Madira Bickel Mound State Archeological Site, Florida, United States
2.5 (16 reviews) Spent Ranking #7 in Ellenton State Parks
Only Worth A Short Visit
We stopped off to see the Bickel Mound on a trip to Bradenton. It is a few miles off of hwy 19. There is a short walk through the site and then steps up to the top of the mound. It is covered in vegetation and hard to really discern the size or get a good view. There is an excellent exhibit board at the bottom explaining about the early inhabitants of the area. The mound is impressive once you know the history, but is not much to see otherwise. I think another exhibit showing a cross section of the mound and explanation of how the archaeologists interpreted the shells etc would be worthwhile. You can get a much better appreciation of an Indian mound at Emerson Point Preserve.
Address
3708 Patten Ave, Ellenton, FL 34222-2152
Mobile
Website
http://www.floridastateparks.org/MadiraBickelMound/
Current local date and time now
Saturday, May 11, 2024, 21:00
User Ratings
2.5 based on (16 reviews)
Reviews
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3MiamiNativeTours 5:00 PM May 19, 2014
Worthwhile but County Mounds nearby much better
I feel like i have to see every state park now in case Rick Scott gets reelected, as he wants to sell a lot of parks to make more golf courses. But this mound was disappointing. its written about in many archaeological books. The nearby Emerson Point Preserve was much more impressive. But Madira is still a worthwhile visit as its easily accessible right off the Skyway bridge. And the Terra Ceia neighborhood is interesting, still has mango and lychee farms, as it is so surrounded by water, its warm enough for tropical fruits. Also saw a flock of Rosseate Spoonbills in Terra Ceia.
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3John R 5:00 PM Jan 9, 2013
Small, reflective site
This mound is small and not really visible - it's overgrown with trees and shrubs so you only see the top when you get there. It's in a part of the state that remains close to its true self. It reminds me of some of the stone sites I visited in England: fairly small and non-descript, yet part of history. I was in a rush when I visited, and was expecting something more, having seen much larger mounds elsewhere around the country. Had I had more time, I would have spent it reflecting on the life of the people who built this mound. Also, the growth is such that if you think you're going to see the water nearby, you'll be disappointed.
