damage Oertle can’t help but compare to the historic hurricane of 1921.

“This church looks good. I mean, it stood strong for both in 1921 and this year’s storms. So, I think that’s why it’s such a special place. And it holds our memories for us, so it’s really a very special place,” she said.

The artifacts and important items that had to be taken down ended up at another location.

“We are working on the salvage and recovery process for artifacts for Gulf Beaches Historical Museum here at Heritage Village in Largo,” Jane Tomlinson, Gulf Beaches Historical Museum Curator in Residence, said. “There were some items that were unable to be elevated before the storm, so those suffered water damage. So then, we had to come in and wrap them to contain them and prevent any further water damage, and then move them out here to Heritage Village.”

With help from collections curator Al Miller, they’re able to go through a special process that includes dehumidifiers, fans and a freezer to help with the drying process.

With each step being just as important as the last, and vital to preserving the kind of history, Tomlinson says it never gets old.

“Before the storms, I was going through our database because we have everything digitized and going through our collection, there are photos of alligators out at Pass-a-Grille after the 1921 storm, and that tends to be the last one people in the Tampa Bay area say really hit the barrier islands,” she said.

Tomlinson is thankful a company was able to pack up those precious photos and other irreplaceable items and put them in storage while they rebuild.

It’s a needed reminder for Oertle that they will get back to the days of the air conditioning and bathrooms, drawing in beachgoers and the rich history they’re known for, keeping them there.

“We see the cycles of history and we’re part of it, and I think that’s a powerful message,” said Oertle.

The museum doesn’t have an opening date yet. Like most residents and business owners, they’re still waiting on permitting and work to start.

In the meantime, they’re holding events every month to remind people they’re still around keeping barrier island history alive.