Mound House Reviews

Took some time out from the beach to tour the Mound House and grounds. Beautiful area to have a quiet picnic. Very interesting group tour explaining the plants in the area then a video of the shell mound inside the mound. Donations helping to restore the 1920's home onsite.

The Mound House is a Calusa Indian shell mound. The Case Home on the mound is the oldest standing structure on FMB. The underground archeological exhibit is truly spectacular! Come join us for a tour !

Great museum about Ancient Peoples living on the Fort Myers Beach island. Cute little museum and has a lot of cool plants and has a great outdoors area. Beautiful grounds.

My grand daughter is interested in archaelogy so this was a great place to take her. The docent who showed us around was excellent! Very friendly and knowledgeable. It was a great way to spend a beautiful summer morning in Ft Myers beach although it would be boring for young children. There is no fee to visit but they do suggest a donation to keep the place going.

I always like to get a sense of local history whenever we visit any area. Mounds House did not disappoint. A relatively short drive from our condo, we made the visit during a weekday and had the place to ourselves. The grounds were very well done and the presenters were very knowledgeable in answering all questions. The price was right and I felt it was a good value for a couple hours well spent.

We have been coming to Fort Myers Beach for many years and decided to take in some history and culture of the Island. This is an amazing place, run by great & informative volunteers. A must see while your here

Estero Island (Fort Myers Beach) has been inhabited by humans for thousands of years, in various manners. The Mound House reflects the legacy of native Calusa through early Cuban fishermen and Anglo settlers into 20th century development. Get off the beach (a 10-minute walk) and do an hour-long dip into human history. You can fish off a dock or rent a kayak to explore Estero Bay as well.

Very impressive. So glad this history has been preserved the underground mound site explains it all. Makes you aware of life here in Florida 12000 years ago!!!!

We happened to go there by bike one day, and just happened to arrive on a day they were open, and the guides were there. And it turned out to be our lucky day! The guide spent over an hour with us, first touring the grounds and telling about the lives of the Calusa Indians that built the shell mound thousands of years ago. She pointed out the native and imported plants, trees and flowers on the property, and what the Calusa Indians would do with them. Then we went inside the building that houses the mound excavation. You could see the different layers built over time, and the significance of each layer, and what they learned during the excavation. There is a mural that shows the Calusa's daily lives, and a nice movie narrated by the archeologist that oversaw the excavation. The first part of the house that was built on top of the mound in 1906, and subsequent additions, are under renovation and will open this summer, but you can look in the windows, and the guide told of the families that lived there. We enjoyed the tour and thought the $5 suggested donation was well worth it, especially in light of the expense of maintenance, excavation, and renovation.

It was a cool January morning and this was a nice place to go. We had
a lovely morning walk around the beautiful grounds. It's less than 3 acres. It's since we got a since view of the sound. The museum it's self is very informative and it looked like they had a children's area in the original bathroom. Lots of local history of the original settlers.

The Mound House Kayak tour ticked all our boxes.
□ knowledgeable staff
□ scenic mangroves
□ wide variety of wildlife
- Herons. Great Blue Heron
Tri-colored Heron
Green Heron
Black Crowned Night Heron
- Osprey
- Brown Pelican
- Ibis
- Egrets
- Cormorants
- Anhinga

- dolphin and her calf "sharking" and catching mullet in the estuary.

□ Friendly helpful staff
□ Historical knowledge of the Colusa villages
□ clean quality equipment
□ Treasured memories

Wow. We had no idea what an idyllic setting this historic home is located in along the banks of a canal to the gulf. Pristine. The home itself has an impressive history. We learned so much about the Calusa Indians and their way of life. The ingenuity and generosity of previous owners of this home are to be admired.

A wonderful setting and restoration project. It was tastefully restored and a great place for picnic while enjoying the senery. The house and property will bring you back in time whereas you can appreciate the wonderful times that were had in the past.

Nice displays on upper floor, nice view of bay from porch. Nice informative volunteers. The underground cross-section of the Calusa shell mound with it's associated video was excellent. Parking was very limited near museum, additional parking was several blocks away.

We went to the Mound House and enjoyed it very much. It is a house that has been built (a long time ago) on a shell mound that the Calusa Indians built. They have done archaeological digs and things are nicely displayed. It took about 2 hours for us to see it all.

Did the 2 hour kayak tour through the back bay and mangroves; could not have asked for anything better. Dexter provide history of the area, identified all the wildlife and fauna that we encountered. His assistant Kim provide additional insights and eyes to spot manatees, dolphins and ospreys. The Mound House team identified the various types of herons and the different mangroves. Great tour, great guides, and great experience; highly recommended and great use of your vacation time

If you are looking for a pleasant visit by the bay, come here. Lots of open spaces, a very nice kayak launch, fishing off the docks and an introduction to the early Indian settlers. I've seen these sign for years and we decided to give it a try. It was a wonderful surprise!!

We had a great visit to this museum, parking is limited but they transport you via golf type cart from parking. Museum is nicely set up, good I formative movies, beautiful grounds. Nice plant marking too.

A great place to go and support a worthy cause. Check it out.

This place is fantastic. The grounds and the bay front are beautiful and a great place to spend the day relaxing. The museum is extremely well done. The museum store has very unique items and should definitely be visited

Great kayaking tour this past weekend with Mound House staff. My family and I enjoyed 2 hours of exploring the mangrove islands. While museum and exhibitions are temporarily closed due to covid-19, kayaking is the perfect way to learn more about this valuable ecosystem and about the ancient Calusa who lived here.

Fascinating place to visit and imagine the lives the Indians lived in Florida over 2,000 year ago. Overlooking the mound created out of shells is a view you will never forget.

Historical site on back side of Fort Myers Beach in a house converted into a fascinating archaeological site. Learn the history of the native Calusa Indians who paddled the waterways and lived on the surrounding Indian shell mounds.

Great home and historical displays the amazing part is the museum below where the mound has been exposed. The movie playing explained the layers and historical dig at the sight well done. The park is great we did not have enough time to kayak be sure to view the website and plan a day

I am sure that most people who visit Florida do not know of the rich history that exists with the Calusa Indians. This site is an amazing example of the culture and history of the area. My boys 10 and 12 got a lot out of this attraction. There are a lot of hands on replica's to touch which makes history come alive for kids. Do not miss this attraction if you are in Southern Florida.

We just had the most wonderful experience on the morning kayak tour with Adam. It was just 2 couples (friends) and the weather was perfect (not too hot and calm water). After waiting all week because the weather wasn't cooperating, it was especially delightful to have a "private" tour! I highly recommend the morning tour as you see more wildlife. We even saw a dolphin and baby "sharking" for food in the shallow mangroves. We also did the sunset kayak tour which was nice, but this one was definitely the highlight of our time here in Fort Myers.

We did the Kayak tour with Ashley as our guide. It was outstanding. As we paddled through the Mangroves, Ashley explained the history and biodiversity of the area. Very informative and very interesting. Well worth the time and money.

Visit an ancient Calusa Indian Mound archaeological site. The early settlers built a house on top of the site which is now restored and houses an interesting museum. Lovely grounds right on the Estero Bay. Terrific Kayak tours twice a week with a great nature guide around the Bay to other sites. Other programs, just check the web site. A wonderful experience for all ages.

We purchased the Family kayak tour which included Mound House admission. It did not disappoint!! The kayak tour was 1.5 hours and went thru local mangrove islands around Estero Bay. We’re newer kayakers but it was very manageable. We learned about mangroves, observed several different types of birds and even saw a ray. I was with my 15 year old daughter and 10 year old son. My son and I were in Double kayak and my daughter kayaked solo. They provided all the gear. The guides were very knowledgeable and also helped us learned to kayak better. All in all a very fun experience and the Mound House is always a fun museum to visit. Highly recommend.

The Mound House is located on the Bay at a large vacation home built decades ago. When the more recent owners decided to build a new swimming pool, they discovered that it was built on an ancient Calusa Indian Mound. With experts supervising, teams of volunteers and experts excavated the site. The house remains and is a great window into wealthy life in the 20s and 30s. The tour shows the excavation underground which provided lots of information about how the Calusas lived. It is well worth the price of admission. They also have Kayak tours of the Bay on Wednesdays. This is a great addition to a week of swimming.

The Mound House was amazing, the history and story about how the mound and home was build was amazing.

The mound house grounds are finally open tours, but the house itself is not yet open. We were taken on a tour by a wonderful docent who was very informative about Fort Myers Beach, the building of the "mound" for the house, who built it and why. She also knew a great deal about the various plants and trees around the house. A most interesting and informative tour. Then we were taken to an underground room which showed a cross section of the "mound" upon which the house was built. She gave us more history on the Calusa Indians who built the mound. The entire tour took about 1 1/2 hours and there was no charge because the house is not open yet. We were able to look through the windows, however. Tours are every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday from 10 am to 1:30, and donations are accepted.

If you are at all interested in the history of Florida and the Calusa Indians, visit Mound House and take the tour. It's a local museum, with work underway on the house and grounds.

very cool interesting and i suggest that if you want to learn about the early florida times i suggest you go to explore early florida and it was hard to park but every thing else was excellent

A tour of the Mound House in Fort Myers Beach affords a glimpse into the lives of the Calusa Indians who built enormous shell mounds near the present-day Estero Boulevard. Penny, our tour guide, provided background information about the archeological dig which uncovered tools, pottery, and evidence of buildings from the long-lost Calusa town on this site. Penny was so knowledgeable and interesting that we wished we could have spent an evening with her, listening to her travels in Congo and Belize, too. Even the well-stocked gift shop (staffed by the friendly Lena) was a treat.

Situated on the bay, mid-island on Ft Myers Beach, the Mound House is open for tours and is an amazing experience - fun and educational - donations encouraged. Grand Opening to the public, November 14, 2015. After that, there will be a nominal admission fee to enter the Mound House museum and archeological exhibits. Museum shop and membership program.

Our family of four visited here yesterday. It was very easy to find—- signs were well marked, plenty of free parking; which is a rare commodity in this area. The museum is 10.00 for adults. Students with an ID get a discount. The docents are very informed and the two we had were related to the original owners—- the Chase family, which I thought was really cool. You view two short videos and then can view artifacts upstairs and view a cutaway of the actual shell mound! Afterwards we took a short walk around the grounds and river. This place is very well maintained, modern, and just plain interesting!! I never knew the Calusa Indians made such useful tools out of shells!

We booked on the weekly Wednesday guided kayak tour. Amazing value at $45 each with free museum entry. The tour lasts 3 hours and is a fairly strenuous paddle across the bay and through the mangroves to a historic Calusa island. The guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, highlight of our holiday so far. The museum was really interesting in a beautiful setting and I would thoroughly recommend both.

The Mound House is built upon shells deposited by native peoples over a 2,000 year period. Once this was 14 acres, but with development, has shrunk to 3. The guided tour is 45 minutes and well worth the extra $5. Admission is $10. The history over the most recent 115 years is also very interesting as how the various owners had hopes and dreams for the property. Definitely worth a visit with a dedicated staff of volunteers.

We took a break from the sun to visit this museaum, and we are so glad we did. Our tour guide Captain Jessica recommended it, and we learned a lot. Very well preserved and lots to learn!!

We had a reservation for a sunset kayak trip & arrived about two hours early to take the grounds tour. The grounds and house are beautiful with gorgeous views. Fascinating tour - great opportunities for hands-on activities & the chance to see the layers of the shell mound was amazing. We brought a snack to enjoy before we headed out on the kayak trip, and it was so lovely to sit and eat under the strangler fig. Kayak trip was lovely - very low-key with plenty of time to take in the views and spot wildlife. Both the tour guide and the kayak guide were very knowledgeable and engaging. Both were fantastic at focusing on the specific interests of the group. Highly recommend.

