[8], A complex of mounds and middens on Roberts Island, 0.5 kilometres (0.31mi) downstream on the Crystal River from the park, was added to the park in 1996. The park is believed to have been a ceremonial site for LOCATION 3400 N. Museum Point Crystal River FL 34428 VIEW MAP PHONE 352-795-3817 CALL NOW WEBSITE floridastateparks.org BROWSE HOURS 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year Museum open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through The park contains a six-mound complex, occupied from the Deptford period through Santa Rosa-Swift Creek culture and up to the Late Fort Walton period. Not far north of Three Sisters Spring, Hunter Spring City Park is the most popular place to put in kayaks and is close to Jurassic, House and Hunter springs, all of which attract manatees as well as people who want to swim with manatees. The local estuary and the Gulf of Mexico provided such an abundance of these kinds of food. In 1960, much of the mound was used for road fill by a previous land owner. In winter, the gates into the first-magnitude spring areopened and wild manatee flock to the warmer waters. Hunter Cove is not a particularly natural setting (its ringed with houses and seawalls) but the water clarity is good and the springs attract manatees consistently. Look closelyand you may be able to imagine how the design mimics the flat-topped temple mound features at the site. They were making choices that elevated certain places, and probably certain people, above others. The building is owned by the City of Crystal River and has been home to the Coastal Heritage Museum since 1986. Yankeetown still remembers the day Elvis came to town he filmed Follow That Dream here in summer 1961. The mill was built by more than 1,000 enslaved blacks to produce sugarcane, cotton, and citrus for Southern troops during the Civil War. Bone points were hand crafted through carving to form the desired shape. Books about Crystal Rivers prehistoric to modern history are also available here. Large, shallow grass flats formed and provided a home for many different types of saltwater fish. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Bushnell, Also See:Palm Harbor, FL Things to DoThings to Do in Gibsonton, FloridaThings to Do in Sarasota, FL. But we saw dozens of people swimming with manatees (or trying to) on our kayak tour of the Kings Bay. Glide your way through Crystal Rivers nature trails, beachside boardwalks, gorgeous bridges, and historic neighborhoods. We went on toward Three Sisters Springs, but before we got there, a manatee swam under our canoe in KingsBay. Posted on Last updated: December 27, 2022, Categories Kayak, Canoe, Paddle Trails, Northwest Florida, Snorkeling. Swim-with-the-manatee tours can go to different locations. This 61 acre National Historic Landmark is a six- mound Columbian complex with a burial site, temples and platforms situated on a costal marsh. Museum open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., When the warmth begins, take a dip with the little ones in Crystal Rivers calm cerulean waters, take a rejuvenating stroll on the boardwalk, and spot dolphins, otters, crabs, and fish. We do know they were erected around 440 AD. ), Each year, more and morepeople flock to Crystal River to see manatees and interact with them, and the Fish and Wildlife Servicehas tightened the regulations each year in an attempt to protect the endangered species from its hordes of fans. Points were often made from the leg bone of white-tailed deer. Full size is 650 500 pixels Previous image. It was only after Ripley P. Bullen surveyed and reported on the site, that destruction was halted. The springs empty into a beautiful narrow spring run, so swimmers are trying to move upstream against a strong current. Web Crystal River Archaeological State Park. A shell and sand ring also contains burials some of which were placed between layers of shells while others were not. People travelled from great distances to celebrate events, conduct cultural and practical trade, and bury their dead. Interpretive exhibits explore the chronology of archaeological excavations which occurred at the site beginning in 1903. The building housed the Mayors Office, the Police Department, the jail and the fire truck. The largest stela on the Crystal River site has a outline of a human head and shoulders carved into one side of it. Crystal River Archaeological State Park This ancient archaeological park is home to Native American burial mounds, abandoned temple and platform mounds, and so much more. A National Historic Landmark, this 61-acre, six mound, pre-contact, Native American site has burial mounds, temple platform mounds, a plaza area and a substantial midden. The slab is today housed on the site within a metal cage. Crystal River Archaeological State Park This ancient archaeological park is home to Native American burial mounds, abandoned temple and platform mounds, and so much more. The driver may make informal comments, but doesnt givea tour. The complex contains burial mounds, temple/platform mounds, a plaza area, and a midden. Most importantly and because sea level was lower, the coast was then somewhere between 60 and 100 miles further west from the present day shoreline. Just like in our communities today, people gather in the town square, city park or other open area for special events. LOCATION 3400 N. Museum Point Crystal River FL 34428 VIEW MAP PHONE 352-795-3817 CALL NOW WEBSITE floridastateparks.org BROWSE HOURS 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year Museum open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through The area is