The official start of summer is almost here, that time of the year when all the amazing colors of South Florida become even more intense. And you won’t find a more colorful, beautiful or fascinating place to visit during the summer months than Historic Bonnet House, one of our nation’s most popular historic houses and gardens. This colorful and airy plantation-style house, located on a 35-acre slice of breathtaking waterfront property in Fort Lauderdale, magically transports visitors to the days when Florida was one of the nation’s last frontier outposts.
Built in the 1920’s by artist and art collector Frederic Clay Bartlett and his wife, Helen, Bonnet House shines with the vibrant colors and myriad decorative elements that delight visitors to this very day. Bartlett’s vivid artistry is fully reflected throughout the house, as he painted faux marble floors, and murals on walls and wood ceilings in major rooms. Extensive areas of native vegetation – including a hardwood hammock – were preserved, with a marshy area to the east of the house transformed into lagoons. The gardens and winding nature trails surrounding the house, and the wildlife inhabiting the grounds, are every bit as colorful, with swans and other waterfowl gliding in the ponds, and raccoons and even South American squirrel monkeys adding to the vibrant palette.
The story told here spans and parallels a wide swath of American history and makes a visit both to these pages and to the estate a uniquely educational, entertaining and truly unforgettable experience, which is why a summer visit to South Florida is truly not complete without time spent at beautiful, historic Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, Bonnet House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it is recognized as a historic landmark by the City of Fort Lauderdale.
Bonnet House is located at 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. For more information and details, please call (954) 563-5393 or visit BonnetHouse.org. Come experience the beautiful colors of Florida at Bonnet House!
