The Barnacle Historic State Park

Location: 3485 Main Highway, Coconut Grove

Hours: The Barnacle is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with tours at 10, 11:30 a.m.; 1 and 2:30 p.m. Friday through Monday and for groups by reservation Wednesday and Thursday. The park is closed on Tuesdays, New Year´s, Thanksgiving and Christmas days.

Admission:  $1.00 per person

Overview

Deep in the heart of Coconut Grove there lies an oasis from the hustle and bustle of 21st century life. The Barnacle Historic State Park offers a view of Biscayne Bay and a view of Old Florida. Commodore Ralph Munroe’s home and boathouse are right out of the 19th century and one can well imagine what life may have been like for him and his family as they made their home in the wilds of South Florida, watching and encouraging its growth.

The Barnacle Historic State Park is the home designed and built by Ralph Middleton Munroe, a yacht designer, born in New York City in 1851. It is the oldest home in Miami-Dade County in its original location. Built in 1891 as a one-story bungalow, the house sits atop a limestone ridge that slopes down to beautiful Biscayne Bay. During the Era of the Bay, 1821 to 1896, when there were no roads to Miami, Ralph Munroe was one of the few pioneers to venture into
shallow Biscayne Bay with one of his shoal-draft yachts. He settled here and became an important part of the community. In his home and boathouse are displayed many artifacts representing his life as a yacht designer, wrecker, businessman, one-man-tourism board, family man and community activist.

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