Very impressive outlay for wildlife information. Nice walk around grounds with nice information on plants and wildlife. Well maintained. Beautiful area with great view of inlet sound.

We stopped here with our two kids age 10 and 12 and a grandparent. Everyone enjoyed the trip. We took the shell mound tour which was extremely informative. Our guide was pleasant and knowledgeable. after that, we toured the house and grounds on our own. The day was rainy, but that did not stop us from enjoying our day. We stayed about 2 - 2.5 hours and would have stayed longer if the weather was better (we only toured the grounds a little bit). The only think I wished I had known was that this is really two places; the history of the house (dating back 100 years) and the history of the native people (dating back 2000 years). They only found the shell mound when they were removing the pool from the main house. I wished we had toured the house first then went on the shell mound tour. But overall, a great day and well worth the trip!

Such a beautiful historic spot - the oldest in Ft. Myers by far - established by the Calusa people. A visit here is a good way to acknowledge the Indigenous people who inhabited the area for over a thousand years prior to the arrival of the Spanish.

Please come and join us on the "Mound". Your adventure starts when you realize you are standing on an actual shell mound that the Calusa Indians lived on 2,000 years ago.
The Mound House has many special programs for visitors of all ages. The Mound House has more than 50 programs a month (see moundhouse.org) The Mound House also offers guided kayak trips 2-3 times a week. Your adventure on the water is a paddle for all ages with all equipment provided, along with a very knowledgable guide; Dexter Norris.
Be prepared to be amazed!

Arrived on a winter weekday afternoon with family and parents (10 of us). We’ve been to FMB many times over the past 20 years, and had passed this attraction via boat and on bicycles numerous times, but the weather was so wintery (for FL) today that we gave it a try. Save your time and money. The informational signs state the obvious, and the shell mound layers and narrated videos raised more questions than they answered. Unfortunately the tour guide split as soon as the video began and didn’t return as it wrapped up (maybe afraid to answer educated questions).
Oh, and we asked about the group discount as noted on their admission sign, but that inexplicably didn’t apply to our crew. At least our experience has given us something to laugh about on our future visits to FMB.

Found this attraction on TA while researching things to do.Other than that,we would never had known about it.Even the public transit bus driver didn’t know what we were talking about.Its a great history of early Indian settlers in south Florida area and why that mound is actually the highest point on Estero Island.

A delightful walk on well-kept grounds. We have been to the museum before, and we've enjoyed tours of the shell mound/swimming pool. But this time, it was just to enjoy that site outdoors and to set for a spell. Just a pleasure to be there.

We visited the Mound House on a gorgeous Thursday morning and took the 11am shell mound tour. We learned about the Calusa Indians, had the chance to throw spears with an atlatl, and visited the underground excavation of the shell mound. A wonderful and informative way to spend a few hours!

This is a historic site, built on a shell mound.
We had tried to visit before, but didn't hit the open hours. The tour guide was very knowledgeable, and was very helpful with our elderly relatives.

I learned many things about the history of the island that I did not know, and our elderly relatives enjoyed the tour also. There are many artifacts to see, and the grounds are very well kept with native plants.
The tour was good for all ages.

We have been going to Fort Myers Beach for several years. We finally made it to the Mound House. I had read a lot about it, but my husband isn’t much for “tours”. We both enjoyed our visit. We did a self guided tour. The 2 videos we were shown were educational and interesting. The outside grounds are beautiful and the walk around was very nice, including the boardwalk area. Our visit to the area under the house and into the mound itself was very interesting, we both were in awe of the history of which felt included.
We don’t know why we waited.

We enjoyed viewing the home and learning all the facts about the Mound House. A must visit place for the whole family.

We were fortunate to arrive here at a quiet time. We signed up for the self-guided tour, but since there were no others arriving, the docent on duty spent a lot of time with us. She was most informative and also kept us amused with some of the anecdotes surrounding the history of the place as well as some facts on the archaeological dig there, She was very knowledgeable and helped make our visit most enjoyable.

A visit to The Mound House in Ft Myers allows you to experience some ancient Ft Myers history. The Calusa, homesteaders, pioneers, and others have left their mark at the Mound House. You get a guided tour through the gardens with a beautiful view of Estero Bay. In addition, you can walk inside a Calusa Indian shell mound, with a guide explaining the various layers within the mound which are akin to an earthen history book and lets you visualize 2,000 years of history.

Fascinating history and a great staff/volunteers that really care to let you know the story. A little known gem of a museum and experience.

My friend and I had a wonderful experience on the kayak tour offered at Mound House. We took the morning tour with Dexter as our guide. Everyone on the tour had limited experience with kayaking, but the waters were very easy to navigate even as a beginner. The historical and ecological information provided by Dexter made the trip so much more enjoyable. Easy pace.

We stumbled across a tour almost finished and were encouraged to stay, and were glad we did. The tour guide was knowledgable and entertaining explaining the history of the Colussa Indians and the theories of why and how the shell mounds were created. There is a cutaway section of wall where you sense the massive size this was. We were also given a tour of the native plants and their uses. Look for the tree that carnival horses were carved from.

The property is quite lovely but the house is still undergpoing renovations, better go in a yeasr to see the completed house.

very informative and interesting history about the original settlers to the area, as well as later people who lived on the site

this is a must see attraction and its free.. the cicle there by the house the guide has u yell out and that voice calls back to u but the weird thing is its only u that hears ur call back its tottaly weird but cool at same time...the people that used to own this place wanted to build a inground pool but when they dig the earth was all shells so they left it for a tourist attraction.. there is a story behind this place and a movie u get a guide and its all free..,

We are steady visitors and supporters of the Mound House when we enjoy our time on Ft. Myers Beach each year. The Mound House has so much to offer all of us. It's a beautiful property on the bayside and has been preserved to share for many generations to come.

Thanks to the Calusa Indians it has become an archaeological dig site dating back two thousand years along with the more current history of those who lived at the Mound House.

Guided tours take you on a walk on the grounds that have been restored to the native plants of South Florida. Adventure into the archaeological dig site that shows the layers of history, learn from a video and from the tour guide. Soon the house built in the 1920's will be open to the public with access for everyone since completetion of the restorations and the addition of an elevator to access the second floor.

We had an enjoyable visit to the Mound House. The grounds are a quiet moment in the midst of the busyness of Fort Meyers Beach. The history of the house is interesting but the development of the site as a monument to the Calusa First Nations is very important. The entrance fee of $10 is quite reasonable and the docent who toured with us passed on many interesting facts about the Calusa, the building of the home, the archaeological dig and the beauty of the location. The displays are simple with a reasonable amount of written description. The clever idea of taking the inground pool and using it to show the layers of shells with strings of lights helped to explain the time line. There are some interactive displays for children. We spent about two hours there. There is a very good museum shop and it has some nice pieces of jewellery, decor pieces and craft sets designed for children. The Mound House was definitely worth the visit.

No big deal. Pretty location but the mound house itself was boring. I would not recommend it. The outdoor areas have some interesting plants.

We had an awesome kayak tour guided by Bobby. He had vast knowledge of the plant and wildlife around the estuary .

He led the tour safely and was a lot of fun

Took the morning kayak trip with guides Dexter & Louise. They were very accommodating & knowledgable. From rays to dolphins, a manatee and birds of all types, we had the chance to see nature up close! The mangroves were gorgeous and fun to paddle through. Great family trip! This is an off the beaten path adventure when you get tired of the crowds and the beach. The paddle was easy and relaxing, even in a windy day. Stopped at the museum on our way out to learn more. Great adventure! Thanks Dexter and Louise!

A great surprise. The Mound House turned out to be a fascinating look into the Calusa culture, exposed by a comprehensive study of the shell mound itself and the house built above it during the early 20th century. The crew of scientists, artists and regional citizens have unearthed an important story of the region's history. I say without exaggeration, You've got to visit the Mound House.

A “must do” on one’s visit to Ft. Myers Beach! Fascinating history of this Calusa shell mound and the Calusa civilization of SW Florida that spanned over a thousand years of history. Mound House preserves this pre-history and the more recent history of the arrival of the Spanish explorers, traders, and conquerors. Our docent, Dr. Richard Jung, was both informed and passionate about the Mound House and the Calusa history. Highly recommended!

When driving on Estero Boulevard midway through Fort Myers Beach, you can view a Calusa Indian archeological site over 1000 years old. Turn east on Connecticut St. by Beach Baptist Church and go about three blocks to the site. See their schedule for when you can go inside the mound and listen to a historical talk about the Calusa Indians. We talked to the people working there and found the tour interesting. The site is a work in progress because they have a very limited budget for developing the site and restoring the oldest house in Fort Myers Beach that sits atop the Mound.

We took two kayak tours from here, the morning one and the sunset one. Adam is friendly, knowledgable, and patient. The kayaks are clean and well kept and Adam provides valet service by pushing us in the water, and out again at the end, without us even getting our feet wet! I like taking a guided kayak tour rather than renting on our own, because it’s relaxing to not have to decide which direction to go, and not have to pay attention to anything except the environment. We saw dolphins, Great Blue Herons, Little Blue Herons, Osprey, and others, and learned about the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve. The sunset tour is especially relaxing because it felt so calm and quiet. We finished before the sunset, which you cannot see from here anyway.

We took the tour with Franklin, he was great. The Mound House grounds are beautiful. The tour was fantastic. The Calusa Indians were a facinating people. We had lunch on a picnic table overlooking the river and then took the tour. Great day trip when visiting Ft Meyers Beach.

After driving by the sign to the Mound House for the past several years while staying in Fort Myers Beach, today we decided to see what is was all about. All I can say is this is Fort Myers Beach hidden treasure! From the moment we were greeted by several of the wonderful, and friendly staff to our guide Dexter, who was a wealth of information about its history and Calusa culture. We got to see and learn about Calusa tools and even threw a few spears. I would recommend doing the Shell Mound Tour too. Fascinating insights from 2000 years ago.

All of the literature said tours each day from 10-2. Wrong--only certain days of the week and we did not return. Literature was wet--and not replaced. All you can do is walk around the grounds as nothing is completed or restored. A person did come out of the office--mainly because I was looking for someone--and told us it is not open for visitors but we could just walk around. When finished--it will be an interesting stop--if they can get volunteers.

We opted for the tour with Derek. It was the best spent informational tour ! It was about one hour , and Derek gave an informative presentation that brought to life the existence of the Calusa Indians and their foresight in building mounds out of shells as insurance for hurricane flooding, etc. the museum exhibits were very good. Derek answered all questions. Must see local site, for it is the highest point on Estero Island.

$10 for the tour. Everyone was super nice and well informed. Very interesting even for a local visiting with family from out of state.

Excellent tour and tour guide. Very informative and a easy paddle for anyone. Explore the back bay and mangrove islands. See lots of birds and maybe a dolphin or two. After, enjoy the museum and learn all about the history of the Calusa Indians and the area in general. Bring a lunch and picnic after.

This place offered a mix of beauty and history of the area, especially the Calida Natives. What a wonderful property! Surrounded by water and just a short skip off Estero Dr. Don't tell the kids...but it's educational as well as beautiful!

Very interesting to hear about the ancient peoples of this island! The guide was very informative and the underground excavation site is awesome, with a video explanation!

View a bit of Florida history. Docents are very knowledgeable and the underground view of the mound is not to be missed.

Lovely morning with my parents and young kids (2 and 5 years old) at the Mound House. Kids enjoyed seeing the local wildlife on the property (birds, lizards, squirrels), playing with the interactive games on the second floor, and the discussion with the guide in the underground room- who had been one of the archeologists involved in the excavation! The guide was interactive and engaging with my 5 year old- my son was really into the discussion. Followed up with a great lunch at Coconut Jacks Waterfront Grill. A low key summer day off the beach to let our skin rest from the sun but still have some fun.

A must see for history buffs. Beautiful grounds with information on the plants and trees.
A little out of the way, but is easy if you see the sign where you turn. Watch for the road construction as it can be slow at times.

