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History

Prehistoric settlement of the Fort Walton Beach is attributed to the mound building "Fort Walton Culture" that flourished from approximately 1100~1550 AD. This culture appeared to come about due to contact with the major Mississippian centers to the north and west. It was the most complex in the north west Florida region. The Fort Walton peoples put in to practice mound building, intensive agriculture, made pottery in a variety of vessel shapes and had a hierarchial settlement patterns that reflected other Mississippian societies.

The first Europeans to step foot into what is now Okaloosa County and the Fort Walton Beach area were members of Álvar Núńez Cabeza de Vaca's party, who traveled by boat from what is now Panama City Beach, Florida in 1528 to Texas "Then we set out to sea again, coasting towards the River of Palms. Every day our thirst and hunger increased because our supplies were giving out, as well as the water supply, for the pouches we had made from the legs of our horses soon became rotten and useless. From time to time we would enter some inlet or cove that reached very far inland, but we found them all shallow and dangerous, and so we navigated through them for thirty days, meeting sometimes Indians who fished and were poor and wretched people".

The area is described at "Baixa de Baca" in a Spanish map dated 1566. In later English and French maps the area of was noted as "Baya Santa Rosa" or "Bay St. Rose". A number of Spanish artifacts, including a portion of brigantine leather armor, are housed in the Indian Temple Mound Museum.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no documentary evidence of pirates using the area as a base of operations. Piracy was rampant in the Gulf of Mexico from pirates working out of Hispaniola, the Caribbean, and the Florida Keys. Notable raids occurred in 1683 and 1687 against the Spanish fort at San Marcos de Apalachee (by French and English buccaneers), a 1712 raid against Port Dauphin (now Alabama) by English pirates from Martinique, and the actions of the late 18th century adventurer William Augustus Bowles who was based out of Apalachicola. Bowles was never referred to as "Billy Bowlegs" in period documentation; his Creek name was "Eastajoca".

During the era of Spanish and English colonization, the area of what was to become Fort Walton Beach was noted in several journals but no worthwhile presence was established.

Early settlers of Walton County, Florida were the first to establish permanent settlements in what is now Fort Walton Beach (the area was originally named "Anderson"). One of the first settlers was John Anderson who received land plots in 1838. The name "Anderson" is noted on maps from 1838 to 1884. It wasn't until 1911 that the name "Camp Walton" appeared on Florida maps.

In 1861, Camp Walton was a confederate military camp made up of the 1st Florida Regiment, which consisted of men from the Walton County Militia. At this time, Okaloosa County did not yet exist. Walton County received its name from Col. George Walton, who served as an aid under Andrew Jackson and whose father, George Walton Sr., is the 56th signer of the Declaration of Independence. As a result of Col. Walton's influence in the politics of northwest Florida, his name was honored by establishing Walton County.

The 1st Florida regiments camp was located in front of the Indian Temple Mound, which is now known as the Heritage Park and Cultural Center, and their mission was to protect the "Narrows" from Union ships. Although the 1st Florida Regiment did not see much action, they did keep busy by digging up prehistoric Indian remains buried in the Indian Temple Mound and displaying them at camp.

The 1940 census counted 90 residents in Fort Walton.[4] Fort Walton was incorporated by a State Senate bill effective June 16, 1941.

The community's name was officially changed from Fort Walton to Fort Walton Beach on Monday, June 15, 1953, by agreement with the state legislature in Tallahassee, and incorporated a portion of Santa Rosa Island formerly known as Tower Beach.[6] The portion of Santa Rosa Island transferred is now known as Okaloosa Island. The government was changed to a city manager form.

A special census conducted in 1956 listed 9,456 residents, which grew to 11,249 by 1960.

Fort Walton Beach FL Area Attractions

Air Force Armament Museum The Air Force Armament Museum is "the only museum in the world dedicated to the collection, preservation and exhibition of artifacts and memorabilia associated with Air Force Armament and its platforms of delivery." This museum contains a large and educational selection of exhibits of aircraft and armaments dating back to World War I. Historical planes on display include a B-17 World War II bomber, SR-71 Blackbird, and the A-10 Warthog.

Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida Operated by the Heritage Museum Association, Inc., the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida was established "to collect and preserve material culture pertaining to the region's history." Permanent exhibits include crosscut saws, turpentine collection cups, a porcelain pitcher, lumber mill tokens, flint spear points, depot artifacts, a black iron wash pot, old school desks, and a full wall mural, created by Cynthia Fisher and Kristen Rybka. Programs are offered and a research library is maintained.

Indian Temple Mound Museum & Park Recognized for having the finest collection of prehistoric ceramics in the Southeast United States, this National Historic Landmark originally served as a religious and civic center. There are numerous exhibits on site that describe the trial and tribulations of Native Americans dating back 10,000 years, as well as artifacts highlighting European and Colonial exploration and settlement that defines the history of the Fort Walton Beach area.

Emerald Coast Science Center Located in a waterfront park directly on the sound in Fort Walton Beach, the Emerald Coast Science Center is open year-round and is filled with over 250 hands-on interactive exhibits. Its exhibits include information on visible and invisible color, electricity, the internal workings of gadgets, and the five human senses.

