It may seem like a tiny hidden gem, but New Smyrna Beach is a town with big offerings. Visitors delight in a wide range of historic exhibits, including Native American artifacts, Civil War displays, railroad memorabilia, fishing and hunting displays and displays of local archaeological digs and discoveries, as well as a museum store.
Operated by the Southeast Volusia Historical Society, this exceptional not-for-profit may be strolled through at your leisure anytime between 10am and 4pm Tuesday through Saturday. Old Fort Park archeological site, added to the United States National Registry of Historic Places in , is an ancient coquina foundation that comes with a mystery which has never been solved.
Augustine which is considered the oldest fort in the continental United States , a colonial church or a site for constructing ships? You decide. Marine Discovery Center programs include exhibit tanks, live shoreline demonstrations, kayak eco-tours, classes, camps and lectures with certified naturalists. Then check out the lighthouse museum for a glimpse into turn-of-the-century life and to learn what it was like to live and work as a lighthouse keeper.
Turtle Mound is a prehistoric site and national historic treasure located along the Canaveral National Seashore in Volusia County. This two-acre site contains over 35, cubic yards of shells and stands roughly 50 feet. It is the largest shell midden in the United States and estimated to have been approximately 75 feet tall before the shell mining took place in the 19 th and 20 th centuries.
Used by indigenous people for harvesting oysters and clams and serving protection from the weather, insects and a high point from which to spot impending danger, it is also believed that Turtle Mound served as a location for social gatherings, ceremonies and residences as well as burial sites for prominent tribe members. With over two miles of boardwalk along the jetty and ocean offering spectacular views, it is perfect for undisturbed morning walks and offers a dog beach trail for those with furry friends.
