Explore Florida’s Okaloosa County: History of Air Force weapons

Among the 600 streams, springs, rivers and creeks in Ocala...

George Skene, Orlando Sentinel

Adrienne Cutway / Orlando Sentinel

St. Armands Circle offers a little bit of everything that brings visitors to Sarasota: shopping, dining, art, culture and, of course, a waterfront view. The island shopping center boasts more than 100 stores and is located just a short walk away from the sandy shores of the Gulf of Mexico. There's also a touch of art with several marble white statues around the circle. Read more.

Orlando Sentinel

Think of it as Florida's version of French Quarter in New Orleans. Ybor City (pronounced EE-bor) is a historic district just northeast of downtown that features brick streets and dozens of bars. Ybor can be quiet at times during the mornings and early afternoons, with modest traffic to an array of coffee shops, patio cafes and local shops. But as the day progresses is when the district wakes up. Read more.

Richard Tribou / Orlando Sentinel

What if you went to a swamp and there were no mosquitoes? That's what you get at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary near Naples. Even though it's on the western edges of the Everglades, there's rarely a mosquito problem. There is a serious plague of bird singing though. As you take the 2.5-mile walk along the boardwalk, birdsong is everywhere. Be sure to bring binoculars or rent a pair for $3 at the entrance. Read more.

George Skene, Orlando Sentinel

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Among the 600 streams, springs, rivers and creeks in Ocala National Forest in north-central Florida is an unusual natural attraction. Salt Springs bubbles up from vertical fissures deep underground that produce water laced with potassium, magnesium and sodium. <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/os-exfl-central-outdoors-ocala-20150517-story.html" target="_blank">Read more</a>.

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By Amy Aumick

PUBLISHED: May 7, 2018 at 9:50 PM CDT | UPDATED: May 12, 2019 at 2:48 PM CDT

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Dedicated to the historic defense of the United States, and the world since its inception in 1975, the Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin Air Force Base is the only facility in the U.S. to offer a steadfast array of Air Force military weapons and equipment.

Inside exhibits include static displays of almost every weapon in the Air Force has used, as well as the history behind these inventions. Outside the museum, aviation buffs can get a load of an impressive display of more than 30 modern and historic aircraft, including a B-52 and an F-4 Phantom II jet on five acres. Little ones can get a photo op inside of the two open jet cockpits.

The gun vault inside the 28,000 square foot building holds variety of weapons from early rifles to powerful anti-aircraft guns. The favorite draw of the gun vault by far is a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast. Nicknamed MOAB, which stands for “Mother of all Bombs,” the MOAB was known in the field as the most powerful non-nuclear weapon when it was designed.

Be sure not to miss the short film detailing the history of Eglin AFB that details the 137 acres gifted to the city of Valparaiso by local businessman and airplane buff, James E. Plew in 1931. Plew then increased his contribution to 1,460 acres for the bombing and gunnery base four years later. The base was officially named “Eglin,” after Lt. Col. Frederick I. Eglin, who perished in 1937 following an airplane crash.

In 1940 under the direction President Roosevelt to expand the Army Air Corps, the U.S. Forestry Service ceded to the War Department the Choctawhatchee National Forest, consisting of some 384,000 acres in order to train gunnery fighter pilots. A testing command center and Proving Ground Command was set up shortly thereafter. Once the Korean War began around 1950, Eglin AFB became a test range and served as a major missile test center. Today Eglin AFB is home to the 96th Test Wing, which tests and evaluates non-nuclear munitions, electronic combat systems and navigation/guidance systems.

The Air Force Armament Museum is great way to shake yourself out of touring doldrums. In fact, the building does shake multiple times a day from bombing tests. Admission is free, but donations are accepted at the door of the gift shop where memorabilia, flags educational games and toys are for purchase at affordable prices.

If you go

Air Force Armament Museum

100 Museum Dr, Eglin AFB

850-882-4062

www.afarmamentmuseum.com

ABOUT OKALOOSA COUNTY

Population (as of 2015): 201,170

Major cities: Crestview, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville

Tourism bureau website: emeraldcoastfl.com

Top restaurants:

Stewby’s Seafood Shanty: stewbys.com

Beach Walk Café: beachwalkcafe.com