Mound House

Mound House The Mound House interprets and preserves the cultural and environmental history of Ft. Myers Beach

Mound House offers a cultural and environmental learning experience for all ages. Embark on an unforgettable adventure through Fort Myers history, exploring the Calusa culture, and immersing yourself in the natural environment of Estero Bay. Please read the social media policy for the Town of Fort Myers Beach: https://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/1096/Public-Information

05/29/2026

Ceel’s reflection gives a deeper look at what makes Mound House meaningful beyond the exhibits.

Her story touches on the memories, storms, people, and volunteers who helped shape the character of the house over time. For many who have spent time here, Mound House is more than a historic structure ; it's a place filled with connection, care, and community.

The docents and volunteers who shared its stories played an important role in helping visitors understand not only the history of the site, but the feeling of the house itself.

Their dedication helped keep the spirit of Mound House alive for future generations to experience.

Great blue herons are a familiar sight around the waters of Mound House.Often seen standing still on the fishing pier or...
05/29/2026

Great blue herons are a familiar sight around the waters of Mound House.

Often seen standing still on the fishing pier or shoreline, these birds are patient hunters. They move slowly, watch carefully, and wait for the right moment before striking for fish, small crabs, or other aquatic life.

Their tall frame, long legs, and sharp bill make them perfectly suited for life around Estero Bay, where shallow water and coastal habitat provide plenty of opportunity to hunt and rest.

Moments like this are a reminder that the grounds around Mound House are not only rich in history, but also part of an active natural environment shared with local wildlife!

05/28/2026

Ceel Spuhler, one of the first Docents of the Mound House, shared some time with us about her time at the Mound House. During the earlier formation of the Mound House as a museum, Ceel shares details about acquiring docents to support the Mound House.

Thank you Ceel!

A look back at a special evening celebrating one year of the Artifact Preservation Center at Mound House.The APC plays a...
05/23/2026

A look back at a special evening celebrating one year of the Artifact Preservation Center at Mound House.

The APC plays an important role in preserving, documenting, and caring for the artifacts and archival materials that help tell the story of this historic site. This celebration brought together supporters, visitors, staff, volunteers, and community members to recognize the work being done behind the scenes to protect Mound House history for future generations.

A special thank you goes to Breanna for her dedication and continued efforts in curating, organizing, and caring for the Artifact Preservation Center. Her work helps ensure that the stories connected to these artifacts are preserved and shared with care.

Mound House is also grateful to the Friends of the Mound House for their continued support and efforts in helping make moments like this possible.

A sincere thank you to the Alex King Group, alexking_group, for sponsoring this celebration and supporting the continued preservation of our island’s history.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this milestone so meaningful.

05/22/2026

Before you leave Mound House, make sure to stop by the gift shop.

You’ll find a mix of small keepsakes, Mound House stickers, postcards, shirts, jackets, jewelry, and artwork featuring the Mound House itself. There are also books for younger visitors, bird identification books for nature lovers, and historical reads for those who want to learn more about the Calusa, Spanish influence, Seminole history, and the many stories that shaped Florida over time.

Whether you’re local or visiting from out of state, the gift shop is a great place to find something meaningful to take home after exploring the grounds, exhibits, and waterfront views.

Stop by during your next visit and bring home a small piece of the Mound House experience.

Inside the Artifact Preservation Center, visitors can find a small but meaningful piece of Mound House history: handmade...
05/20/2026

Inside the Artifact Preservation Center, visitors can find a small but meaningful piece of Mound House history: handmade tiles from the Long family swimming pool.

The pool was installed in 1958 by the Longs, the last and longest residents of the Mound House property. When the pool was removed during the 2006 restoration process, archaeologists and volunteers preserved several of the tiles, including the mermaid, two seahorses, and an angelfish surrounded by bubbles.

These tiles are more than decorative pieces. They connect visitors to the residential period of Mound House and the Long family’s time on Fort Myers Beach from 1952 to 1994.

They also connect to a much larger story. When the Longs installed the pool, it was cut directly into the ancient Calusa shell mound. That discovery later helped lead to the creation of the Underground shell mound exhibit, which opened in 2010.

Next time you visit, take a closer look. Sometimes the smallest details reveal the biggest stories.

05/19/2026

A beach day on Fort Myers Beach can turn into something even more memorable with a stop at Mound House.

Just a short distance from the shoreline, Mound House offers bayfront views, natural surroundings, wildlife, history, and a peaceful place to slow down. Enjoy a picnic in the beautiful weather under the strangler fig tree, cast a line from the pier, explore the grounds, or take in the view from the water.

From fishing and wildlife sightings to the kayak launch, historic house, and Calusa shell mound, there’s something for everyone to experience.

Take a break from the sand and discover one of Fort Myers Beach’s most unique historic sites.

Add Mound House to your next beach day and schedule a guided tour to learn more about the incredible history surrounding Fort Myers Beach!

Sandra is part of the Visitor Services team at Mound House, helping welcome guests as they arrive and making sure their ...
05/15/2026

Sandra is part of the Visitor Services team at Mound House, helping welcome guests as they arrive and making sure their experience starts off well.

Her role goes beyond greeting visitors. Sandra also helps keep the museum and gift shop organized, restocks items, helps maintain the store, and looks for new artists and products to feature.

For Sandra, one of the best parts of working at Mound House is the peaceful setting and the opportunity to help visitors learn more about the history of Fort Myers Beach and the Mound House itself.

From the moment guests walk in, Sandra helps make the Mound House feel welcoming, organized, and ready to explore.

Stop by and meet Sandra during your visit and explore to get the full Mound House experience.

05/15/2026

Cataloging artifacts takes more than careful handling. It takes the right materials to protect both the object and the information connected to it.

During the cataloging process, specialists may use nitrile gloves, archival-safe bags, acid-free tissue paper, record boxes, artifact trays, scales, cameras, databases, notes, and other tools, depending on the collection.

Nitrile gloves help prevent oils and contaminants from transferring onto artifacts or documents. Polyethylene bags protect artifacts from materials that could damage them over time. Acid-free tissue paper cushions fragile objects and helps prevent staining or deterioration. Record boxes and plastic corrugated boxes provide long-term protection from light, dust, moisture, and environmental changes.

Even artifact trays play an important role by keeping objects separated and organized during sorting, cataloging, photography, and analysis.

Archaeology is not just about collecting artifacts. It is about preserving the object, the information connected to it, and the story it helps tell.

Want to learn more about how artifacts are documented and preserved? Schedule an Archaeology and Archives Tour at Mound House to see how the cataloging process helps protect history for future generations.

Tiny numbers on an artifact may be easy to miss, but they play a major role in how museums preserve history.These are ca...
05/13/2026

Tiny numbers on an artifact may be easy to miss, but they play a major role in how museums preserve history.

These are called accession numbers. Once an object enters a museum’s collection, the collection manager assigns it a number so the artifact and its information can be properly tracked.

That number becomes the object’s permanent ID within the museum. It helps connect the artifact to storage records, legal ownership, conservation history, research, exhibits, and archives.

At Mound House, our cataloging number system is currently in the process of being created. As new artifacts are introduced into the museum, visitors will begin to see more of these numbers and the important stories connected to them.

Want to learn more about accession numbers and the cataloging process? Schedule an Archaeology and Archives Tour to get a closer look at how artifacts are documented, preserved, and connected to the larger history of Mound House.

Address

451 Connecticut Street
Fort Myers Beach, FL
33931

Opening Hours

Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

(239) 765-0865

Website

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