The Bonnet House Museum & Gardens recently announced the reintroduction of its VIP Upstairs/Downstairs Tours of the main house on the 35-acre subtropical estate on Fort Lauderdale Beach. These small group tours include a sneak peek of the typically closed areas of Evelyn and Frederic Bartlett’s private living quarters, as well as exclusive entrance to rooms that have not been seen on standard Bonnet House tours. The iconic Bonnet House estate was built in 1920 as the winter retreat of the Birch/Bartlett family.
The Upstairs/Downstairs Tours, which seasoned Bonnet House hosts will lead, will be offered from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the second, third and fourth Wednesday of each month beginning on Jan. 12, 2022 and running through April 2022. The tours will be offered in groups of 10 to allow for questions and discussion and will cost $40 per person. Limited reservations are available and pre-registration is required. Please note that climbing stairs are necessary to participate in these tours fully.
Having celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2020, the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens tours blend art, architecture, history and ecology. The estate, historic house and museum help preserve the natural setting of South Florida, situated on what is one of the last examples of a native barrier island habitat in the region. Visitors can experience life on a beachfront estate in the 1930s and 40s. The grounds contain the Main House, which features a vast collection of decorative and fine art and a nature trail. The Bonnet House offers newly designed self-guided tours in addition to guided tours, programs, events, workshops and classes.
To register for the Upstairs/Downstairs Tours, please visit here. Bonnet House is located at 900 North Birch Rd. in Fort Lauderdale and is open for tours Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
