Designed and built in 1920 by artist Frederic Clay Bartlett, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens is a 35-acre subtropical estate and one of the few complete homes of an American artist that is open to the public. Guests can tour the Main House, where they will find fascinating examples of Bartlett's trompe l'oeil paintings, including ceiling murals, faux marble walls and floors, and life-like balustrades, as well as his fish and shell sculptures.
Bartlett's Studio still houses his paints, palettes, and unfinished work, while the Gallery is a showplace for his wife's portraits and still life paintings. Located right along the beachfront, the Gardens offer guests lovely walks through coastal hammocks and mangrove swamps, wildlife sightings of monkeys, foxes, swans, and wading birds, and a stunning orchid collection. Bonnet House also offers some unique classes, including, calligraphy, birding, watercolor, poetry, and orchid workshops.
