Bonnet House keeps Fort Lauderdale close to its old coastal art side

Bonnet House sits near Fort Lauderdale’s busy beach. Once you step in, the city feels a little slower.

The land has a story older than the house. Evidence points to Tequesta people in the area long before modern Fort Lauderdale grew around the shore. The newer chapter began in 1911, when Hugh Taylor Birch bought the land. His daughter Helen married artist Frederic Bartlett in 1919. Bartlett began building the winter home soon after.

The place grew brighter after Frederic married Evelyn Fortune Lilly in 1931. Together, Frederic and Evelyn filled the house and grounds with art, color, small details, and garden life. Evelyn later gave Bonnet House to the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation in 1983. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Fort Lauderdale named it a local landmark in 2002.

Bonnet House is more than a pretty stop near the sand. It gives the city preserved coastal land, family memory, and handmade art in one place. Check tour times, closures, and event days before going, especially near holidays or big beach events.