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The Calusa period (400s-1600s), built shell mounds—like the one Mound House sits on—for ceremonial and practical purposes like safety from coastal floods. By the 900s , they formed a centralized government based at Mound Key and ruled over much of southern Florida. They resisted Spanish colonization but were later devastated by disease, raids, and warfare. Calusa survivors eventually became part of the Seminole people, whose traditions carry some Calusa legacies.

In the Rancho period (1700s–1830s), Spanish fishermen from across the Caribbean established seasonal camps called ranchos, often on abandoned Calusa sites. These evolved into permanent towns, with Seminole people working and living alongside Spanish settlers until U.S. military actions during the Seminole Wars destroyed many ranchos.

The Pioneer period (1890s-1990s) began post-Civil War, when U.S. settlers like the Gilbert and Case families claimed land on Fort Myers Beach. The Case family’s 1921 home became the foundation of today’s Mound House. Over time, much of the archaeological site was lost to development, but a 2.86-acre portion was preserved.

In 2000, the Town of Fort Myers Beach purchased and began restoring the site. After 15 years of preservation and research, the Mound House museum opened to the public, showcasing the rich and layered history of this unique place.

The oldest standing house on Estero Island — the William H. Case House — has been restored, to its 1921 appearance. The house serves as a multi-level museum, showcasing Calusa artifacts and interactive exhibits. On the first floor, you can find a replica Living Room exhibit giving you a view into life for the Case family. The Ancient People exhibit displays tools and ceremonial items that were excavated on site, as well as recreated replicas that allow you to get hands on history. You can then explore the Settlers on the Shells exhibit, which shows life on Fort Myers Beach after the Calusa, highlighting the rancho and pioneer eras.

Our oldest and most celebrated exhibit, Stories Beneath Our Feet, is located underground, immersing guests in ancient Calusa life. The centerpiece of the exhibit is a large cutaway of a shell mound, outfitted with video narration and LED lights. Surrounding the shell mound is a breathtaking mural of this Calusa village as it may have stood over 2,000 years ago.

Due to heavy damage from Hurricane Milton in October 2024, the underground exhibit, Stories Beneath Our Feet, is closed until further notice.