Dexter was a great kayak tour guide, he was very informative and had a great personality. We had a very nice kayak tour and got to see some beautiful wildlife, along with getting to learn about the mangroves; thank you!

When we returned to the Mound House museum, the lady who gave us a tour (sorry I did not catch her name - but she is from NY by way of CA!!!) was AWESOME!! She was very well informed about the history of the land and did such a great job explaining things!

Overall an awesome experience that I would certainly do again!!

We just finished visiting the Mound House, we were out for a walk, and decided to explore. So glad we did, had a great visit. We were not sure what to expect, as we had not researched the facility
Arrived at opening time, watched the Kayaks taking off, the fishermen on the new dock. It's a lovely park setting. The gardens were very well kept. Enjoyed walking around the pathways
We then visited the house, the volunteers were so friendly and knowledgeable. We learn everything about the house and area.
It was a wonderful place, glad we decided to go.

House built atop many years accumulation of shells from native inhabitants - must see lower level to believe! Regular tours as needed on multiple floors. Beautiful grounds down to water's edge + pier/boardwalk. Gigantic picturesque tree.

We went at a very quiet time of the year but the staff was so accomodating. They took on a private tour of the grounds, which has beautiful, well marked flowers and trees of native Florida. The video and underground area is very well done and so educational. The house was under renovation until November so we didn't get to see that. It would be a great place for a school field trip. My 8 year old daughter enjoyed it and so do I.

Took the kids for a "history" day. Got there and found that it was closed. Very disappointing since we researched the opening hours on line. We met a worker who could have cared less.

Parking and directions where to go once you get to the house are a bit sketchy. We walked around until we finally found the ticket office. Such a beautiful site of where the Calusa Indians once lived 2,000 years ago. We had an awesome tour guide who gave us some history lessons about the area. The house was neat to see and the view was spectacular. Stop and visit if you have time.

It was a quick, informative place and kids enjoyed. Takes short time but is a nice diversion. Enjoyed throwing the "axes"(?).

Lived in the area 6 years and finally visited here. Wish I had come sooner! It's a beautiful area you don't even see when on Fort Myers Beach. Worth an hour or two of your time! A restored home, shell Mound excavation, gorgeous surroundings right on Estero Bay. Walk through the home and read the history of the Calusa Indians who built and lived on this spot for 800 years! Then how it was owned by different families in the early 1900s the development of the area and how they are trying to protect and preserve it! Don't miss this.

We were attracted to the Mound House because of the guided water tour by kayak through the Mangroves. We were very happy with our guide, Dexter, and his knowledge of the wildlife, local history of the Calusa Indians, the flora and all that. We learned some things we weren't aware of, had a great day with several couples paddling through small Key's that most don't ever see, saw flying Mullets, a Manatee, went to Dog Key and so much more. It was really fun! When I heard our guide was named Dexter, I had to pause, being a Dexter Series fan... lol... but he was very nice and great with all our questions.

We then ran to a lovely outdoor market down the road... changed shoes and came back to tour the Mound House. There was a lovely lady guide there and some interesting videos. The grounds were well manicured and the house restoration wonderful. Not many we were with had heard of the place so I hope more came as we were glad we did!

Unless you really like nature tours, or very boring history museums, I'd skip it. The mound simply refers to the spot where the building is, where prehistoric peoples piled up their empty sea shells.

We spent some time here on a weekday afternoon. Our guide made the visit worthwhile. She had very good knowledge about the history of the shell mound and the various plants on the grounds. This is an interesting site and tells the story of Florida natives. Right now it is very good and will only get better when the house restoration is completed. Best of all, you can visit for the price of a donation.

This is an archaeological dig site that has been protected and offered to the public. It's also a great place for the community to see horticultural exhibits and enjoy the back bay and fish. We lived nearby and loved it.

This museum sits atop a 2000 year old Indian mound. Enjoyed the guided beach walk and the history lesson about the Mound House. Well worth the visit.

Staff was friendly and informative .Interesting,clean and welcoming but don't plan to be there long, it's a rather short tour self guided tour, still in its infancy.

Set back from the main road, the serenity offered by this location is a pleasant respite. The site offers walking trails and activities for children. The museum helps one understand the work of the early inhabitants in making a settlement.

This is a great attraction if your into history. It is free to visit, also keep in mind it is run by volunteers, who are very passionate about what they are doing. Thousands of year of history explained to you. From the forming of the island, Calusa Indians, Ponce de leon. How the Calusa's lived and built the shell mound, plant life on the island and much more. At the end of the tour you get to go under ground and see the layers of the mound and watch a video. Also the oldest surviving structure sits here at this place. The area is under renovations as they are working to make it a nicer place to visit. Great place to go especially if you love history.

What nerve, eh .. to comment on a place we couldn't fully see. Confession - we have a "thing" about mounds .. and stumble upon them almost everywhere we go (ask our offspring who have been to so many thru their lives). We were so excited to find this place! Should have checked the hours because they are closed several days a week. But the grounds are beautiful and interesting. The botanicals are well labelled and well kept. There is an underground viewing area of the mound (it was closed but it's a fantastic method to educate and we hope to return to take it in) and if they treated the "jewel" of the place with the same care the rest of the place, it must be wonderful.

You can only go to the beach so many days in a row. You shouldn't leave Fort Myers Beach without touring the Mound House. The grounds are free and admission to the home/museum is minimal, less expensive than a movie ticket!
The history of the site is absolutely fascinating, and there is no museum experience like it — volunteers gently guide you around, offering up tidbits about the flora and fauna or community history and answering any question you might have. This isn't a sterile recorded audio tour, this is a human person volunteering their time to talk about a place they love!
The Mound House volunteers and staff really seal the deal. I work in the area but I took my parents while they were visiting and they absolutely loved it. The "Ground Beneath Our Feet" exhibit was our favorite part. You actually get to see the inside of the shell mound and learn about the Calusa Indians, which is a very interesting history! Plus, the grounds are beautiful. Check out the massive banyan tree and the observation deck, enjoy the breeze wafting in from Estero Bay.
Definitely check it out while you're here. If you're a resident and haven't gone, you should!

This historic property is a beautiful place to take a stroll, bikeride, or learn about FMB. It is worth the ride/walk to take in the quiet, peaceful atmosphere and look out at the back bay.

I have visited the Mound house annually during the past 5 years and have seen it grow and improve to what it has become today. The improvements are not complete but what a wonderful place to visit. Enter the gift shop in the original 1906 house and then through the door to the 1921 recreated room. Glad I live now but what an awesome recreation of times gone and Florida history. Then outside to the underground cut-out of the shell striations of archaeological history and the Calusa Indians. Then a trip around the grounds with guide Parke Lewis is a must to learn about the types of vegetation grown on the island centuries ago and origination of each (citrus from India and not native to Florida) and the 'home depot' of the fern trees. Anybody with an interest in history, archaeology, botany or agronomy will have a very enjoyable time of seeing and learning at the Mound House!! A must see for every Estero Island visitor.

We visited the mound house two years ago and found it most interesting. Understanding where when and why people settle in any location has always been of interest to us. The underground digging of the Calusa Indians were open when we visited the first time but the house itself was under renovation. Now completed it gives one a view into the lives of those who settled beautiful back bay site.

Just driving through Fort Myers Beach and saw Mound House in TripAdvisor, decided to stop in. Clean, well-organized, good signage, cheerful and helpful staff. Dexter, the tour guide did a great job on the historical perspective. Two excellent short videos of the archeology dig and the history of the site.

We stopped by the Mound House during our bike ride around the area. It was beautiful and peaceful. We enjoyed sitting at the picnic table and watching the boats go by. Definitely worth a visit.

We stopped by the Mound House one day as we had heard it was a nice historical piece to see of Fort Myers Beach. We were a little disappointed that there were no tours of the grounds that day as well as the house in undergoing some extreme renovations, so we were unable to see that either. The grounds are nicely done and there are some pretty bay views, but other than that, it is basically a park by the bay. Hope to take the tour next time we're on the island.

We came to the Mound House 2 years ago and it was under construction. The house is now open and the hours have been extended to Tuesday-Saturday 9am-4pm. The house was well done and is very nice. $10 gets you a self guided tour of the house/museum and guided admission in to the underground archaeological dig area. It was interesting, and a lot of history about the house and surrounding area. There are people there who are very knowledgeable to answer any questions. It is worth checking out.

Gorgeous location with fascinating history. Very engaging volunteers with lots of knowledge. Lots of activities for young and old.

Traveled from Red Coconut RV Park by bike to Mound House. The ride was lovely. The grounds surrounding the Mound House as so nice to sit and watch the water way.

The history of what is under the Mound House and the presentation under the house was well received.

What a hidden jewel this historic Fort Myers Beach site is! It’s an amazing story of Calusa Indians who first inhabited the area and their shell mounds discovered in an unexpected way. It’s also a story of later inhabitants who built their home and swimming pool atop the ancient shell mounds. The exhibits are fantastic, the volunteer guides are friendly and experts on the history. The location is on a gorgeous estuary with docks and boardwalks you can enjoy. This is a must see site on Fort Myers Beach. Our visit was about two hours total. I went twice to the gift shop because the merchandise is so well chosen and unique, Bravo to Pat, Annis and Misty for all their help and good information shared. This was a true highlight of our trip to Florida.

Great tour of the house, artifacts and the grounds. What a incredible location and the volunteers were very knowledgeable staff. A worthwhile visit to this historic site.

Katy Beth was an outstanding guide and a highly skilled museum educator! I cannot recommend this site enough to get an idea on the history of the area. While it is a beautiful early 20th century home, the site is unique being built on a shell midden constructed 2000 years ago by the Calusa. The shell midden tour was amazing with various hands-on demonstrations with replica artifacts and natural history!

Take a trip into Fort Myers Beach's history. This museum and grounds are well worth a few hours of a family's vacation. Early settlers and even earlier Calusa Indians called this place home. You can take a trip into the heart of the shell mound and see a little of the daily lives of the natives when the Spanish first came to Florida.

We signed up for a kayak tour and we had such a wonderful time. We were fortunate because we went during high tide, so the wildlife was exceptional. We saw many birds ( including a rare round tipped billed bird), manatee, dolphin, and a jumping tarpon. Our guide, Bobby, was great and full of not just nature, but local attractions. He directed us to Publix for the Buffalo Chicken pubSub, and it was so yummy! Local volunteer, Kim was also a joy, and had an eagle eye for wildlife! The museum was also a delight and seeing the tribal shell
Mounds from below was a definite treat! What a great day!

I liked learning about the history of the island. Staff very informative, loved being able to see artifacts found and shell layers underground.

We took the morning kayak trip with Adam (&Kim). Both so helpful and knowledgeable. Adam is a treasure trove of information and history of the area, it’s peoples, flora, and fauna! All the staff are so pleasant, helpful, and informative. Good re-creation of parts of the old house, and much well-presented history; some nice hands-on activities for kids.
Recommend highly!

Just 4-5 blocks off traffic-clogged Estero Blvd, this museum nestles up to a pass from Estero Bay. The house showcasing early 20th century history, is in the center of almost 3 acres of gardens landscaped with plants and trees the ancient Calusa Indians used. A volunteer guide will take you underground into the heart of the 1000+ year old Indian mound. This side trip offers something for everyone in the family.

This place is amazing. It has a pier overlooking the inter coastal waterway. Great for fishing and using a kayaak. Amazing view.

