Tucked away in the middle of the National Historic District of Pass-a-Grille in St. Pete Beach, is the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum.  Built in 1917 as the first church of Pinellas County’s barrier islands, it served the community as the Pass-a-Grille Community Church until 1959, when the property was sold to Mrs. Joan Haley. It was Mrs. Haley’s home until 1989 when she willed it to Pinellas County to be used as an island museum.

Opened to the public in 1993, the Museum is totally managed by local volunteers and is supported by the non-profit “Friends of the Museum”, an organization whose financial help goes toward the collection, preservation and exhibition of Island History. Funding is obtained through it’s membership, donations and proceeds from the Gift Shop.