07/11/2021
Ceramic 30
The Museum at Crystal River Archaeological State Park holds a plethora of artifacts and information about the ancient people who traveled to this sacred site to bury their dead, exchange goods, and carry out daily activities. But just as interesting is the building itself, a classic of mid-century architecture designed by Gainesville architects David Parks Reaves (1925-1978) and Dan Branch (1931- ) in 1963, and opened to the public in 1965.
The building is raised several feet on a sand platform that mimics the ancient flat-topped mounds on the site. This added elevation has not only saved it from severe flooding of the nearby Crystal River during hurricanes, but before air conditioning was installed, helped it catch cooling breezes. The building is rich in floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as additional wing windows above the roof, that allow natural light to flow into the building’s spacious interior.
The unique, eye-catching silhouette of the museum is as distinctive and memorable as the mounds themselves. The museum is open 9-5, Thursday thru Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). ~Heather
