Journey through a South Florida estuary and learn why they are one of the richest ecosystems on Earth and how they have supported people for thousands of years, including the powerful Calusa who once controlled all of South Florida.

Stroll through a full-scale mangrove forest and mud flat full of plants, animals, light and sound to explore the nature of these rich coastal ecosystems.

Why are estuaries so rich? Delve deeper with a hands-on discovery wall, touch screens, videos and more.

Imagine you are a small fish as you enter a 12-times life-size underwater scene to discover tiny organisms that sustain the estuary.

This artifact-rich gallery highlights 6,000 years of fishing along Florida’s Gulf coast, including a 1,000-year-old fishing net and canoe paddle.

Enter a palm-thatched building and find yourself in a Calusa leader’s house during a political ceremony in the year 1564.

Get a close-up view of some of the most rare and interesting objects in the Museum’s South Florida archaeology collections, among them a famous 1,000-year-old painting of a woodpecker and other works of art in wood.

Learn about the vibrant traditions of the Indian people who live in South Florida today—the Seminole and Miccosukee.