October 2011

Run by the City of Fort Walton Beach, the Indian Temple Mound Museum houses a pre-Columbian mound. Despite being subject to over a millennium of erosion, the mound is 12 feet high and 223 feet wide at its base. Historians estimate that the mound was built around 850 AD by a Mississippian tribe as a ceremonial and political base for the tribe. In 1964, the site was designated a National Historic Landmark.

In addition to the mound, the museum houses pre-Columbian artifacts. Numerous archaeological projects have presented new information about the native population of Florida.

Initially built to house John Ringling's personal art collection, the John and Maple Museum of Art was established in 1927 for the people of Florida. John Ringling, one of the seven founding brothers of the Ringling Brothers Circus empire, who later merged with Barnum & Bailey Circus. John Ringling commissioned architect John H. Phillips to design the museum in 1925, but the combined crash of the Florida land boom and the Stock Market stalled construction. In 1931, two years after the death of Maple Ringling, the museum opened to the public.  

In 2000, Florida State University took control of the museum, which now houses over 10,000 paintings, sculptures, and other objects. In 2007, a $73 million addition was completed, including the Arthur F. and Ulla R. Searing Wing. In total, the renovations added 150,000 sq. feet to the museum, making it one of the largest in the country. 

Named after 12th president Zachary Taylor, the U. S. Army began construction on Fort Zachary Taylor in 1845. The U. S. Navy initially maintained a presence in Key West to deter pirates in the Straits of Florida, but Fort Zachary Taylor's strategic value increased during the Civil War, as it served as the headquarters for the Naval East Coast Blockading Squadron. One of three Florida forts to stay in Union control throughout the war, the fort later stayed active until 1947. In 1973, the fort was designated a National Historic Landmark.

In addition to the fort, the state park has beaches, nature trails, and fishing areas open to its visitors. At 12:00pm, park rangers lead historical tours of the fort, and the park hosts reenactments along with events for children throughout the year.