Seminole Rest Historic Site
A cluster of well-preserved shell mounds overlooking the Indian River
With early settlers' houses built on top of ancient Shell Mounds, Seminole Rest embodies the vast scope of Indian River history
Containing a complex of shell midden mounds, the largest of which is known as Snyder’s Mound, this site is a largely intact example of a processing and disposal center for clams, oysters, and fish caught by native groups in the Indian River approximately 900–450 years ago. The enormous volume of shells accumulated here testifies to the seasonal use of this site for hundreds of years. Earlier evidence of native occupation of this site in the form of distinctive pottery fragments dates further back to the Orange Period, approximately 4,000 years ago. The interpretive panels along the half-mile wheelchair accessible walking path present the history of this and other shell mounds that once dotted the banks of the Indian River. The site also features historic structures built by early settlers beginning in the 1870s, as well as panoramic views of the Indian River.