This museum and its surrounding grounds is a hidden gem on the east-side of Fort Myers Beach (opposite the Gulf Of Mexico). Most tourists (who don't read TripAdvisor) probably don't know that it exists. This is my 8TH visit to the island since 2011, and I didn't know it existed until just a few weeks prior to my short weekend vacation here. I arrived late on a Saturday morning, and I was the only visitor at the time. That didn't stop the volunteers from springing to action, going to work, and showing me the bottom floors (including the underground portion) of the museum. That included a couple of very interesting videos of the history of the historic house that sits atop an Indian mound. After that the 2ND floor is pretty much self-guided. The grounds along the waterway (Matanzas Pass) are spacious and wonderful to walk around or just relax and watch the wildlife. If I retire in the local area in a few years I'd consider volunteering at this museum. I loved it that much ! (I know I'll be back before then.)

Visited the Mound House with my family in late July 2021. I really enjoyed the local history lesson and the grounds are amazing. The underground portion where you can see the layers of shells that built the island was particularly interesting.

Staff was super friendly and able to answer all kinds of questions. I would have loved to do one of the hikes or a kayak tour, but it was just too hot the day we were there. I think there was more to do on the grounds than we got to as well – but again, we were melting in the July heat. We’ll be back for tours and kayaking on a future trip.

We went there and liked the grounds and the house; the house is *perfectly* well preserved. There is a nice view of the river. The best part is the underground archeological room under the house; the presentation is excellent.
Too bad that everyone goes to FMB to sit and cook on the beach; take some time off and go here instead.

The tour of Mound House was very interesting, but the archeological dig and video were so worth the time. Our guide worked on the dig and gave wonderful first voice description of the work.

We did not take time to tour the home, we just walked the grounds. The park-like setting along the waterway is beautifully landscaped. Many of the trees and shrubs are labeled. It's a nice escape from the busyness of the nearby areas.

We spent a couple of hours here one morning of our weeklong vacation in Ft. Myers Beach. It was a beautiful day and they weren’t many people there so we kind of had the place to ourselves. The volunteers were very helpful and provided excellent information about the history of Mound House and the area. In the excavation site where there had previously been an underground swimming pool was pretty amazing with all of the shells that were unearthed If you want to take a break from the beach we would highly recommend this spot. There is also a very nice fishing pier overlooking the estuary

Beautiful grounds with a rich and surprising history. It was so interesting learning about the house and the mound it sits on. This piece of history is very interesting and unique and not to mention it is situated on the back bay waters of Estero Bay. The views and waterway are amazing to look at and take pictures and the staff is very hospitable and they know their stuff! Would highly recommend visiting if you are on vacation or even if you live in the area and have never been. This hidden beauty is worth the trip and you can just walk through if you don't have time for a tour. I will definitely be going back to try out the kayak eco-tours.

This cultural and environmental learning center is located directly on Estero Bay on Fort Myers Beach. It is a very interesting archeological and historical site which is open to the public for a $10 entry fee. Tours are offered for an additional $5 fee . The tour provides lots of extra information and a visit into an area orIginally dug out for a swimming pool that exposed the layers of shell that date back to 100 AD. The grounds are lovely the house is equally entertaining.
The site also offers kayak eco-tours and other programs. Their kayak launch provides access to the Great Clausa Blueway paddling trail.

Road in on our bikes to see what Mound House was all about. It's a 2.77 acre property with paths and walkway on water. Read about the plants and aquatic animals in the bay. Watch for the dolphins or other wildlife. Interesting place to visit. Wish the shop was open but a great place to get off busy beach and enjoy some quiet.

The family fun kayak tour is fantastic for kids! My 8 & 11 yr old loved all the amazing facts the knowledgeable Adam and Fiona shared. They were patient w the kids and knowledgeable on nature facts and historical facts. And - bonus!- it’s only $25/adult and $15/kid. Won’t find that price at a commercial outfitter!

The Mound House is a bit of a misnomer as the house is not yet open to the public (nor was it four years ago when I last tried to visit) but fear not: the REAL history here is below the house. An excellent multi-media presentation in a small theater built into an archeological dig paints a vivid picture of South Florida's early indigenous people - the Calusa. A cut-away of the shell mound is illuminated to illustrate the layers created as the Fort Myers area became the capital of the Calusa empire. Volunteer docents passionately share the local history, making this a brief but vital and informative visit for any Florida history enthusiast. It would be nice to see this single theatre/exhibit expanded with a small museum adjacent (perhaps this is part of the plan for the actual Mound House?) but for now the experience is still well worth the time spent.

An interesting place.Your guide was friendly and knowledgeable.Great location on the river.Great place to walk.The tour was very informative.Cute gift shop with interesting items.

The staff and volunteers are enthusiastic and friendly. This place is such a treasure and well worth the oft times traffic.

The museum had a five-minute introduction video and then a longer video in a different section of the museum. The information is interesting and complete with signs in various places. Lovers of plants, anthropology, history, native american culture, and early explorers will appreciate the park.

One thing to note, some of the sites we saw listed the park as free, but it is not. When we went, children under the age of five were free and students paid $8. Adults paid more (but we did not have any so . . .). A great place to visit, but it will cost a good amount with a large group.

Hidden Gem, very worth a visit! Followed the signs along the road to it and was very surprised! Amazing!

This history of this beautifully preserved house on a 2000-year old shell mound is flabbergasting. The massive mound of shells was accidentally discovered when the comparatively recent owner dug up the grounds to build a swimming pool, and realized that the huge hill was actually an ancient Indian Mound of shells. In the year 2000, the property was sold to Fort Myers Beach Historical Society. The home was restored to its original condition, and converted to a Museum. The period furniture, the architectural details and the water views from the porches all made our visit worthwhile.

We took a guided tour of the property, and, in just that one visit, learned a tremendous amount about this ancient culture, from our knowledgeable guide. Upon entering the underground exhibit Hall, we realized that the “Mound” on which the house was constructed consisted of millions upon millions of shells. Shellfish were the primary food source of the Calusa Indians. After consuming the animals inside and using what they could for making weapons, the rest of the shells were mixed with mud and discarded on this site. Eventually over the years, the shells compacted, grew and formed this massive mound which is strong enough to support the big house above it, with no evidence of settling. Amazing!

The Underground Room called “Stories Beneath your Feet” is an excavation site, which consists of a huge Mural depicting the life and activities of the Calusa Indians. Here, we also watched a movie that showed how the mound grew in phases. The different layers formed over the years are clearly discernible on the part of the Mound that is displayed.

The gardens and pathways surrounding the Main House are very nicely manicured and maintained. Apparently, there are 110 different species of native plants and trees planted here. Each one is clearly identified with very bright yellow colorful labels. A lot of them have medicinal properties. We observed several Gumbo Lumbo trees, popularly called “tourist” Trees because of their bright reddish-orange peeling skins. The size of the “Strangler Fig” amazed us. It is almost as large as an old Banyan Tree.

The Gift Shop consisted of some items with the typical art of the Calusa. The items are a little pricey, but knowing the amount of work that has gone into the creations, we could not resist buying the Christmas Ornaments and a gorgeous Bird House made out Gourds that have been dried, varnished and painted with really old re-created designs.

We were thankful for this visit. It was wonderful to see how history has been preserved here. Learning about the ancient life and culture has left an indelible impression in our minds.

Absolutely worth a visit for the history buffs.

A 100+ year old dwelling recently renovated with new displays of local culture and history installed, plus a beautiful location on the bay.

Two years ago on our first vist we took a walking tour of the property and learned of its importance to the local area, particularly during its Native American high point ending in the early 1500's. At that time access to the interior was not allowed, the only portion was a the amazing underground exhibit which details the existence of the various cultures that lived on the mound. It was built on a mound of shells from the Caloosa tribe who established it as a trading post, with their shell jewelry being traded as far away as the upper Mississippi and Ohio River valleys. Talks are giving on a regular basis and the museum now has interpretive displays in the renovated rooms of the house. Both the professionals and volunteers are well well informed and are happy to answer questions you might have. As a bonus, you can fish from the dock. Grounds are free, but there is a charge to go inside, as well as for the professional talks. Children will love to run around on the grounds, but might not want to spend as much time in the museum as their parents.

We had a lovely time at the Mound House. The docents were knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We learned about the local history and horticulture. In addition, the site was on the estuary and just beautiful!

Our tour at the Mound House included the history of the area, the plants of the area, and a cross section of a Calusa Indian mound, Just to be clear, at one time someone had dug into the mound to install a swimming pool (!) - but the swimmin pool has now been removed, and the exposed cross section has now been enclosed and preserved. Very knowledgable guide, nice view of the bay. Mound House is a work in progress, and we look forward to returning.

I was at the nearby Farmers Market and noticed a sign for this historic stop.

You can spend 45 mins or a couple hours. But definitely a walk back in time. Beautiful spot along the river and what a well maintained property. Very unique story and well presented history. The underground room showing one section of excavation is a brief stop/video but pretty cool if you like history and nature. Hard to fathom how people lived back then and how they were pushed out too.

I visited here by kayak. An unknown out of the way historic place in Fort Myers.

Great piece of history to see, small area, but well worth the visit. Easy access to get to, cost is very reasonable, well maintained.

This was an opportunity to stay cool on a hot day. Our guide was very helpful and infomed us of the history very well.

So wonderful to see this house and grounds faithfully restored and knowledgable volunteers giving of their time!! We learned so much in a morning visit -- definitely worth the $10 admission fee! Think of it as a donation to preserving a little piece of yesterday. Great exhibits and interesting presentation about the archeological site uncovered by removing the I ground pool. We rode our bikes but there is parking (only a few spaces close, but a couple of larger lots maintained down the street). Don't miss the exceptional gift shop. And, the dock is fishing friendly. We highly recommend a visit.

Park like setting for a really pretty home. When we were there they were in the process of updating all the information/artifacts in the home so we did not get to see all that Mound House had to offer. But the grounds were really pretty, probably 2 acres of land on a really pretty canal. Hope to return!

The Mound is a really lovely little museum with plenty for all ages. We went as a family of four, with two children. All of us found the exhibition, the film and the real exhibits fascinating. The visit gave us a really good insight into the history of the area and the roots of people here. Our guide, Dexter, was really interesting and fun. He engaged really well with our kids, and they loved being able to ask questions and do hands-on activities in the museum. The Mound also runs some really nice activities which include arts and crafts and exploring the nature of the area.

The land is interesting and the view great; however, the house has no furniture and you can't get inside of it. I'm confused why it is promoted yet you can't go/see inside of the house.

We rented a house down the street from the Mound House and walked the dog through the park-like setting daily for a month. The tour is a must. We often saw dolfins playing off the pier.

We saw the sign on the main drag and was curious so drove back and there were no real signs to go by. Then when we did get there it was totally empty and some construction going on. Did find a flyer and it looks very interesting but with no one there we couldn't do a thing. Might try it again next visit.

Great setting includes some shaded areas and smooth walking paths. The museum is relatively new (~ 10 y.o.) compact, informative and well organized with a number of hands-on exhibits. Staff and volunteers are enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable. Special shouts out to Adam (staff) the official Mound House Atlatl Coach, and Mound House Evangelist - Dick (volunteer).

We didn't really know what to expect other than a museum experience of a local nature. The grounds and docks along the waterway were very nice. The house had a great view out over the water. Inside were limited exhibits of the make up of the mound the house was built on, the history of the owners, and a enclosed theater where the archeological studies of the shell mound were carried out.

I live on FMB 6 months of the year. It seems like the development of the Mound House has taken years. Last week my husband and I went to the Grand Opening of this quaint museum and we very pleasantly surprised at the thought and complexity of this museum. Many years of archaeology research was needed to bring this project to completion. The history of the Estero Island, the Calusa Indians and the first settlers to the island are depicted in a clear and interesting manner. The highlight of the museum is the underground room within the shell mound where visitors have the opportunity to view the sites 2,000 year history through the layers in the mound that make up the rooms walls. A short video helps one to understand what the archaeologists had to do to determine when and how the shell mound was made. There is also a beautiful mural showing how the Calusa Indians might have lived o the beach. An attraction for "little ones" is the hands-on activity area. My husband and I were really pleased with our 2 hour visit. And of course, I had to shop at the gift store.

