Bonnet House Museum and Gardens is located on one of the last native barrier island habitats in Florida and contains five unique ecosystems. Do you have Students who love to study outdoors? Our 35-acre property provides plenty of curriculum-worthy experiences. Begin your exploration along our unique Timeline starting from the Bonnet House beachfront shore through a hardwood hammock, freshwater slough, several dunes, an heirloom fruit grove, expansive mangrove habitats to a private cove along the Intracoastal waterway.
This huge outdoor learning environment includes our 100-year-old historic home built in 1920 by the Birch and Bartlett Families from Chicago. Mr. Hugh Taylor Birch studied nature, while his daughter Helen was a Poet, Composer, and Fine Art Collector. Frederic and Evelyn Bartlett were American Artists with eclectic styles. Is there a Photographer or Artist in your Family? Something amazing will catch your eye around every corner!
There is a Subject Area for every student at Bonnet House. To complement the depth of educational material for authentic learning, the Bonnet House barrier island history goes back to 1000 AD during the time of the Tequesta, our native South Florida Tribe. Interested in Conquistadors? We have a conch shell excavated from our barrier island that has been carbon-dated to 1500. Is there another decade that needs exploring? Did you know there were German U-boats along our coastline during World War II? Navy Pilots flew over our three-story tower in search of them.
Science, Ecology, Pollinators, Plant Adaptation, Urban Development, and Community Relations are all accessible touchpoints of study at Bonnet House. Do you prefer planning ahead? Discover how climate change might impact this barrier island and seek out solutions for planning a Sustainable Future.
Too many options? Our Education Department offers Curated Field Trips on many topics. Visit us often this academic year. Cross a Chickee Bridge, Explore, Imagine, Research, Team up on a Science Lab, Walk back in Time, Share a Picnic, Observe the Mangrove Critters at low tide, or Create a Photo Journal…
Schedule a Guided Field Trip for your Group of Students and receive Study Guides to take home for further investigation on your own. Bonnet House Museum and Gardens await your arrival! Click here for more information and to schedule your next learning adventure.
