The Fort Walton Temple Mound is the original temple mound built by prehistoric people who lived here between A.D. 700 and A.D. 1500, and it is thought to be one of the largest human-made prehistoric earthworks on salt water. It was once the center of a city, built entirely by hand by Mound Builders who had no beasts of burden or wheeled vehicles. The mound was placed here because of a reliable source of fresh water and readily available seafood, and it was constructed in stages over time as each leader had a new temple structure built, adding height to the mound. The Mound Builders lived mostly during the Mississippian Time Period, from A.D. 1000 to A.D. 1500. Excavations have shown that a building existed at this location during prehistoric times. A temple replica created in 1976 represents the possible size and shape of the structure once at this site, with a roof made to resemble thatch but actually built of cement to withstand heave winds.