Velda Mound

Velda Mound is an archaeological site in northern Florida with an elevated earthen platform where Native American leaders lived. The surrounding area contained residential structures and cultivated fields that supported the community.

Fort Walton people built this mound around 1450, and the Apalachee, their descendants, continued using it until about 1625. The site shows how this community adapted through several centuries of change.

Residents cultivated small gardens near their homes and tended large community fields for corn, beans, and squash. This farming approach shaped daily life and how people sustained themselves.

The site is under state management and accessible for research and educational visits. Access conditions may vary depending on weather and any ongoing excavation work.

In March 1922, an instructor from Florida State College for Women died when part of the mound collapsed during excavation work. This tragedy highlighted the fragile nature of the earthen structure.