FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.- One of the oldest homes in Florida and a popular tourist destination for locals and worldwide visitors alike, the fanciful 35-acre Bonnet House Museum & Gardens in east Fort Lauderdale is celebrating its 100th anniversary now through 2020. A part of Florida’s unique history, the home was built in 1920 as the winter retreat of the Birch/Bartlett family, and is a delightful blend of art, architecture, history and ecology. A property of the Florida Trust, the 35-acre subtropical estate and historic house museum preserves the natural setting of South Florida, situated on what is one of the last examples of a native barrier island habitat in the region.

The official kickoff will commence with Holiday Magic, a series of events taking place Dec. 6–13, 2019 that will delight all the senses. The 100th Anniversary will continue with Bonnet House’s Concerts Under the Stars, an annual series of live music performances from a diverse set of talent. New surprises await with the International Orchid & Garden Festival, a signature Bonnet House event that draws enthusiasts from near and far and features beautiful varieties from locations such as Thailand and Ecuador.

The 100th Anniversary season also includes a variety of exciting events, programs, workshops, tours and classes. The endless options include watercolor, calligraphy and drawing workshops; art, music, holiday cheer, birding, orchid care classes, and other activities that capture the spirit and history of this unique property.

The centennial celebration will be marked with a festive event on Saturday, April 25, 2020 ― the 100th Anniversary Celebration Gala, that will include art, music, cocktails and dinner at the Bonnet House Estate.

As storytelling and sharing is integral for any establishment that has reached the milestone of 100 years, fans are invited to share their Bonnet House memories on social media with the hashtag, #BonnetHouse100 on the property’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter channels. In fact, those who share their photos of any feature at Bonnet House on these social media channels will be entered for a chance to win a Bonnet House prize pack. Submissions are due by December 1, and the winner will be notified by December 5.

For those who also wish to keep future memories alive and thriving at Bonnet House, financial contributions can be made toward the 100th Anniversary Campaign now through Aug. 15, 2019. Patrons who donate at the $100 level or higher will receive a commemorative 100th Anniversary t-shirt, lapel pin and Swarovski crystal pen.

History
Early settler Hugh Taylor Birch purchased the Bonnet House site in 1895, at a time when the grounds had already witnessed 4,000 years of Florida history. Human activity on the site dates back to 2,000 B.C., evidenced by a shell midden left by the Tequesta people. Other archaeological evidence lends to the fact that the grounds were one of the first sites of Spanish contact with the New World.

Birch gave the Bonnet House property as a wedding gift to his daughter Helen and her husband, Chicago artist Frederic Clay Bartlett, in 1919. The newlyweds started construction of Bonnet House in 1920. Unfortunately, Helen died from breast cancer in 1925. Frederic’s visits to Bonnet House then became infrequent, until he married Evelyn Fortune Lilly in 1931. The couple then embellished Bonnet House with the decorative and whimsical features that visitors relish to this day.

Frederic died in 1953, but Evelyn returned to the property each winter. In the 1980s, she donated the property so the public could enjoy it. Tucked away from the development along Fort Lauderdale Beach, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens is today accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It was listed on the National Register of Historic places in 1984 and declared a historic landmark by the City of Fort Lauderdale in 2002. In 2004, the National Trust for Historic Preservation included Bonnet House in its Save America’s Treasures program.

Ecology
Five distinct ecosystems are present on the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens property. These include the Atlantic Ocean beach and primary dune, a fresh water slough, the secondary dune which includes the house site, mangrove wetlands, and a maritime forest. The grounds also are home to a Desert Garden featuring arid plantings, a hibiscus garden, and the main courtyard, which is planted with tropical vegetation. Because Evelyn Bartlett was a passionate orchid collector, the estate’s Orchid Display House includes various blooming examples which are regularly rotated.

Many migratory birds make Bonnet House their home, as well as year-round birds indigenous to Florida wetland and coastal areas. On occasion, manatees seek shelter in the estate’s Boathouse Canal; and monkeys can be spotted on the grounds.

Art & Architecture
Frederic gave up his family’s hardware business to become an artist, and a very successful one at that. He worked on mural projects with American architects including Howard Van Doren Shaw, and his easel work was acquired by several highly-respected collections. Today, in the Bonnet House studio, examples of his easel art are on display and his murals and faux painting are seen throughout the main house. Frederic Bartlett was also an avid art collector, and together with Helen, the couple purchased and then gifted many significant works of art to the Art Institute of Chicago.

Evelyn Fortune Bartlett began painting in 1933, and her work was featured in popular gallery exhibits in Boston, New York, and Indianapolis. Her works are today on display in Bonnet House’s Carl J. Weinhardt Gallery.

As for architecture, the Bonnet House’s main house is based on Frederic’s interpretation of Caribbean-style architecture. All of the principal buildings ― the main house, art studio, music studio and guest house ― are of unique architecture and designed by Frederic Bartlett. Today, the house museum epitomizes not only historic and environmental preservation, but also learning and creative expression ― reflecting the Bartletts’ and Birches’ lifestyles. It is home to a wonderful collection of art and personal treasures.

“Throughout its remarkable 100-year history, Bonnet House has preserved the beauty, creativity and unique style of the Bartletts and Birches, and the early 20th century lifestyle, with incredible authenticity,” said Patrick Shavloske, CEO of Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. “Not many landmarks in Florida have reached 100 years ― it is truly amazing how this estate and property have stood the test of time. It is a pleasure to help today’s community connect with the Bartletts’ architectural, artistic and environmental legacy.”