Bonnet House in Fort Lauderdale was built in 1920 by the newlyweds in an effort to give Frederic and Helen a winter residence where they could concentrate on their art and music.
Despite Helen’s unexpected death in 1925, construction soon came to a halt. Frederic didn’t begin renovating properties again until 1931, the year he married Evelyn Fortune Lilly.
Frederic died before the couple could finish decorating the house. The state Trust for Historic Preservation opened the house for guided tours in 1983, several decades after Evelyn donated it to the state.
Previous travelers said Bonnet House has something to keep every type of traveler satisfied:
Art lovers, horticulture enthusiasts, animal lovers and history buffs will enjoy this attraction.
The plantation home is ornately decorated and filled with artwork (all three residents of the house were artists of some kind), but the estate’s grounds are also well worth the visit.
The campus is lush and beautiful for a nice walk through nature and even sometimes accompanied by monkeys. However, some noted that not every room in the house has air conditioning, so bring a fan if you’re visiting during the summer months.
This property is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Only guided tours are available, which are held seven different times each day. Admission costs $20 for adults, $16 for kids between the ages of 6 and 12, and is free for children younger than 6.
If you’re only interested in seeing the gardens, admission costs $10 per person. A tram tour of the grounds is also available for $4. The attraction offers free parking in its lot, or you can take the water taxi to stop No. 9. For more information, visit Bonnet