Destin Florida Yacht Charters Have a great, customized tour of the Emerald Coast with this professional tour company that offers you the pleasure of creating your own excursion. All trips include snorkel gear and instructions, wildlife encounters, and private dolphin watches.

Fort Walton Beach Vacation Rentals, Homes, Condos, Villas and Beach Rentals

Fort Walton Beach is a northern Gulf Coast beach town that got its start as a Civil War outpost. Today, it attracts families from all over for fun in the sun and fishing from its 1,261-foot pier. Fort Walton Beach and nearby Destin are renowned for their sugar soft, white sand beaches and emerald green waters, thus giving it the nickname “The Emerald Coast.” As a result, Fort Walton Beach vacations are immensely popular! And now they are even easier to take thanks to all the Fort Walton Beach vacation rentals out there. The Destin-Fort Walton Beach area has been voted as the “#1 Beach in America” by readers of USA Today and selected for eight years in a row as “Best Beach in the South” and “Top Family Destination” by Southern Living readers. So theres little reason to stay in a hotel. Instead, consider Fort Walton Beach oceanfront condos and homes! Who cares about a resort pool or beach crowded with tourists? If you choose Fort Walton Beach vacation rentals over hotels, you can look forward to a much more peaceful getaway. The main part of Fort Walton Beach is surrounded on three sides by water. It sits at the western end of Choctawhatchee Bay along a narrow section of the Santa Rosa Sound. Part of the town fronts on the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, there are lots and lots of Fort Walton Beach oceanfront condos and homes out there! Be mesmerized by dancing dolphins within the breeding grounds along the Santa Rosa Sound and Destin Harbor. Go swimming, diving, snorkeling, water skiing, surfing, or parasailing. Besides beach activities, things to see in Fort Walton Beach include the Gulfarium, one of the oldest performing-porpoise shows in the country, with a 10,000-gallon aquarium and seal shows as well. The Indian Temple Mound Museum and Focus Science Center in Fort Walton Beach also make great family outings. Fort Walton Beach vacations dont just have to revolve around the water. So as you look for Fort Walton Beach condo rentals, how can you choose the best lodging for you and your party? Well remember that you can bring whoever you want along for the trip! That includes pets; many Fort Walton Beach pet friendly vacation rentals welcome four-legged tourists too. Also remember that whatever your budget, you can find affordable housing. Not to mention, you get to pick and choose which amenities you want. So maybe youre intrigued by Fort Walton Beach pet friendly vacation rentals or maybe you just want lots of space; its entirely up to you. Fort Walton Beach condo rentals and other homes are ready to be booked!

Things to do in Fort Walton Beach

Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island There's something wonderfully refreshing about the Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island, other than overlooking white sand beach and crystal clear water, is that they provide a covered picnic area right there where you can enjoy the view while you enjoy your lunch. The boardwalk is centrally located, close to many hotels and resorts on the island. The beach itself is a great place to play volleyball, with the provided nets set up, or just to relax. When you're ready to head up to the boardwalk for some lunch or shopping, you can use the showers provided there to get the sand off. The Crab Trap is a great place to cool off inside, but they have a great deck you can get a tropical drink or a delicious fish sandwich at and watch all the action on the beach.

At the Black Pearl, you can get a wood fired steak, the freshest fish or shellfish the gulf has to offer, and enjoy it all in an elegant, yet casual atmosphere. In the mood to shop? Get a great island style T-shirt at or get a cool, unique kite to fly on the beach at one of the Boardwalk stores. If you'd like to try your own hand at flying, there are merchants with the things you need to take up kiteboarding.

After the sun goes down, you can dance the night away at the Swamp or check out at one of the many concerts hosted there. If you're in the mood for being part of a crowd participation type evening, head down the boardwalk to one of our favorite bars - Howl At the Moon. This is a bar with dueling pianos; they play what the crowd wants for tips, and the fun part is that you get to sing along!

Fort Walton Beach Pier Officially known as the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier, it was first built in 1972 and was 962 ft long; and in 1998, when the current pier opened, it was lengthened to nearly a 1/4 mile at 1262 feet. The Okaloosa Island Pier is all about catching the 'big' one, and indeed some huge fish have been caught off the pier, including a Tarpon that weighed over 100 pounds and a 42 pound King Mackerel. Other fish that have been caught off the pier are Cobia, Redfish, Jack Cravelle, Pompano, Ladyfish and Bluefish. The end of the pier is shaped like an octagon which gives one the maximum fish fighting room. There is a bait and tackle shop on the pier and they even make their own rigs for kids that have no hooks in them. You can also buy snacks, sodas and other beverages too, and if you don't have a rod, you can rent one there for your day of angling. After a long, hot day, wither you're just feeding or fighting the fish, you too can get a bite at Anglers, which is conveniently at the end of the pier.

Places to Stay in Fort Walton Beach Located very near Destin, Fort Walton Beach has no shortage of hotels and resorts either. One to check out is the Four Points by Sheraton Destin-Fort Walton Beach, this has a sister hotel in Cocoa Beach as well as one in Orlando. You could spend a week at the Cayo Grande Suites Hotel and for the smaller budgets they have a Super8 Motel and an Econo Lodge Fort Walton Beach. If you'd like to stay on the Bay try Hermitage By The Bay.

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