Last month Scott and I needed to get our truck detailed, which would take about three hours. Luckily for us, one of Fort Lauderdale’s top visitor’s destination was right around the corner – The Bonnet Museum and Gardens. The Bonnet House and Gardens is a historic estate located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, notable for its unique blend of art, architecture, history, and ecology. What is amazing, is the fact that it is surrounded by condos and sky scrapers.
History
The Bonnet House was built in 1920 by Frederic Clay Bartlett, a Chicago-born artist and art collector, as a winter retreat for his family. The estate occupies 35 acres of lush, subtropical landscape that includes beach, dunes, and mangrove wetlands.
Frederic Bartlett’s wife, Helen Louise Birch, originally purchased the land in 1919. However, Helen died in 1925, and in 1931, Frederic married Evelyn Fortune Lilly, a socialite and philanthropist. The couple continued to develop the property together, enriching it with an array of art and personal touches that reflect their eclectic tastes and love of nature.
The house was used only during the winter, when Frederick and Evelyn came down from Chicago to escape the bitter cold. So it was more of a “summer house”, than a mansion.
Start of the Tour
Once you buy your tickets, you cross over the small bridge and enter the grounds. They have guests watch a short film in the “gallery” before taking the self-guided tour. In the gallery, you will find many art pieces that both Frederick and Evelyn painted.
After the preview, you then come around the corner to enter the “house”. However, this is nothing like our Vizcaya Tour. Instead of an opulent mansion, you will instead find a courtyard style building with rooms on all sides.
The first room we entered was the music room. Still preserved just as it was before Evelyn died.
Architecture and Art
The Bonnet House itself is a vibrant example of Caribbean-style plantation architecture, characterized by its open-air loggias, wide verandas, and whimsical decor. The house is adorned with murals, painted ceilings, and a variety of unique furnishings and art pieces collected by the Bartletts from their travels around the world. Frederic’s artistic influence is evident throughout, with his original paintings and murals decorating the interiors.
The Dining Room and Kitchen
Our next stop was the dining room, the pantry and the kitchen. Ever day Evelyn would select her dishware to use for service and she never used the same matching pieces. She loved to mix and match.
As we were touring the historical kitchen, the tour guide showed up and gave us a very detailed history of the kitchen and Evelyn. As he was doing so, he was moving us out. Turns out the door that said “Staff Only” had been left open and Scott and I walked right in.
The Grounds
Unfortunately, we were not able to tour the second floor where the bedrooms and bathrooms were located. So from there, we toured the rest of the gardens and grounds. The first building we came upon was the caretaker’s building. Evelyn took very good care of the caretakers, treating them like family.
Next, we came upon an “art workshop” – there was a tour going on, so we didn’t stay long enough to learn all of the history here.
The /Greenhouse
The next building we came upon was Evelyn’s greenhouse and Tiki Bar. She collected shells and displayed them all over her house. In the Tiki Bar, there was a clock that was permanently set at 5:00pm. LOL!
The gardens of Bonnet House are a botanical marvel, featuring a diverse array of tropical and subtropical plants. Visitors can explore different sections, including a desert garden, hibiscus garden, and orchid display house, which boasts hundreds of varieties. The estate is also home to native wildlife, such as swans, monkeys, and manatees, enhancing the property’s natural beauty and ecological significance.
Preservation and Public Access
Following Evelyn Bartlett’s death in 1997, the estate was preserved as a historic house museum. Managed by the Bonnet House, Inc., the property is open to the public, offering guided tours that provide insights into the Bartletts’ lives and their contributions to art and culture. The Bonnet House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, ensuring its protection and continued enjoyment by future generations.
Today, Bonnet House and Gardens stands as a testament to the artistic legacy of Frederic and Evelyn Bartlett and serves as a serene oasis amidst the bustling city of Fort Lauderdale. It is a cherished cultural landmark, celebrated for its historical, artistic, and natural significance. Next time you visit Fort Lauderdale, we highly recommend you visit Bonnet House.
As always, thank you for following our journey! Please be sure to follow our YouTube channel (see video below) and follow us on social media @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.
Cheers, Scott and Ally
