Bonnet House Museum and Gardens Provides a Touch of Old Florida

Fort Lauderdale's Bonnet House Museum and Gardens is a historic property situated on land purchased by early Florida settler Hugh Taylor Birch and presented to his daughter Helen on the occasion of her marriage to Chicago artist Frederic Clay Bartlett in 1919.

Construction of the Bonnet House began in 1920 but was stalled in 1925 when Helen died at a young age. The real work on Bonnet House began in earnest again in 1931 when Bartlett married his third wife, Evelyn Fortune Lilly, who had a penchant for decorating. Together, the pair furnished the home with lovely period furniture and exquisite art, and designed and helped tend the beautiful gardens that surround this waterfront property.

Though Frederic died in 1953, Evelyn maintained ownership of Bonnet House, finally giving it to the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation in 1983. This move assured that the home and gardens would remain intact, despite huge amounts of development in the greater Fort Lauderdale area.

In response to the gift to the Trust and to further insure Bonnet House's integrity, the site was listed on the National Register of Historic places in 1984 and declared a historic landmark by the City of Fort Lauderdale in 2002. However, it remains one of America's "11 most endangered sites.''

When Bartlett considered designs for the house, he was particularly interested in making sure it blended with its subtropical surroundings. The artist shunned traditional Spanish-style Florida architecture and instead chose a Caribbean plantation look with lots of indoor and outdoor living spaces. Inside, the Bartletts spared no expense, purchasing the best-quality furniture of the time period. Visitors will note that all furnishings and accessories on exhibit are original to the estate.

The Bonnet House Museum also boasts a fine collection of art work belonging to the Bartletts. The couple, both artists, also decorated their home with their own pieces and many are on display in the on-site Carl J. Weinhardt Gallery. The Trust also holds temporary art exhibits in the gallery featuring works by local and regional favorites.

The Bonnet House Gardens are a joy to explore. Five ecosystems can be found on the property so guests who tour them will see examples of Atlantic Ocean beach and primary dune, a fresh water slough, secondary dune (which includes the area where the house stands), mangrove wetlands, and a maritime forest. The orchid showroom, which showcases Mrs. Bartlett's favorite flower, is always full of colorful orchids and is open to visitors.

Tours of the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens are available Tuesday through Sunday, departing several times each day. Specialized group tours are available with advance reservations.

A small onsite museum shop offers unique collectibles, reproduction paintings, homemade crafts, clothing and jewelry, and books about Bonnet House and South Florida.

Museum docents offer workshops and lectures for adults, and an occasional concert by a local ensemble is offered on the grounds of the property. Portions of the property may also be rented for weddings and other special events.