Message from the Manager

In the coming months we will be moving ahead with additional outdoor interpretive projects. The dugout canoe construction project is still in progress and the logs are beginning to look like canoes. The making and use of stone and shell tools for this construction has become very exciting for volunteers and staff. Park visitors can enjoy the opportunity to learn about some of the early technologies and are invited to try out a shell or stone tool on one of the boats. Burning of the dugout canoes is scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays.

In addition to the ongoing dugout canoe exhibit the park officially tested the new “Sifting for Technology” interactive exhibit. The exhibit was designed to recover artifacts and ancient technology from the spoil of a dredged boat slip. Over the past several months, park staff and volunteers constructed a spoil containment area and made it look like a truncated mound. The area was fenced and park volunteers constructed suspended sifting screens in order to get the staff guided interpretive program ready to go.

On October 13th juniors from Central High School, located in Brooksville, were the first to receive the program. For the first program, Gary Ellis of Gulf Archaeology Research Institute led the students through the basic disciplines of controlled excavation. While the soils contained in the exhibit contain no stratification it is known that it does contain artifacts of ancient times as well as more recent items. The ancient deposits in the spoil were re-deposited in the boat slip several years ago when 60+ feet of seawall failed allowing re-deposited midden* materials to erode into the slip.

The intent of this program is to recover the tools, artifacts, charcoal and foodstuffs while allowing park visitors the opportunity to experience working in a controlled excavation. Some of the park’s volunteers attended an in park training program so that they may act as the interpreter. The program is available for school groups of not more than 24 people. The teacher must arrange the visit at least two weeks in advance. This is just one of the many programs available.

For the general public we will provide the program initially bi-weekly. These programs will be on Saturdays and are limited to 12 people. Interested participants must call the park to be included. This is on a first come first serve basis. Children under the age of 12 years old must participate alongside an adult.

For additional information contact the park.

Nick Robbins, Park Manager

*Midden: A mound or deposit containing shells, animal bones, and other refuse that indicates the site of a human settlement.

For 1,600 years, beginning around 200 B.C., these 14 acres were an imposing prehistoric ceremonial center for Florida's Native Americans. These people traveled great distances to the complex to bury their dead with ceremony and to participate in trade activities. It is estimated that 7,500 Indians might have visited the complex annually.

This six-mound complex, built by the cultural group called pre-Columbian mound builders, is considered one of the longest continually occupied sites in Florida. Visitors can tour the visitor center/museum and see an 8-minute interpretive video that is well worth watching for a better understanding of the site's past.

During a visit to the site, a meandering walk down the one-half mile paved loop trail at the site will take visitors past each of the 6 mounds. These mounds include Temple, Burial and Midden Area Mounds. A beautiful view of the Crystal River is had from the observation deck located on one of the Temple Mounds. Two large limestone boulders seen along the trail may have served as ceremonial markers for these early people.

Hours of Operation This park is open from 8 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year. Visitor center/museum hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Driving Directions From the town of Crystal River travel north on US 19 for two miles; turn west on State Park Street; travel for one mile; turn left on Museum Pointe and follow it into the park.

Park Fees

Admission Fee - $2.00 per vehicle (limit of 8 people per vehicle).

Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicles with a holder of an Annual Individual Entrance permit, members of organized groups – Admission Fee $1.00

Bus tour admission fee is $40.00 or $1.00 per person whichever is less (the driver is free).

This site is a National Historic Landmark and is ADA accessible. Prices include all state and local taxes.

Crystal River Archaeological State Park 3400 N. Museum Point Crystal River, Florida 34428 Phone: 352-795-3817 Park Manager: Nicholas Robbins