Fort Walton Beach Area Historic Sites

Fort Walton Beach, of course, is known as a major gateway to the beautiful white sand beaches and emerald waters of Northwest Florida. Destin is just a short distance away, as are Navarre and Santa Rosa Island.

Nestled in the heart of this popular destination is a cluster of historic sites that are well worth taking a break away from fun on the beach to explore.

Fort Walton Beach's Heritage Park & Cultural Center has been developed around the well-known Fort Walton Temple Mound and adjacent Indian Temple Mound Museum and now also includes the beautifully restored Camp Walton Schoolhouse, dating from 1912, and the 1918 Garnier Post Office.

The buildings were saved through the efforts of the Junior Service League, Okaloosa County School District and City of Fort Walton Beach. They have been restored to their original appearance and offer visitors a chance to step back in time to learn more about the early educational and postal history of Northwest Florida.

Other exhibits of interest include a cannon from the Civil War fort built by Confederate forces at Fort Walton Beach, historic markers, displays and more.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/fortwaltonbeach.

Ancient History in Fort Walton Beach

One of the most impressive archaeological sites in Florida can be found in the heart of downtown Fort Walton Beach.

The Fort Walton Temple Mound and Indian Temple Mound Museum are located at 139 Miracle Strip Parkway (U.S. Highway 98) and preserve a Native American ceremonial mound built nearly 1,000 years ago.

The Fort Walton Temple Mound was the centerpiece of a major mound group, most of the rest of which has long since been covered over. A large platform mound that stands 17 feet tall and measures 223 feet long across the base, the mound once served as the base for a large structure and was the focal point of ceremonial and political activities in a large village of the Mississippian time period (A.D. 900-1500).

Now preserved and maintained by the City of Fort Walton Beach, the mound is located immediately next to the Indian Temple Mound Museum where visitors can view amazing samples of artifacts recovered from sites in Northwest Florida.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/fortwaltonmound.