Canaveral National Seashore protects a long undeveloped barrier-island landscape on Florida’s Atlantic coast, preserving beaches, dunes, mangrove wetlands, and much of Mosquito Lagoon. Established by Congress in 1975, it is notable not only for coastal recreation and rich wildlife habitat, but also for deep human history. Archaeological sites show Indigenous hunting, gathering, and later cultivation reaching back to 2000 B.C.E., with mounds and middens such as Turtle Mound still visible. Its creation grew from decades of conservation efforts, aided in part by land kept from private development near NASA facilities, and by advocacy from Doris Leeper and supportive members of Congress.