As you begin your trek over the boardwalk, be on the lookout for tracks, trails, and burrows of the animals that call the dunes home; the burrow of a gopher tortoise perhaps, or the track of a bobcat. As you walk towards the ocean you will see the vegetation change from palm and bay to palmetto scrub, then wildflowers and sea oats. If you are visiting in the winter months you may be lucky enough to spot an endangered Right Whale just offshore. Above you a Brown Pelican may be flying or diving for fish. As you look south you will see 24 miles of undeveloped beach, the longest stretch of natural coastline on the east coast of Florida. The dune system that is the backbone of the barrier island remains intact here in the seashore and changes with the winds and tides. Dunes are dynamic in that sand is brought in with the the wind and sometimes taken out with the tide. The dunes here at Canaveral change season to season and year after year. Remember it as you see it now--the next time you come back it may look completely different. In the summer months you will see yellow stakes near the dunes. These indicate the location of sea turtle nests that have been protected with screens to prevent raccoons from eating the eggs. We have over 5,000 nests along our shore each summer. You may find a treasured seashell to take home as a reminder of your trip here today. But only take those that have no one living inside.

A walk up Turtle Mound is a walk back in time; know that you tread upon layers of life history belonging to the Timucua Indians. They built this mound over hundreds of years from the shells of oysters and clams that they harvested from the bounty of Mosquito Lagoon. As you ascend the mound you might wonder what it was used for. Was it a lookout to watch for approaching enemies? Or, was it a landmark to help them find their way back each year to their winter home. Or, was it a place for tribal ceremonies? No one really knows. We do know that the first Floridians built mounds of this type wherever they lived and that the mounds contain the remains of their lives and have many stories to tell. But as Turtle Mound is one of the last remaining intact mounds of its kind, the clues contained within help us to better understand the Timucuan's connection to the resource as we struggle to find our own. The last Timucuans passed away around 1750 or were taken to Cuba with the Spanish, taking the answers with them. But one thing we know for sure: what you will see from the top of the mound is a spectacular view of Canaveral National Seashore. Just remember, in summer, be sure you bring your insect repellant.

While walking the path from Parking Lot #8, imagine that it is the 1890s. Over one hundred people lived here then. Known as Fairview, the village had a school and a post office. Boats plied the waterway delivering supplies and picking up produce. Folks worked in the orange groves, the bee apiaries, and in vegetable gardens. They spent time with loved ones and enjoyed the bounty that the waters of the lagoon had to offer. In 1895 and 1900 there were hard freezes that killed the orange groves. Change continued with the coming of the railroad to the mainland. Boat transport was abandoned, isolating the village. Fairview became a backwater town that receded into the hammock. After 1910 Florida became popular as a wintering place for the wealthy, and Fairview became known as Eldora. Imagine wintering here with hunting, fishing, and trips to the beach by families that traveled to escape the cold northern winters: the original snowbirds. By the 1930s the Great Depression brought years of hard times, decline and neglect to Eldora. The Eldora State House, the last remaining home of this era, fell to disrepair. But her story was not over. In the the 1980s the Friends of Canaveral began a ten year restoration project. Thanks to their hard work, you can enjoy the Eldora State House in its full splendor today. Have a seat in a rocking chair on the porch, close your eyes and let yourself drift back to Eldora.