Seminole Rest History

Seminole Rest main home atop Snyder Mound a Timucuan shell mound.

NPS/Photo Steele

Seminole Rest Historic Site consists of several prehistoric shell mounds dating as far back as 2,000 BCE. Snyder’s Mound is the largest mound at this site at 13 ft high and ranging over 5 acres. Very few mounds of this size remain today. In the 1990’s, archeologists excavated a portion of the mound and discovered a story of migrating people who used the area for fishing, harvesting clams and hunting. Artifacts such as projectile point, pottery shards, and shell beads for necklaces were found. The mound consists of mainly quahog clam shells.

The coastal shell mounds of Florida’s Atlantic coast are among the largest in the United States. Canaveral National Seashore is home to over 100 Timucuan shell middens and mounds. Seminole Rest is also known as Snyder Mound. It was named for the Snyder family that worked to preserve it. In 1990 the Snyder family donated the site to the Nature Conservancy and shortly after it became part of the National Park Service.

Seminole Rest tells a story of the Timucua Indians, early pioneer settlement and the preservations of cultures. With accounts from the writings of early explorers, as well as the science of archeology, we can connect the past to the present.

Over 70 percent of the Timucua mounds were hauled off to build railroads and roadways. Today many mounds that still stand are being preserved. The Southeast Archeological Center and the University of Central Florida among other partners work to preserve these shorelines through shoreline stabilization and restoration. These efforts help keep the shoreline intact.

The Timucua inhabited this part of Florida for centuries. The appearance of Europeans in the area destabilized the political balance of the Timucua nation. This was due to European attempts to establish alliances with the native groups for protection from other nations. Conflict between European nations and tribal nations grew inflamed. After 200 years of battles of culture, enslavement, and disease the Timucua were decimated.

It is estimated that over 200,000 Timucua people lived in Florida prior to European exploration. They lived in areas with fresh water and near coastal zones. Seasonally the Timucua would migrate from inland villages to Seminole rest.

They would harvest clams then smoke, dry them, and store them for future use. Families could theoretically harvest clams throughout the winter season and feed the entire family. Evidence of high use was between 700 and 1100 CE. Over many seasons the clam shells accumulated and resulted in the large mound.

The Gulf Stream that flows north up the coast of Florida began to see traffic as European explorers exported goods by boat from the Americas back to Europe from roughly 1513 through the 1700’s. A period of various encounters between the French and the Spanish brought conflict to this area. After Spain regained control from Britain in 1783 development around the seashore slowed until after the civil war ended due to its remoteness. The good climate attracted citrus farmers and others creating small communities such as Oak Hill and Eldora.

The terrain in Florida can be harsh and the weather extreme. This did not discourage those who wished to make a new life for themselves. Plantations, farms, cattle ranches, and homesteads began to appear across the Florida landscape. Seminole Rest was purchased from the US government by Jon Lawd in 1857. By 1880 there were over 900 citrus trees on the property, as well as horses and cattle. During this period many orange groves perished due to hard winter freezes.

Two homes still stand a top of this magnificent shell mound. They were built prior to 1888. The location was a desirable characteristic for people living in Florida’s low and flat terrain. While the homes may seem intrusive on top of a historic mound, they may have prevented it from being destroyed by mining for railroad or road paving materials. The location of the homes underscores the fact that life along the Mosquito Lagoon has remained appealing throughout the centuries.

Parker, S. R. (2008). Canaveral National Seashore Historic Resource Study. Atlanta, GA: Cultural Resources Division, Southeast Regional Office, National Park Service.