Fort Walton Beach, Coastal city in Okaloosa County, Florida
Fort Walton Beach lies along Choctawhatchee Bay and Santa Rosa Sound, roughly 40 miles east of Pensacola near the Gulf of Mexico. The city stretches along the shore with beaches, residential neighborhoods, and commercial streets that run parallel to the water.
The settlement began as Camp Walton during the Civil War when Confederate forces established a post to guard the sound against Union ships. After the war, the site grew slowly into a coastal town shaped by military presence and tourism.
The Indian Temple Mound Museum preserves a Mississippian-period mound and displays Native American artifacts that reflect the region's early inhabitants. Visitors see ceramics and tools that bring to life the daily routines of people who lived here centuries ago.
The Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport connects the city to multiple destinations across the United States through regular commercial flights. Visitors reach the beaches and downtown area most easily by car, as public transport options remain limited.
The annual Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival in June commemorates the maritime past of the region with parades and waterfront celebrations. The name refers to a Seminole chief who lived in the area during the 19th century and became known for resisting relocation.
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