Fort Walton Beach Indian Temple Mound

Fort Walton Temple Mound

Benjamin Heyse, Jesse Johnson, Vivian Kahren AMH-2010-013 (group 3) October 11, 2016

The first museum of Native Americans in Northwest Florida, The Indian Temple and Mound Museum, first opened as a museum in 1962. Although it had been there for many centuries, it is now a museum for everyone to visit and to learn more about the historical Native American population in Fort Walton Beach. Towards the end of the 19th century, Creek Indians, and some other tribes, moved into West Florida from Alabama and South Georgia. When the Indians moved to Florida, they tended to stay together in smaller, family-like tribes. The main Indian tribe in Fort Walton Beach was the Uchee Tribe. It is difficult to know for sure what the history of Native Americans is because they rely more on verbal and not written tradition. Some historians believe that Uchee Indians could have been in the Okaloosa-Walton county area more into the early 1800s. The Creek Indians were more prominent in the Pensacola area. The Seminoles are considered “breakaway” Creeks that had moved further south in Florida after they broke away from the Creek tribes in the Northwest Florida area. Florida has a rich past; it has been home to many different Native American cultures. Many cultures were “fisher folk” others were “agricultural societies”.The Fort Walton Beach Indian Temple Mound museum itself is an archaeological site built by the Pensacola Culture.

The mound was built during the Mississippian Time Period. Since the Mound Builders (the nameless group that built the mound) did not have the kind of technology that was available in other parts of the world, such as wheeled vehicles and animals, the Mound Builders had to use their hands. One of the reasons why the mound is located in that area is because they needed a reliable source of fresh water and a steady supply of available seafood. As different generations of leaders began leading in that area the leaders built temples around the mound, which added to its already massive height. Scientist believes that the mound was built around the year 850 and then abandoned by Native American, because of Europeans, in the late 1600’s. Because the mound is thought to be one of the largest human-made earth works on salt water, it became a landmark in the 1960’s. While the mound was a rallying place for dances, games and public events, the mound also served for more important matters such as a ceremonial and a political center. The mound was also connected to the Native Americans in a more spiritual matter because; it was a burial ground for the elites of the society. The mound has served its purpose throughout history, not only as an important center city for the native Americans, but it was also a base camp for confederate troops during the civil war.

The Indian Temple Mound and Museum is located at 139 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL. The mound and museum is opened Monday to Friday, 12:00a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. They are opened on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and are closed on Sundays. Admission is five dollars for adults eighteen and up, four dollars and fifty cents for seniors (55+) and military, three dollars for children three to seventeen, and free for children younger than three. The Garnier Post Office Museum that is next to the mound is opened from Monday to Saturday 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

Bibliography

"Indian Temple Mound Museum." City of Fort Walton Beach. Accessed October 01, 2016. http://fwb.org/museums/indian-temple-mound-museum/.

"History of Native Americans in Northwest Florida." History of Native Americans in Northwest Florida. Accessed October 01, 2016. http://bakerblockmuseum.org/nahistory.htm.

Cox, Dale. "Fort Walton Temple Mound - Fort Walton Beach, Florida." Fort Walton Temple Mound - Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Accessed October 01, 2016. http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/fortwaltonmound.html.

"Trail of Florida's Indian Heritage." Trail of Florida's Indian Heritage. Accessed October 01, 2016. http://www.trailoffloridasindianheritage.org/florida-indian-trial-site.html.