Indian Temple Mound and Museum Visitors Guide

Presenting 12,000 years of Native American history, a trip to the Indian Temple Mound and Museum is sure to be informative, interesting, and inspiring. Over 1,000 artifacts made of stone, clay, shell, and bone, as well as prehistoric ceramics can be found here. The main attraction, however, is the mound itself, which was built by the Pensacola Culture Indians around 800 AD as a spiritual, ceremonial, and political structure. The area was, and still remains, a sacred burial ground.

The Temple Mound was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is believed to be one of the largest mounds created on salt water, as well as the largest prehistoric earthwork along the Gulf Coast. Standing at 12-feet tall, and spanning 223-feet across its base, it is estimated that it took 200,000 basket loads of earth to create this massive structure!

The Indian Temple Mound and Museum is part of the Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park & Cultural Center, which means tickets also include admission to the Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum, Garnier Post Office Museum, and the Civil War Exhibit Building. A trip here will make visitors feel as if they’ve been teleported to the past to a much simpler time, creating a unique contrast to the surrounding bustling downtown area.