called Heritage Village. photos from the sources listed above, as well as publicly posted online sites with thanks to the contributors, Trail of Florida's Indian Heritage, Inc. | Site Design and Management by Runjik Productions, LISTEN TO AN EXPERT Due to the abundance of different types and periods of ceramics at Crystal River, one could compare to the Hopewell and Mississippian complexes, i.e., a ceremonial complex practiced by several cultures. Their articles have been published in the Sun Sentinel, the Miami Herald, the Orlando Sentinel, The Guardian and Visit Florida. Pre-contact residents of the Crystal River site threw away great quantities of "midden material". At the west end of the Midden Area there appear to be two small mounds. That is because oyster, clam, mussel, conch, crab and snails seem to be just some of the favorite foods of these people. The visitor center museum contains exhibits displaying artifacts related to the site, and provides a few comparisons with what was occurring in other parts of the world during similar time periods. U.S. National Register of Historic Places, "National Register of Historical Places - Florida (FL), Citrus County", "Crystal River Archaeological State Park Unit Management Plan", "During tough times, ancient tourists sought solace in Florida oyster feasts", Crystal River State Archaeological Site pictures, Florida Center for Instructional Technology, List of archaeological periods (North America), Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley, Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, History of the National Register of Historic Places, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Crystal_River_Archaeological_State_Park&oldid=1096288032, National Register of Historic Places in Citrus County, Florida, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 3 July 2022, at 13:56. At its height of use, the large midden at Crystal River would have stretched from southeast of Mound A all the way to northwest of Mound J. Crystal Rivers Old City Hall provides a vivid glimpse to the past of Citrus County through exhibits, artifacts, furniture, a diorama, and historical photos. 352-795-3817. By about 8,000 years ago, the rise in sea level and the warming climate caused a change in the coastal environment and the lifeway of the Paleoindian pioneers. CLICK THE IMAGES TO DISCOVER THE FOODS AND ARTIFACTS OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AT CRYSTAL RIVER. The ancient people that lived year-round at the Crystal River site faced the same problems of trash disposal as people of today. Opened to the public in 1965, this historically significant example of mid-century modern architecture naturally leads the eye to the heavens, arousing feelings of wonder. This page may include affiliate links from which we earn modest commissions if a purchase is made. In Crystal River, you see signs for swim with the manatees on nearly every hotel and business. The people we chatted with were delighted because they came to see manatees and they succeeded. By the time the Native Americans abandoned the Crystal River Site, around 1,400 AD, the midden had grown to be about 1,300 feet long, 100 feet wide and seven to ten feet deep, and was crescent shaped. WebCrystal River Archaeological Museum circa 1965 Inside the museum, exhibits explain the history of the coastal dwellers who used the area in ancient times. Seeing manatees in this setting, however, isnt the serene, personal experience you might imagine. The earliest burials at the site are believed to be located in the conical mound and date back to about 250 B.C.. Afterwards, slide back down via seven zip lines! Looking for thrilling things to do in Crystal River tonight that dont involve booze? Also See:Things to Do in Clearwater BeachThings to Do in Clearwater, FLThings to Do in Punta Gorda, Florida, 10830 W Bentbow PathCrystal River, FL 34428(352) 601-4687. The park is located two miles (3 km) northwest of the city of Crystal River, on Museum Point off U.S. 19/98. Theres a complication, though: There is no parking at the refuge. It depends how manatee-crazy you are. Modern history unfolds in downtown Crystal River at the Coastal Heritage Museum. A popular route with motorcyclists who appreciate the twists and scenery, it ends at a popular seafood restaurant, Pecks Old Port Cove, 139 N Ozello Trail, Crystal River, 352-795-2806. Discover charming small towns and insider tips to hidden gems. Ready your cameras for wildlife. If youre searching for things to do in Crystal River for couples, head straight to Copp Winery for dinner and exquisite wine tastings in a cozy, rustic setting. Atlatls were likely the weapon of choice at Crystal River, although the bow and arrow did make an appearance by around AD 200 or so. Today, trash builds up in our homes and workplaces through our daily living. Twenty minutes from Crystal Rivers city center lies Fort Island Gulf Beach, a public beach that faces the Gulf of Mexico. Sitting on 700 acres of forests and miles of nature trails, Fort Cooper State Park is another site that tells of a dark era in American history. The building itself is also worth admiring. About 15 minutes south of downtown Crystal River, Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park is a reminder of Floridas dark past. Practical trade, and historic neighborhoods the Guardian and Visit Florida is made others were not Northwest! Year-Round at the refuge the largest stela on the Crystal River site faced the problems! Canoe, Paddle trails, Northwest Florida, Snorkeling land owner contains burial,... 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