This was the first time we heard about the Mound houses and after checking it in Fort Myers Beach, we meanwhile found a lot about this Indian Tribe culture on Google. Now that we are aware about it, we found them also elsewhere. But per se, the Mound house is not something you should absolutely not miss, it is more a welcome addition to learn something new.

The Flora and Fauna of this property is lovely. Great for birding, wonderful views everywhere you look and the waterfront is eye pleasing. The video room with Indian History was 30 minutes well spent. I love this property and visit it every year. No cost , you can donate a few bucks [ which I did ] . I am the author of the book " True Travel Tips" [ fcbk - youtube ] . I always use TripAdvisor when I travel . Love's me Mound House ! Volunteers here are kind and helpful.

The mound house is worth an hour or so of your time if you like local history. This museum is small but worth our hour of time. It focuses on the Callusa natives of the area as well as early settlers.

Mound House is off the main road in Fort Myers Beach right on the bay side. On the lower level it has a wonderful underground exhibit of the Native American mound of shells and information about the time period and the people who lived there.
The upper levels house a gift shop and exhibit of the settlers who lived in the house.
The guide was knowledgeable and gave us an interesting tour which was worth the extra fee. The grounds are small, but nice to walk around to stop and see the bay.

One of the highest natural highest built house in Fort Myers well worth a visit from a historic point of view ideal for a morning visit very interesting lots of history.

Along the shores of the back bay with lots of native foliage. Guide explained the various plants and explained how useful they are/were to the Calusa - and still can be now. Lower level of house has an interesting display. House itself is not yet open to the public.

This was a fantastic place to learn a history lesson about the Caulusa Indians. I loves learning about the trees on the land and loved seeing and learning about the shells and the history in the tunnel. The tour guide was very educated about the property.

I don’t know about you but I enjoy learning. I had never heard of the Calusa Indians or a Mound House. You can opt for a self-guided tour ($10) or hire a guide for $15. I would definitely recommend the 45 minute guided tour. We had three in our entire group! Guide Katie was knowledgeable and interesting. She gave us a hands on tour. We even took turns throwing a spear! Once you take the tour, visit the house/museum. It will provide a good review of the things the guide taught you. There is a second story porch which makes a nice relaxation area and a circular walkway over the river. By the way, walkways on the site are made of recycled rubber which will give you an airy bounce to your step. For $45 more, you can take a guided kayak ride on Estero Bay in water that is no more than 4 feet deep. Even a non-swimmer should have no fear or could remain behind to fish at the pier. Refill your water bottle with COLD Culligan water at the restroom area. By the way, you will learn about the Calusa Indians, the Mound AND the Cuban Ranchero!

The museum is now open; it was well worth the wait. It is a jewel of this island ;Fort Myers Beach. Expanded hours start January 5th 2016. come and spend the day touring our exhibits or going on a kayak tour (every Wednesday and the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month).

This is the first year the Mound House itself has been opened up to visitors as a museum. Previously only the grounds were available to tour, I understand. Parking is down the road from the entrance, an easy 2-minute walk, although there is a small shuttle that runs between the parking lot and the entrance. The Mound House sits on a mound of shells built by the Calusa Indians. Long after the Indians had left the area, a succession of white families owned the land, adding on and renovating over the years.

The two-story structure includes the original sitting room complete with furniture. The rest of the rooms display exhibits that recount the history of the people who've inhabited the mound over the centuries. A short film runs every 30 minutes.

In a separate area under cover, where a swimming pool used to be, there's an archaeological dig that shows the layers of shells and another short film about the lives of the Indians.

A short loop around the property is bounded by tropical fruit trees and other plants. There's a huge strangler fig and a picnic table, as well as a large semi-circular pier from which you can fish.

A word of warning: There is road construction between Connecticut Street and the bridge to the north that goes into Fort Myers. The construction is expected to last through March.

We decided to get the guided tour on the grounds. Franklin was our tour guide and he was AMAZING! He was full of historic facts and fascinating stories about how the Caloosa survived and thrived on the land.

Highly recommend this tour for old and young alike.

We went at a slow time in February - and didn't have a guided tour. We did watch a 25-minute movie on the history of Fort Myers Beach from the Calusa years to about the late 1990s - with really good interviews from elderly (in the 1990s) residents who'd lived there their entire life. The actual house has many exhibits showing life before the Europeans took over - with explanations and artifacts. Outside, the grounds have signs about the area, the vegetation, and the history of the house. About 1/2-mile walk to see it all. All-in-all between the movie, the house, and the grounds - we spent about an hour and a half here. There's a small gift shop. And... good views across the water. Peaceful area.

The historic value of the property is described in detail by our excellent tour guide. There is so much to learn of the previous inhabitants culture dating back 2000 years. A must see for visitors to FMB with an interest in history.

Really enjoyed our visit to the Mound House. Information on Indian history and area floral. Cool presentation on archeological dig and findings. Plan an hour for a visit. Note that the house is being restored and is not open to public as of Dec 2014. No cost for parking, property access, or tour guide.

I read an article about this in the Florida Weekly and wanted to check it out, to learn more about history around Fort Myers. We started the morning at 9 a.m. with a guided beach "hidden treasures" walk on the Gulf side of Fort Myers Beach and proceeded to the Mound House location on the opposite side, in time for their 11 a.m. presentation outside. The house itself has been faithfully restored to its comfortable beauty and tranquility, and the 2nd floor rooms and wrap-around screened porch contain history information and artifacts. The presentation itself explained general history and show-and-tell of the Calusa Indians and the mound they constructed, the FMB area, residents of the house, and the area's land and aquatic specimens. Most interesting was the excavation site, where removel of an indoor pool reveals the contents of the mound itself, with a short video explanation. A guide inside there also further pointed items out to us that the mound contained. The manicured grounds have several short, winding walking paths with plants and trees identified by plaques. We brought a picnic lunch with us, and took advantage of the picnic tables scattered about the property to enjoy the view, breeze, sunshine, and break from the beach crowds. Well worth the time we spent there. Don't go if you expect to complain about the $10/each museum donation fee; you are contributing to the preservation and enjoyment of this piece of history! A few parking spaces for handicapped and for anyone are close to the site, and several larger lots are located along the road leading to it. Take your chance first at securing a close-up space; we did.

My husband and I went on a morning kayak tour with Adam and Gerri as our guides. It was as perfect in every way…touches of important history and ecology and the beautiful bay. This is a must do for even the complete novice. The pace is easy and the view is magnificent.

Tours of the grounds every Tuesday at noon and 2pm. Other days grounds can be toured on your own. Wonderful museum with an underground archaeological dig showing hundreds of years worth of shells used to build that site

It was extremely interesting going through the house and seeing tools, masks and other artifacts. When I went to the archeological dig site, I was so impressed. The lady speaking to us was 87 years old and had actually dug here. She was so intelligent and so interesting. I could have listened to her speak for hours. It was worth the $10 fee.

We learned about the Mound House while visiting the Ford Edison houses from one of the volunteers there. What a great find! We took the free tour with Adam and really enjoyed hearing about the history of the Calusa Indians in the area. Highly recommend visiting this archaeological museum.

Great guides provided very informative background on the calusa jndians. Also explained many native plants and trees. I look forward to coming back after the house is officially open. We took the trolley to Estero/Connecticut intersection, and they offered to come pick us up in a 6 passenger golf cart, just call us when you get off the trolley they said. It's a .3 mile walk.we took them up on it for the return trip. No charge for the guided tour but suggest you donate $5. Allow 1 hour at least

This tour is great even for novices. It is 2 hours in length and moves at a moderate pace with stops along the way for rest while the guide points out interesting things. The beauty of Estero Bay is certainly enhanced from the vantage point of a kayak. This is especially true when the tour navigates through some more remote areas. Dolphins, osprey, pelicans, herons and even tree climbing crabs were spotted along the way. It was explained that due to the brackish water in that area, alligators are rare. Our guide, Katie Beth, and volunteer, Jerri, were excellent. Paddling experience and skill level were taken into to consideration to create an enjoyable experience for everyone. Lockers with built in locks are provided at the launch site.
The fee also includes admission to the Mound House Museum which was interesting. It mostly concerned the study of the Calusa, the original inhabitants of the island.

The Mound House is a little gem amidst Fort Myers Beach. This property has a fascinating history and the museum tour does a good job of describing and displaying the archeological finds. The gift shop is small but has good quality gifts for all ages.
But a visit to Mound House would not be complete without a kayak tour. There are tours for all ages. Estero Bay is teeming with marine life and water fowl. Our sunset tour today with Bobby was fantastic. Bobby was knowledgeable, fun and did a great job of keeping a close eye our our group of 10 while pointing out dolphins and birds of all shapes and sizes. He allowed us the time to drink in the beauty of our surroundings as we watched the day light fade. Paradise at it’s best.

I visited the Mound House in Jan. a little off season but enjoyed the scenery and the self guided tour. I will re-visit to take the guided tour at a later date. Especially liked the warm ocean breeze, the recent renovations and the history behind the property.

We recently recently visited this property and saw that there are renovations going on.Enjoyed being on the water on a beautiful day.Suggest you visit the web site and call to see when the tours will be and the construction finished.We will return.

We had an enjoyable kayak tour through an interesting section of Estero bay. It was quiet and peaceful, and we saw birds, turtles, and dolphins. Adam was a fantastic tour guide and was knowledgeable about wildlife and the history of the region. We also enjoyed the volunteer, Kim, who contributed her knowledge and experiences. Overall, I highly recommend this tour!

Interesting place. Easy to get around on the grounds and enjoy the plants, view of the bay. We saw a manatee off the dock.

I always wondered what the sign was for. Mound House - what could that be. I was so happy that I finally went there. I learned a tremendous amount of history about our island. The presenters that took us on the tour gave us all the time we wanted and were knowledgable. If you have a few hours to spend, definitely think about spending it at the Mound House.

We've driven past Connecticut Street many times without noticing the sign for The Mound House. Located on the highest point on the island, it's a tastefully fitting house converted into a museum. Very small on the scale of tourist attractions but high on quality more than makes up for size.

We had a great time on the morning kayak tour. Gorgeous weather, lots of birds, and the pacing was perfect. Adam was very knowledgeable and we liked learning about the history of the region. Make sure to check out the underground cave afterwards.

The tour was wonderful! Dexter was an EXCELLENT guide and was very knowledgeable. The scenery is really beautiful. We saw a manatee, several different birds, and Dexter gave me some excellent tips on kayaking. Excellent time!!!

A one hour tour provides a history of the Calusa Indians and the foliage. Nice staff. Hope they finish the facility some day. Sounds like a lot of misspent money caused by beauracracy.

A treasure! Well worth a trek to the bay side of Estero Island to visit a property that is the site of history 2000 years of human activity a few blocks from the beach.

Old Florida history of the Calusa Indians and the beginning of Ft. Myers Beach. Awesome exhibit of being inside a Middin Mound . Lots of Plants and Trees native and non native.

We visited the Mound House after seeing the signs in the neighborhood. We took a tour of the grounds and house led by volunteer Becky. She was an excellent guide and we learned about the history of the site as well as information about the plants and waterway. Becky’s enthusiasm for the site and activities offered by the Mound House were contagious and upon her recommendation we also booked a kayak tour. The kayak tour, let by Dexter, was a small group of 6 kayakers in double kayaks. Dexter was informative and led the group at a comfortable pace for a 2 1/2 hour tour. We enjoyed a beautiful day seeing local birds, and Mangroves. I highly recommend the kayak tour.

