The Barnacle Historic State Park Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids The Barnacle Historic State Park
The Barnacle, built in 1891 by Commodore Ralph Munroe
The Barnacle Historic State Park Location in Florida
Location	Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida, United States
Area	5 acres (2.0 ha)
Created	1973 (1973)
Governing body	Florida State Parks
Website	The Barnacle Historic State Park

The Barnacle Historic State Park is a 5-acre Florida State Park located in the Coconut Grove area of Miami, Florida. You can find it at 3485 Main Highway.

This park is home to the oldest house in its original spot in Miami-Dade County. The house, called "The Barnacle," was built in 1891. It belonged to Ralph Middleton Munroe, who was one of the people who helped start Coconut Grove. He was also the founder and leader (called "Commodore") of the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club. Plus, he was a top designer of sailing yachts. In 1973, the Florida Park Service bought the 5 acres that were left of Munroe's first 40-acre property from his family.

You can get to The Barnacle Historic State Park using the Miami Metrorail. The closest stops are the Douglas Road and Coconut Grove stations.

The Story of The Barnacle Park
Timeline: Key Dates for The Barnacle
Things to Do at The Barnacle
Visiting Hours and Fees
How to Get There and Parking
Images for kids
See also

The Story of The Barnacle Park

A historic sign at the park's entrance

Ralph Middleton Munroe first visited South Florida in 1877 while on vacation from New York City. He liked the area so much that he decided to live there. In 1887, he chose to settle in the beautiful Biscayne Bay.

Ralph Munroe bought 40 acres of land by the bay in 1886. He paid $400 in cash and also traded one of his sailboats, the Kingfish, which was worth another $400. He built his boathouse in 1887 and lived on its top floor. He stayed there until his main house was finished in 1891.

Building the Barnacle House

The main house was a one-story building raised off the ground on wooden posts. Its main room is shaped like an octagon. Munroe named his home "The Barnacle" because it looked like the small sea creatures that stick to boats.

The house stayed a small bungalow until 1908. By then, Munroe's family was growing, and they needed more space. So, the entire house was lifted up, and a new first floor was built underneath it. In 1912, a library was added next to the house. The Barnacle house was strong enough to survive the big 1926 hurricane and Hurricane Andrew in 1992 with only minor damage.

Commodore Munroe's Love for Boats

Ralph Munroe's biggest passion was designing yachts. In the early days of Coconut Grove, boats were the main way to get around. Yachting was also a very popular sport. Many people in South Florida asked Munroe to design their yachts.

In 1887, a group of local people started the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club. They chose Munroe as their "Commodore," which is a title for a leader of a yacht club. He held this important role for 22 years! During his life, he drew plans for 56 different yachts.

One of Munroe's last boats, Micco, was on display at the park for many years. Sadly, Hurricane Andrew in 1992 destroyed the 101-year-old boat. Today, a copy of Munroe's 28-foot modified sharpie boat, named Egret, is anchored offshore.

Nature at The Barnacle

Commodore Munroe cared a lot about the natural world around him. He was a sailor, a community leader, a nature lover, and a photographer. When you walk into the park, you will go through a tropical hardwood hammock. This area shows what the original landscape of Miami looked like. Today, it is one of the last remaining parts of the huge Miami Hammock that once covered the area.

Early Events at the Bay

In the spring of 1887, Ralph Munroe organized a boat race (called a regatta) on Biscayne Bay. Fifteen boats took part, split into three groups. The winners were Ada, Maggie, and Edna. After the race, about fifty people enjoyed a big dinner at Peacock's (the Peacock Inn). This event started organized water sports on the Bay. The "Washington's Birthday Regatta" became a regular event for the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club.

Timeline: Key Dates for The Barnacle

Here are some important dates in the history of The Barnacle and its land:

Before 1846: This area was mostly empty, like much of South Florida.
1846: The land was first officially surveyed (mapped).
1868: Edmund Beasley claimed the site under the Homestead Act. He might have dug a well and built a small house there.
1870: Beasley died, leaving the land to his wife, Anna.
1873: Dr. Horace Porter started a post office on the site and called it Cocoanut Grove.
1877: Mrs. Beasley sold the land to John W. Frow, who was a lighthouse keeper at Cape Florida.
1886: Ralph Munroe bought 40 acres of land for $400, plus his boat "Kingfish" (valued at $400).
1887: Ralph Munroe built his boathouse, where he lived at first. The first Washington's Birthday Regatta was held.
1891: Ralph started building The Barnacle house.
1895: Ralph married Jessie Wirth.
1908: The house was lifted, and a new first floor was added.
1913: Electricity was added to the house, and a library was built.
1926: The original boathouse was destroyed by a hurricane. The house had only minor damage. A new boathouse was later built.
1928: The house got its current look when porches were enclosed and the library and kitchen were made bigger.
1933: Ralph Munroe died at age 82.
1973: The Munroe family sold the site to the State of Florida, making it a state park.
1992: Hurricane Andrew badly damaged the boathouse and destroyed the boat "Micco". The house itself had only very small damage.

Things to Do at The Barnacle

During the day, you can explore the historic site, have a picnic, and watch for local wildlife. The park often hosts concerts and other events throughout the year. This makes it a popular place to visit in Miami.

Visiting Hours and Fees

The Barnacle is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Guided tours of the house are available at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. These tours are offered Friday through Monday. Groups can also book tours by reservation on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The park is closed on Tuesdays, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Admission to the park costs $2 per person for everyone aged 6 and older. You can pay at a self-pay station near the restrooms or in the park's gift shop. If you want to go inside the house, you need to take a guided tour. This tour costs an extra $3 per person for those over 12, and $1 for children aged 6–12. Tours are given on a first-come, first-served basis.

How to Get There and Parking

The park sign on Main Highway

The park entrance is on the northbound side of Main Highway. It's located between Abitare and The Cloister Townhomes. There is no parking inside the park itself, except for people with disabilities. However, you can find a public parking lot next to the Coconut Grove playhouse. There is also street parking available throughout the neighborhood.