The Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park and Cultural Center is an attraction unlike any other in the area. It features a little bit of everything (the history covered ranges from 12,000 BC to the 1950s!) with the goal of educating the public on the full range of local history and pre-history. If you are looking to learn something new, then this is the perfect place for you!
Photo from There is so much to see here! There is an Indian Temple Mound Museum, which opened to the public in 1972 and depicts 12,000 years of Native American culture. There is an extensive collection of artifacts, with a unique breadth of ceramics, as well as exhibits covering pirates, European explorers, and early settlers. The Temple Mound itself is visible to guests willing to take a short walk to it. It is a huge ceremonial mound, measuring 12 feet tall and 223 feet wide. It is not to be missed!
The Garnier Post Office Museum depicts the postal history of Fort Walton Beach. It covers the period from 1918 to 1956. Another attraction is the Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum, which details local education from 1911 into the 1930s. Civil War history buffs will be delighted by the Civil War Exhibits. These exhibits explain Florida's role in the American Civil War and features dioramas of campsites as well as a number of artifacts and informational panels.
The $3 admission fee includes access to all of these attractions. It is cheaper than a latte and you're guaranteed to learn something while you are there! Don't miss it!