My brother and his family and myself have been trying for years to actually go on a tour of the Mound House. We come down at Christmas time to visit our parents in Fort Myers and this is one of the attractions that's always on our list to visit. Unfortunately my brother and his family could'nt make it this year, but I actually got to see it (rubbed that in a little when I got back to MD - ha, ha!). It was always closed to the public for one reason or another. That's the only reason I did'nt give the tour an excellent rating. Our guide (Russ) was very informative and knew his stuff! Very pleasant man. We toured the grounds and he explained all the flora and history there. The actual house on the property is currently under reconstruction, so we did not have the opportunity to see the inside, but he did explain the background of the house. The mound itself was actually discovered when they were removing the in-ground swimming pool. It was explained in detail along with a short film. Nice attraction - donations accepted at end of tour.

Enjoyed our visit to this interesting historical site. Guide was knowledgeable but not pushy. An hour well spent. Grounds are well kept with many labeled plants.

The home was built a couple hundred years ago..As I can see several million dollars have been spent on a tourist trap. That is neither that historically relevant . I'd skip

I took a class of 25 students from Florida Gulf Coast University to visit the Mound House. Our guide, Dexter, made it both educational and entertaining as he led us over the property, telling us stories of the indigenous Calusa who once called that property home and who altered the landscape over tens of generations to accommodate their growing civilization. The tour wasn't the least bit dry as Dexter has a performer's soul and made the entire visit pure joy. The students especially loved the chance to learn about Calusa artifacts and how to use a traditional atlatl. I am looking forward to taking my own family there very soon.

We spent a lovely couple of hours here in the summer. To start we had a craft workshop making shell bracelets using techniques that the native Indians would have used. We followed this by a very informative tour of the gardens. The exhibitions in the house itself were brilliant and the audio visual presentation on the history of the site and the house was excellent

We stumbled upon this place by accident and glad we did. It was interesting and educational. I think the $20 fee per person was a big high but then the upkeep of the property needs money to be maintained. Lovely grounds.

Dexter Norris was an excellent guide for learning the natural and cultural history of the Mound House and surrounding waters. Dexter, whose background is in biology and anthropology, taught our little group of six about the origins of the Mound House, the practices of the Calusa Indians, and provided excellent descriptions of the flora and fauna we encountered along the way to Dog Key.( I finally know how to distinguish an anhinga and a cormorant - anhinga's have needle-like beaks for spearing fish). Dexter's gentle sense of humor and his "Goldilocks" approach to narrative -not to much, not too little, but just right made this three hour tour fly by. I'll definitely return to Mound House to learn more of Estero Island and the natural history of this region.

dont really understand why this is an attraction. 5 minutes and you are done. really, just go for a walk and dont bother

Intelligently planned and beautifully maintained...one can learn about plants and trees of Florida, but also about the Calusa natives who built the mound. I highly recommend checking this heritage site out.

The basement shows the different layers of the shell mound, with an integrated slide show and led lights. On the side wall, a painting of what a Calusa village would have looked like. Superbly done!

Okay, full disclosure, we never went in the Mound House but did thoroughly enjoy the grounds on a number of occasions. There are paths around the house that have a number of sign boards explaining the history of the house and the area. There are also a wide variety of trees and shrubs with signs identifying them and the uses to which they were put. There are a couple of fishing piers on the edge of the property with more educational signs. I believe this is worth a visit even if you don't go in the house.

Thanks for reading.

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We visited the Mound House on several occasions during our recent time in FMB. Highlights included a tour with Penny, exploring the plants, trees and various critters, and fishing off the piers. We also enjoyed an incredible sunset kayak tour with the gracious and informative, Dexter. During our tour we saw dolphins, manatee and many different species of birds, including a roseate spoonbill. Dexter was an excellent guide, sharing pertinent information in a clear voice, while allowing plenty of quiet time for us to just listen and absorb the beauty of Estero Bay. We look forward to revisiting the Mound House on our next visit to FMB.

We joined one of the free beach tours with Adam, he was very informative and kind for letting us join midway. This prompted us to check out the Mound House later that day, which was beautiful and a great way to learn more about the Caluso Indians. All the volunteers were very friendly and helpful, would recommend! Next time I visit I am hoping to check out their guided kayak tours.

Toured the Mound House with an Historical Society group. The history of the Indians who once called this home was startling. Thousands of years of habitation before your eyes, as you view the layers of shells and earth covering the mounds. Amazing how the inhabitants lived and prospered, only to disappear in later years,

As usual, there are like 7 parking spots. After you see there's no more parking spots you have to turn around and go back three blocks to a church parking lot. We went on a Thursday and found out the tours are only on Tuesday & Wednesday from 10-2.
It's one of the original buildings on the island but I would visit when they had tours to find out more.

Stopped here on a lazy afternoon. I was very impressed. There's a lot of history that I had not realized about this island. The presentations were very good, the displays very informative and the staff very helpful.

Interesting history of the area. Good break from heat & support of local museum. Dick was a great guide, very knowledgeable. Hope to do eco-kayak tour before we leave.

It is almost impossible to comprehend how an entire civilization could have lived then vanished! A wonderful way to spend a couple of hours. The view of the bay is a bonus. Unlike Janice B's review states, the cost is $10. Only drawback was that while in the dig room, suffered from allergic reaction to musty or mold smell.

Unable to see video because of school class. Unable to see actual shell struture because of water damage. unable to use water area because of water issues. A complete waste of time and money.

This is a true part of Florida's history that is so interesting. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and nice. Younger children would probably lose interest. I would have paid for the tour but there was no charge!

A group of 15 of us had a wonderful tour, led by docent Penny, on Saturday morning. This is an interesting place with some history about the Calusa Indians and their life in Florida, this area in particular. There were two videos that explained the history of the Mound House and Penny's explanations coincided with them and any questions that came up. There is a unique archaeological area "under ground" that shows the layers of shells making the mound. There is a garden path that wonders through the grounds with labels for the various plants and trees.

This is a must-see for any age! Do the Mound House tour. I think it was only about a half hour long and I think it is free. Really interesting stuff. Beautiful, well-kept, peaceful grounds and bay views, too.

Recently opened after many years archeology research and planning this place is unique and brings the history of the place alive with exhibits artefacts technology as well as knowledgeable guides. This place is accessible to all informative and fun.......not to be missed.

I highly recommend visiting this historic and interesting place. Our docent , who was the most energetic 85year old woman I have ever met, was fun and interesting. The history of the building and the shell mound is extremely interesting. They take you inside a mound to see the different levels of shells as they were built over 2000 years. There is no charge, but donations are appreciated.

Old historical place to visit. Beautiful area, great view, pretty landscape, can ride bikes there. In a residential area.

We weren't sure what to expect, but had a fascinating tour of the grounds at the Mound House. Ceel, our tour guide, gave us an informative tour of the grounds, identifying local plants, explaining the history of the Calusa Indians, and sharing the amazing story of the Mound House itself. Thoroughly entertaining - make sure to check the schedule and fit in a visit while you're in the area.

Gift shop attendant very pleasant, helpful and engaging. Signed up for kayak tour easily and met the guide day before taking tour. Guide Dexter was extremely knowledgeable of the area and it’s history, even though a transplant like most of us here. Kayaks were clean, well maintained and as comfortable as a kayak can be after 2 1/2 hours. Tour was a little too relaxed for my liking, as I would like to have seen much more, but I do understand have to cater to the slowest of the group. Learned much about mangroves, it’s wildlife, how it protects the land, and continues thriving. Learned great facts about Calusa Indians. I am now a proud member of the Mound House organization. Great time, worth taking the time.

The kayak tour was so nice and relaxing. Yvette and Kim were our guides. Your safety is very important to them and it was nice as we are kinda newbies with Kayaking. The mangroves were full of life and it was a great morning. Went out with two teens and my 11 year old. We will be back to do the sunset tour another time!

We had time to kill before our flight and found ourselves at the Mound House. What a gem of a discovery. Walked around the property and then took in the short, very informational video about the history and discovery of the mound. Never knew about the Calusa Indians.

The mound house is not really a house. It’s a mound of shells and such in layers of hundreds of years. There used to be a native settlement followed by homestead and now a museum. There is free parking as well as a pier for docking your boat. You can take a tour. There are a couple of piers and a kayak launch.

The Mound House is a hidden treasure on Ft. Myers Beach, tucked away between the beach and Estero Bay. More than 2,000 years ago, Calusa Indians lived in the area and built mounds from discarded seashells. The house was built over the mounds in 1906 and has expanded and changed owners, but the original dig was excavated and can now be seen, layer by layer. the museum offers a detailed exhibit of the culture of the long-lost Calusa Indians, and admission is very reasonable, at only $10 per adult. Highly recommended if you are in Ft. Myers. Added benefit of a lovely view of Estero Bay from the house and the docks.

such a heart warming experience...WOW! I learned so much here and will go back as they expand their tour!

Being FL natives we are pleased that this historical place has been preserved and not developed. This site was more interesting than we thought it would be. Many levels of history having happened on this site. Gift store has a lot of great books. Staff docents were great. We will be back to do a kayak tour.

We were here on a day when the House was closed but peeked in windows, and it appears to have an interesting variety of displays and then the underground room sounds fascinating. The grounds are lovely with signage related to floral, fauna and history. And there is the best kayak launch I have ever seen!

It was an interesting historial place, beautiful grounds, easy to get to. It was closed on the Monday we were there so we didn't get a tour but the info bulletin was very helpful.

We were told by locals that this was a place we needed to see. We were amazed to realize that the Indians lived on the seashells that they discarded. They used to shells to raise the level of the land and build their village on top of the shells. Great volunteers who explained everything about the mounds.

The shell mound house, is a 1900's structure built on a shell mound from the Calusa peoples. We had a group tour and docked a boat at the park. You can drive to the park. The archaeological presentation of the shell mound is well done. Dexter gave a good hands on demonstration of the tools, weapons, and jewelry of the Calusa people. There is a path for a short walk, some pretty views of the Estero bay, and local plants. A small gift shop is on site.

Badly managed little Museum.
Entrance through a cluttered gift shop.
I enjoyed only the bay view.
Entrance fee $ 10

What beautiful and interesting grounds. History, landscapes, back bay views and of course the friendly blue herons.
Peace and nature.

Before the hotels, bars and T shirt shops, there was the Mound House. The oldest structure on the Island. They are currently working to restore it. All the landscaping is native. It's a great look back a quieter, simpler world.

This was a great learning experience about the early Calusa Indians and how they lived. If you are interested in FL. history this is a good place to visit.

The sunset kayak tour was beautiful. Bobby and company did a great job showing us birds. Some people in our group did see manatee and dolphins. Was a peaceful and beautiful kayak tour. The mound house museum tour was good, definitely recommend seeing the underground. Spend time walking the grounds, as the plant life is beautiful.

Had a marvelous kayak tour with the amazing Ashley. We learned so much about the Calusa culture and the botany and wildlife of the area. Unfortunately the museum was closed due to post hurricane maintenance, but their website helps compensate. Informative signage throughout the grounds and friendly fishermen on the pier. We even got an impromptu demonstration of the catch and release of a Grey Snapper. Hoping to return for a longer kayak trip to Mound Key when it reopens after hurricane repairs.

Visited Mound Key by boat, then the Mound House. Tour was led by Dexter who, you may think, is part Calusa because of his vast knowledge. He made the information interesting and kept our group of 15 excited to learn more. The Calusa (fierce ones) occupied SW Florida 2000 years ago and their history is too rich to pass up.
You will enjoy it and it is educational.

What nice way to spend a couple hours on a sunny afternoon. You'll get a really informative tour and be surprised at some of the history you'll learn. It's supposed to be open fully this year sometime. We'll see when we return in November.

The Mound House is a Calusa shell mound museum located on Estero Bay. This stunning museum is a treasure located on a 7 mile long barrier island; Fort Myers Beach.
The Mound house has activities for all ages. The museum store is filled with educational books and toys, as well as many unique gift items.
Mound House has guided kayak tours twice per week. The Mound House offers a boat tour of Mound Key, the Calusa Indian capital.
Please visit their website; mound house.org; you will be amazed at all the programming.

