Bonnet House Museum and Gardens, Fort Lauderdale (must see)
Bonnet House Museum and Gardens is a historic house museum. It consists of the main house, an art studio, a music studio and a guest house. The gardens include native plants, forest, an orchid house and beachfront access to the Atlantic Ocean. A particular plant that can be found on the grounds is the bonnet lily, from which the house gardens gained their name.
The property was originally purchased in 1895 by attorney Hugh Taylor Birch. In 1919, Birch gifted the land to his daughter Helen and her new husband. Helen married Frederic Clay Bartlett, an artist who is known for his vast art collection. The plantation home was built in 1920 as a winter residence for the couple off a design created by Bartlett himself. He used vernacular architecture in his design with materials and inspiration having been gained from the local environment.
Sadly, Helen died soon after the buildings were completed. Bartlett then married Evelyn Fortune Lilly who helped to make the estate what it is today. Among her contributions to the land was wildlife. She brought approximately 40 monkeys to live onsite in the tropical forests. She also refurbished the home with many of the decorative elements and art that are still found on the grounds. It was Evelyn who gave the estate to the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.
Bonnet House Museum and Gardens appears on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can take self-guided tours Tuesday through Sunday. The house and gardens are located on a coastal island south of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.
Why You Should Visit:
- To see five distinct ecosystems in one location
- To enjoy the art studio that was once used by Frederic Clay Bartlett
Tips:
Admission to Bonnet House Museum and Gardens is $20 for adults and $16 for children ages six to 12. Visitors are welcome to picnic onsite with a paid admission.
The property was originally purchased in 1895 by attorney Hugh Taylor Birch. In 1919, Birch gifted the land to his daughter Helen and her new husband. Helen married Frederic Clay Bartlett, an artist who is known for his vast art collection. The plantation home was built in 1920 as a winter residence for the couple off a design created by Bartlett himself. He used vernacular architecture in his design with materials and inspiration having been gained from the local environment.
Sadly, Helen died soon after the buildings were completed. Bartlett then married Evelyn Fortune Lilly who helped to make the estate what it is today. Among her contributions to the land was wildlife. She brought approximately 40 monkeys to live onsite in the tropical forests. She also refurbished the home with many of the decorative elements and art that are still found on the grounds. It was Evelyn who gave the estate to the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.
Bonnet House Museum and Gardens appears on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can take self-guided tours Tuesday through Sunday. The house and gardens are located on a coastal island south of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.
Why You Should Visit:
- To see five distinct ecosystems in one location
- To enjoy the art studio that was once used by Frederic Clay Bartlett
Tips:
Admission to Bonnet House Museum and Gardens is $20 for adults and $16 for children ages six to 12. Visitors are welcome to picnic onsite with a paid admission.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Fort Lauderdale. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Bonnet House Museum and Gardens on Map
Sight Name: Bonnet House Museum and Gardens
Sight Location: Fort Lauderdale, USA (See walking tours in Fort Lauderdale)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Fort Lauderdale, USA (See walking tours in Fort Lauderdale)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Create Your Own Walk in Fort Lauderdale
Creating your own self-guided walk in Fort Lauderdale is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Fort Lauderdale Beach Walking Tour
For decades, Fort Lauderdale Beach has been known primarily as a destination for raucous college students to celebrate Spring Break. Today, although a bit calmer and less chaotic than before, this neighborhood still boasts a wealth of opportunities for recreation, relaxation, and enjoyment.
One of the notable local attractions is the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens. This historic estate... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles
One of the notable local attractions is the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens. This historic estate... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles
Downtown Historical Buildings
Downtown Fort Lauderdale is home to three designated historic districts: The Sailboat Bend, The Himmarshee, and The Stranahan House. Each holds a range of houses and buildings from the mid-19th and 20th centuries that together tell the fascinating story of Fort Lauderdale's evolution over the years.
One such notable institution, preserving the city's heritage, is the Fort Lauderdale... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
One such notable institution, preserving the city's heritage, is the Fort Lauderdale... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Fort Lauderdale Downtown Walking Tour
Fort Lauderdale is known for beautiful beaches and tourism. As part of the Miami metropolitan area, Fort Lauderdale offers the advantage of city culture and convenience along with warm weather, sand and sea.
Fort Lauderdale was originally inhabited by the Tequesta. Like many other native people, they faced disease and expulsion when European explorers made their way to the Florida shores.
... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Fort Lauderdale was originally inhabited by the Tequesta. Like many other native people, they faced disease and expulsion when European explorers made their way to the Florida shores.
... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles