Barnacle Historic State Park
Coconut Grove
House/Mansion/Villa
Fodor’s Expert Review
A pristine bay-front manse sandwiched between cramped luxury developments, Barnacle is Miami's oldest house still standing on its original foundation. To get here, you'll hike along an old buggy trail through a tropical hardwood hammock and landscaped lawn leading to Biscayne Bay. Built in 1891 by Florida's first snowbird—New Yorker Commodore Ralph Munroe—the large home, built of timber that Munroe salvaged from wrecked ships, has many original furnishings, a broad sloping roof, and deeply recessed verandas that channel sea breezes into the house. Every second Sunday from September to May, the park stays open late for the monthly Moonlight Concerts; the old-fashioned picnic on July 4 is a popular annual event.