Whenever I visit an area, I am always curious to know its past. Who came there first and why, who are the oldest known inhabitants, how did they live. All of these questions and more were answered at the Mound House it is a new-ish museum and tells of both the Calusa tribe of inhabitants as well as the families who came hundreds of years later. Give your kids and yourself an intellectual and imagination boost as you learn about the history of the peoples of this area. It is a good break from the intense sun and afternoon thunderstorms. Totally enjoyable.

We had a fabulous visit, starting with Dexter’s awesome kayak tour. Spotted dolphins close by, and D had lots of info on the flora and local birds. Lots of conversation about ecological threats. Super informative. Back to the Mound House for videos and museum tour. Wonderful staff. See y’all next year!

Mound House
Archaeological and historical home/museum that was built on top of a 2000 yr. old Calusa Indian Shell Mound. The Calusa Indians lived in large villages along the water and the shell mounds were formed by the continuous disposal of shells. We arrived shortly after it opened and had the house to ourselves. We started in the living room and Ceel, the docent that day, recounted a brief history of the home. There were several owners over the years before the town of Fort Myers Beach obtained it in 1995. Robert Gilbert (associated with the Koreshan Community in Fort Myers) built the house which basically was the kitchen while he and his wife lived in a tent. After 3 years, his wife asked for an addition to be built onto to the kitchen and they could move inside. Beautiful colored bricks made from crushed shell and sand make up the walls of the living room. The museum was able to obtain photographs of the living room back in the day and worked hard to re-create it with similar furniture. In a back room, there is a 5 minute video on the history of the house and a photo timeline with descriptions on the wall. An in-ground pool had been put in in the 1950’s. When the town took over the house, the pool was removed. Part of the restoration process included bringing in Archaeologists from the University and with volunteers’ help, artifacts were recovered and studied. A roof was put over the area and the dig site is a part of the tour with an 8 min video. There is also a large wall mural depicting village life 2000 yrs. ago based on the writings of a Spaniard held captive in the 16th century. There are exhibits on the second floor with artifacts found in the archaeological dig beneath house in shell mound. Also a wraparound porch with views of the river and a very interesting story surrounding the owner who put in a large bathroom on the second floor. We spent about 1 1/2 hrs. Also available: Guided Tours, Mound Key Boat Tour and Guided Kayak Tour. Daily events. Pair this with a visit to the Koreshan State Historical Site

Well done by guides who know what they are talking about, knowledge of the area, history of the origin of the Mound House, there and elsewhere. Great value for the entry fee.

Wow - this place is a treasure! If you want to know (and see) how the Calusa Indians lived in SW Florida long ago, this is the place to visit. You will be taken on a tour of the grounds - which haven't changed in centuries - and be told about the plants that were used for daily life in the Calusa culture.

The tour culminates in a visit to the underground excavation of the shell mounds, complete with beautiful photographic murals of the original Indian life in the area.

The whole experience takes only an hour or so and really gives you insight into what life was like on this island many decades ago. Plus, the tour is free, fascinating and the volunteers are incredibly dedicated to keeping this history alive.

Please... go... enjoy... and contribute... It really is worth it!

Historically and archeologically significant this property has been developed to gain more insight into the history of the area. A very nice museum and archeological artifacts. Very interesting.

We rode our bikes here and took the small, free tour of the Calusa Indian mound. The location is breathtaking, but the docent who gave our tour was not very knowledgeable. Her presentation was long and boring but the plant and tree species were interesting. We did enjoy the underground room and film. Be sure to stand on the "spot" outside the underground room and say a few words--the echo is really cool.

Very informative guided tour. Amazing views from the second floor. Interesting discover of our native Floridians. Nice store with local treasures and wonderful books.

The museum (house) wasn't open yet but this was still a great experience! Our tour guide, Becky, told us all sorts of great stories about the history of the mound and the Calusa Indians, explained all the different plants and their possible connections to the Calusa, and spent time answering all of our questions and then some. We spent over an hour there and our group was small, only 5 of us, so it felt like a private tour. Nothing like the over commercialized tours that you might find elsewhere. I hope we can make it back to see the museum once it opens later this year... But I hope they keep the personal tour guides - no self-guided tour can hold a candle to an experience that includes someone who can bring it to life with stories.

We enjoyed touring the house and grounds. Beautiful area by the water. You have to see the underground display.

This is a very nice museum and beautifully designed grounds. I highly recommend a visit to this museum ,you will not be disappointed.The gift shop has many interesting items.The docent who guided us was very knowledgeable of Calusa indian culture and of the history of the mound house itself . Well worth the $10.00 entrance fee.

I'd passed on the Mound House for years, always having something else to do and thinking there wasn't enough to make it worth the stop. I couldn't have been more wrong.

The minimal ($10) entrance fee grants access to the wonderfully restored house as well as an enlightening archaeological exhibit/movie explaining the formation of the shell mound that gives name to the site. Equally worth the price of admission (even though access to the grounds doesn't actually cost a dime) are the beautiful waterfront grounds with gardens, a small boardwalk over Estero Bay, and other short walking trails.

This was our first visit to Mound House. We explored the property and read all the signage first, then walked out on the curved boardwalk on the Bay. More signage to read and saw a Manatee just below the boardwalk. A great benefit we were not expecting. Went inside and paid $10 each for a lovely tour with Ceel. She is a most knowledgeable docent regarding Mound House, past owners and the Calusa. She took us to the underground viewing area to see the shell and dirt layers. We also saw 2 videos. This is a gem on FMB and should not be missed.

This place is a jewel! The grounds are open 24 hours a day for walking, running, enjoying the views of Estero Bay. The house is interesting, and the underground view of the mound is wonderfully explained in a video. By all means take in one of the scheduled talks. For $5 you can't beat it! Our leader showed us tools used by the Calusa Indians and enabled us to imagine what life might have been like hundreds of years ago. Highly recommend this place!

Worth checking out if you are a history buff. The tour guides are very good and both my husband and I found it interesting. The tours take less than an hour. I commend the Town of Fort Myers Beach for investing in this important historical site.

I hoped to learn more about the Calusa Indians who lived here when the Spanish arrived (and for a thousand years before that), and this was a great place to do it. Well done exhibits, and very knowledgeable guides. Don't miss the underground tour. Lovely house with great views of the Intercoastal Waterway.

Love history.... no info, nothing to see, totally disappointed. Would not reccomend unless you want to see a hill

While you are on bustling FMB make sure you take time to visit the Mound House. Situated on beautiful grounds bayfront, enjoy the tranquility, beautiful landscapes and abundant wildlife at this hidden gem.

Would you like to walk back in time to learn more about the ways of the local Calusa natives? What a treat to have docents engage us with stories and artifacts from the Calusa. Please allow several hours to see and do everything that is built on top of huge shell mounds from long ago. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at their outdoor tables. Check out the guided kayak tours that leave from here and schedule on at a reasonable rate. Great for a family field trip or just a personal adventure.

I visted the Mound House one morning and enjoyed it. It is more of a park than an attraction. There is an interpretive center and an underground tour, but I got there too early for that. In any case, I was not disappointed, especially since there is no fee to walk the grounds. Plus, parking is free. It's called the Mound House because apparently the Calusa Indians were the originally inhabitants and created a mount of shells to build up the land from the mangroves. Does this mean they lived on a dump? LOL. There is no evidence of the mound above ground, except in the topography. It is directly on Estero Bay, there are walking trails and a pier. The house itself seems to be unavailable for tours at this time, but there are plans to restore it. I did see a really nice looking tree on the property, it may be a banyan.

We visited here on the advice of a friend, who just happens to volunteer here. She just happened to be there the day we visited and got a good tour of it and lots of info. Gayle and Dexter were fantastic and both full of things about the site and the surrounding area. We also went on the Tuesday morning beach tour with Dexter leading it. It's at Newton Park at 0900. Also fantastic. We learned things we hadn't known about the sea shore.

This was a great tour on a cloudy day. Self guided tours are $10/person. For an additional $5/ person you can have a guide. We had Dexter and it was well worth the extra $5. He was very informative.

Go see it now, then plan to go back when the house is completed and open. Very, very interesting historical site.

Visited Mound House in February 2020. Rainy day so few visitors. We had a grand tour of the main home with professional guide Karen to answer our questions. We loved the underground exhibit and the video of the indigenous peoples. All our questions were answered thoroughly. Highly recommend the Mound House visit.

The mound and the house are actually two different things. The mound refers to a Calusa Indian shell mound and the house is the oldest standing building in Fort Myers Beach, which happens to sit atop the shell mound. Check the website for times of tours. We went on a Saturday around noon so we were able to get a tour. The tours are free. The tour guide was very informative but sometimes a little scattered and long winded. They tell you about the history of the island and the Calusa Indians who formed the mound. There are many different types of Florida plants to view. The only thing you really need a guide for (other then the information) is to view the under ground room to see a cross section of the actual shell mound and view a video about it. The house is soon to be open to the public but is closed for renovations.

This is a must!!!!! A beautiful location that will give you insight to the Calusa Indian Nation that lived on Fort Myers Beach 100's of years ago. Not a big facility but what is shared with the public is powerful. You will be able to see the shell mound created by this ancient civilization. Location is mid part of Fort Myers Beach on the Bay side. Plan an hour for this visit ....you will see something that most tourists ignore. If you want to learn.....go!

We had never heard of this Indian tribe but learned about it on our Everglades tour. This is a recreation of an early pioneer site and in the lower level, you can see remnants of the Indians building materials and how they used shells to build up their villages.
It was a fascinating tour led by one of the ancestors of the pioneers. Good for families and couples.

The Mound House is another one of Fort Myers Beach's best kept secrets. The knowledge that can be gained from a visit to this historical house and Indian Mound is priceless. Learn about the largest Indians of their time that actually frightened the Spanish away to the whimsical people that inhabited the house in decades past.
A science lab and a casino were only two of many stories about the owners of the home built on an ancient Indian mound. Lots of knowledge to be had about the Caloosa Indians as you walk inside the mound, and then into the historical home. As if the walls could talk you visit the past by seeing timeless pictures, furniture and artifacts.

A great way to spend an afternoon in the Fort Myers beach area. This historical site will give you an insight into the areas history. Thanks to Ivan for his introduction and easy conversation on our visit.

The Mound House is a beautiful historic home that sits above Estero Bay in Southwest Florida. We have lived in the area for 11 years yet had never made the drive to Ft. Myers Beach to actually see it. It was the site of a group of Calusa Indians for several hundred years. They built a huge sand and shell mound upon which the historic house was later built about 100 years ago. The lives of those original Calusa settlers, who thrived in the area for many hundreds of years in this part of Florida, was the subject of a fascinating presentation by our guide, Adam. He showed us replica artifacts that have been found in the excavations conducted by archaeologists over the years in the vicinity. In fact, we were each allowed to use an atlatl, a type of spear thrower used long before the bow and arrow made their appearance. He knew an incredible amount about the subject. He put flesh on the bones of these early men and women. He knows the information inside and out and did a great job in conveying it to us. Very impressive.

Devoted to the history of the Calusa Indians who settled in the area years ago, as well as the early settlers

We were lucky enough to be able to walk inside the Calusa Indian shell mound, where we could view the layers within the mound. The house was not open the day we visited. There was a very informative film which explained the habits of the Calusa. Before going inside the mound we were given a very nice talk about the plants in the envrons. Nice place to visit.

Nice little history about Ft. Myers Beach. Quick informative tour. Very nice souvenir shop, gifts for the whole family, unique for all occasions. Relaxing grounds to just walk around with a boat dock and a nice pathway out to the water.

My husband and I spent an enjoyable afternoon visiting the Mound House. We learned a lot about the Calusa native Americans, the history of the location, and the story of the home and its many residents. We liked walking around the property, viewing the estuary, the boats in the water, the trees, and the plantings. The volunteers were very knowledgeable. There is even a nice little gift shop! I recommend visiting this site if you haven't already.

The tour of the Mound House is very interesting and educational. Tues, Wed and Sat from 10am 'til 2pm. The House is being restored to 1921 and will be ready to also tour in the Fall of 2014. The tour guides are excellent and enjoy their 'jobs'. The beachwalk on Wed am is also very interesting. There is no fee but donations are accepted.

Glad we visited Mound House in Fort Myers, FL. Restored house museum atop an ancient Calusa Indian shell mound, with artifacts.
Worth the time. The guided tour of the underground "stories beneath our feet" was interesting.

This house was built on shells. The house is not very big but the volunteers do an excellent job explaining about the native indians who lived here.

If you are an old person (physically or mentally) or just a history/archaeology buff, this is worth a visit. A once-private mansion built on an Indian mound comprised of shells from many different eras. The house was nice and airy, although many of the exhibits were replicas. The grounds are beautifully landscaped snd have many different plants.
Don’t miss the basement, where one can see the walls of shells compacted from all of the eras.
What really made the tour stand out were the great and knowledgeable volunteers. The volunteer who showed us around the house (From Lima, Ohio, natch!) was full of information. Ceel (formerly of Akron!) was a great guide in the basement mound, and was a real treat to listen to as she was actually involved in the dig and told us firsthand stories about her experiences.

May have limited appeal for kids or those with shorter attention spans but worth a visit.

We got a wonderful tour by a most knowledgeable docent who was very passionate about the site and the excavations of the ancient Native American ruins taking place there.

This was a great place to take the whole family. They do a great job of showing old time Florida back in the day. The excavated pool area built on an old Indian mound was particularly interesting. I have been back several time#. Most people working there are volunteers and do a great job. This is located on the inter coastal waters of Fort Myers Beach. This is a must see for the family!

Rode my bike to the Mound House from my rental in Fort Myers! What a beautiful area! Great views of the bay! Perfect to bike or walk around the picture perfect grounds!

Its not finished yet ,but its worth a look.The park its in is lovely and beside the water.When the City have tree sales they hold it here.You can get wonderful tree for such a reasonable price .

My husband and I were just driving around the island and I found this beautiful home the tour was so interesting to learn the history of the case family and how the Indians built it on a pile of shells it was just something to behold the interaction and video was quite interesting too I could have watched it several times beautiful views beautiful location

I really enjoyed this tour. The house which is the oldest building still left in Fort Myers Beach is a work-in-progress you cannot go in yet they are still working on it. It is on top of a calusa shell mound, they would stack all of their shell scraps and make mounds. You can go inside the mound and see the archaeological dig site. They also show you the plants, that was really interesting too.

Lots of history in the layers of shells that this 1906 era house was built on. Only by digging a pool did they find way this mound was developed. Interesting look into the Caloosa culture and the musuem that goes with it.

Nice location recently developed with some fun puzzles and a shell net to occupy our 4 and 2 year old. The volunteer guides were stunningly knowledgeable ("Do the shell layers yield other scientific information, say, about climate change?" "Yes, in fact..."). Educational tree signs. Picnic tables in the shade. Two suggestions I'd make to make it even better would be to spruce up the picnic area to encourage picnics and use the Calusa designs (on the puzzles) on gifts in the gift shop, like Christmas ornaments. It's authentic, local, and respectfully educational!

As an ancient indian buff I though It was great. The presentation and displays were very informative.

Wonderful, incredibly knowledgeable staff and a great place to spend an hour or so in Ft Myers Beach. A bit expensive but felt it was worth the money for the education.

I went on the kayak tour with my sister-in-law and had a fabulous time! Bobby was our tour guide along with volunteer, Kim. They were both full of great stories, history, fun facts, local information, and more than willing to answer our endless questions. We saw lots of wildlife and had a very pleasant paddle through the mangroves. We highly recommend the tour.

We just loved this little place! a great piece of local history. Guides/volunteers were very knowledgeable. Good signs, some short videos. takes an hour or so to do the whole thing. not a ton of walking.

We had a dosent with us throughout the house. Very helpful and informative re: Calusa natives. So glad Fort Myers beach was able to buy this treasure.

Below it asked it this attraction popular with tourist. It has only been open for 1 year.

We opted for the live tour with Dexter and learned so much about the Calusa Indians and their civilization as well as the flora and fauna of the area. It's a beautiful spot and a great place to learn a little history. Dexter is a wealth of knowledge and a good teacher.

My wife and I visited the Mound House to scout it out for when friends/family come down to visit. What a find! We were warmly greeted by Ceel, a docent and hands-on volunteer, who provided us with wonderful insights and behind the scenes information about the history and development of the area.

If you´re looking for a diversion for the beach activities for Fort Myers Beach, we found Mound House a really great visit: we were lucky enough to get Penny to give us the garden tour, which had lots of interesting information about what was there, but also how the natural environment was used by the Calusa, but the house too also has much on this, particularly fascinating being the area at the base of the former pool with its shell layers. Last summer, inspired by this visit we also did the beach walk and weekly science talk on Newton Beach, led really well by Dexter. There are a group of regulars, but we were made so welcome and learned such a lot that we´d really recommend any of these as a great experience of FMB.

Last there a year ago. We were amazed at how the Mound House and grounds had recovered after Hurricane Ian flooded the area. The staff were extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the history of the Caloosa Indians and the Mound House itself.
If you haven't visited this fascinating place, make time to do it.
We are from Shropshire in the UK and found our second visit even more interesting than our previous one last year.

Definitely worth going to. Learn some history of the SW Florida coast and the Indians that lived there longer than we have.

Love it! The guides know what they are talking about in a very interesting way. Love seeing the pictures you feel like you are a part of history.

Run by wonderful volunteers, very interesting and beautiful grounds. Well worth the time spent as they are very informative.

We were amazed at how much ancient history of the area there was to explore. The museum was well done and the entire park was beautiful.

The bay front Mound House museum offers a world-class cultural experience to people of all ages. The Calusa underground exhibit and historic home provide a pleasant way to learn about those who inhabited this site, amid tranquil landscaped grounds to include an observation pier into the bay, a fishing pier and a kayak launch. Programs and events open to the public and scheduled throughout the year.

Yvette was a great tour guide, very knowledgeable and able to answer all questions with facts. Very interesting and educational for american indian cultural aficionados!

What a fabulous little museum complex,so beautifully designed,so interesting! Interesting tours with knowledgeable staff well worth timing one to jump in.

Love the exhibits. Fishing good from the pier. Park Lewis? The naturalist is great. Visiting is free but tours are worth the price. Love this gem.

The kayaking in the back bay was beautiful, fun and very beginner level. The guides (Bobbie and Kim) were fun and knowledgeable as well. We took two of our children and they had a blast on the kayak and also in the museum. I recommend both the kayak and museum tour for a fun family activity.

Mound House has recently opened as a fully operational museum with excellent interpretive programs. Parke Lewis was an excellent interpretive guide for the beach walk and the presentation on the People of Mound House. And he was phenomenal as the guide on our Eco -kayak tour! If you will be on FMB for more than a day, seriously consider purchasing a membership and making the Mound House a favorite repeat destination for the excellent programs and maybe a serene picnic lunch overlooking the environmentally important Estero Bay to develop an appreciation for Estero Island's rich history. A membership is reasonably priced and worth every dollar to support this fascinating archeological exhibit owned by the city of FMB. And by the way, the rest of the staff and volunteers I encountered at each visit were so welcoming and gracious - they make you feel like you want to stay all day.

Fascinating site with lovely grounds. Underground museum is especially interesting view of a Calusa shell mound. Everyone is very friendly and helpful.

Mound House provides a great deal of information about the Native Americans who once lived in the area. There are several good displays and artifacts that show serious research.
There is also a bit of information about people who have lived in the house after the Native Americans disappeared from the area
The staff seem to be dedicated to recycling and re-using various materials...a walkway was built using recycled tires.
It is beautiful....it overlooks the water. The house is kept in fine condition....there is an elevator for those who need it. The gift shop is nice. The docents are gracious.

My husband & I took the Mound Key boat tour. We started out at Mound Key and learned about the Calusa people. They built their capital city on an island and built up the island using shells. Then we went to the Mound House to see an excavation of a mound and learned about the historical information learned from the excavation. The last activity was learning to throw a spear using an atlatl. We learned a lot. Thanks Dexter!

First time visit and it won't be my last. Beautiful grounds, home etc. Small fee to enter and personal guided tour is available. Gift shop is unique, one of a kind relics etc from the site and local artistry. Don't miss the Underground tour and video with a great LIGHT display.

Interesting historic grounds and house. Worth a visit for kids and adults. They have an area to picnic and walkways. Nice ocean view. I would have like to have more written info on the whole history of the area.

Highly recommend a visit to Mound House to learn about the history and natural beauty of this part of Florida. Tour and learn about the archaeological dig site located in the shell mounds on the property. Then learn of later inhabitants from Cuban fishermen to farmers then real estate developer. The house is architecturally interesting as well, including a Craftsman era living room which has been beautifully restored with period furnishings and a 20s tiled bathroom which was quite costly for the time.

The house is located on an estuary with beautiful views and a wide variety of birds and other wildlife. Kayaking is available; unfortunately weather did not permit us to go.

Our docent Ceel was an amazing guide. Her knowledge of and love for the place clearly came through. One of the most enjoyable parts of a great trip to the area!

Mound House is notable for a number of reasons. Not only is it the oldest building on Fort Myers Beach, dating all the way back to 1921 (sarcasm intended), it sits atop a Calusa shell mound that dates back 2,000 years.

Approaching Mound House either from the small parking lot or by boat, you can see that it is a very interesting looking dwelling on what, by Florida standards, is an elevated site. There's also a massive strangler fig that dominates the landscaped lot.

Mound House serves as a museum that features three distinct time periods in the history of Estero Bay - the Calusa Indians, the Cuban fisherman who followed them and finally the Koreshan Unity period from which Mound House dates. We started our visit by visiting an underground excavation which allowed us to see the interior of a shell mound and appreciate just how much the Calusas had built up the land just by using shells. As far as I know, it is the only place you'll ever be able to experience a shell mound from the inside.

Also in this underground room is a very good mural depicting the Calusa way of life, which before the coming of the Europeans, looked pretty Edenic.

The Calusas were expert wood carvers as well as implement makes. I have attached a tool made from a lightning whelk that could double as a weapon.

The living room has been restored to look exactly as it did in 1921 when it was owned by the Case family, members of the Koreshan Unity religion. The Koreshans are a unique SW Florida story in themselves and their history can be discovered at nearby Koreshan State Historic Site. There are parts of the house that predate the 1921 version, but this arts and craft style is always one that stands up over time.

Upstairs is the Calusa room which displays many Calusa artifacts and interprets the history of the Calusa people.

As I mentioned, the Calusa were great woodworks as the replica artifacts in this room demonstrate.

I've added a photo of the Key Marco cat, a half human half Florida panther figurine that was found during an archaeological dig on Marco Island in 1895-6. It is made from native buttonwood and carved between 500 and 800 A.D. The original is in the Smithsonian.

There were also Calusa representations of deer, alligators, dolphins and other animals that would have been well known and possibly sacred to them.

The Mound House museum has a small, but really good gift shop where you can buy modern replicas of Calusa art work made by Peter Sottong of Key Marco Cat.

The grounds of Mound House are worth exploring. There are a number of Florida specimen plants on display including that ancient fig tree. There is also a semi-circular landing on Estero Bay which is a great spot to from which to watch the dolphins that live in the bay.

A very different and worthwhile way to spend some time on an island that is fixated on the beach life.

Mound House has recently teamed up with Fish Tale Marine to offer twice monthly tour to Mound Key which includes a visit to the museum. Well worth your time to check out.

Found this place by accident. Worth the visit. Our tram driver recommended it and it was a fascinating place.