Park Summary for Print - The Barnacle Historic State Park

View of the front of two-story historic house with red tile roof. Musician on patio of house playing a concert for a group of visitors on the lawn.

Welcome to The Barnacle Historic State Park

This beautiful house with a whimsical name dates to a quieter time. The Barnacle, built in 1891, offers a glimpse of Old Florida during The Era of the Bay. Situated on the shore of Biscayne Bay, this was the home of Ralph Middleton Munroe, one of Coconut Grove´s most charming and influential pioneers. Munroe's principal passion was designing yachts. In his lifetime, he drew plans for 56 different boats. As a seaman, civic activist, naturalist, and photographer, Commodore Munroe was a man who cherished the natural world around him. A walk into the park passes through a tropical hardwood hammock. In the 1920s, it was representative of the original landscape within the city of Miami. Today, it is one of the last remnants of the once vast Miami Hammock. Enjoy sitting in the rocking chairs on the spacious porch used as a gathering place or on a bench under a tree for solitude.

Contact the Florida Park Service Information Center for general inquiries.
For Information about The Barnacle Historic State Park, please call 305-442-6866.

Hours of Operation

The Barnacle is open Friday through Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with tours at 10 and 11:30 a.m.; 1 and 2:30 p.m. The park is available on Wednesday and Thursday for group tours by advance reservation. The park is closed on Tuesdays, New Year´s, Thanksgiving and Christmas days.

Driving Directions

The Barnacle is located in Coconut Grove (Miami) at 3485 Main Highway.

Park Fees

Admission Fee:

$2.00 per person. Please use honor box to pay fees. Correct change is required.

Museum Tour Fee:

$3.00 per adult.

$1.00 per child, ages 6-12.

Free, children 5 and younger.

Activities at The Barnacle Historic State Park

	Facilities
	Guided Tours Guided tours of The Barnacle house are available on Friday through Monday at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m; and on Wednesday and Thursday for group tours with advance reservations. The park is closed on Tuesday. The tour fee is $3.00 for adults; $1.00 for children ages 6-12; free for 5 years and under. Tickets may be purchased at the park office.
	Interpretive Exhibit Interpretive exhibits are available covering the pioneer period of Coconut Grove’s history, as well as the plants and animals found in the park.
	Picnic Areas Picnic tables are available in naturally shaded areas of the park.
	Wildlife Viewing The Barnacle Historic State Park is an oasis in the urban landscape. It provides shelter and food for many local and migratory birds and animals. With habitat ranging from some of the last of the Miami Hammock to shallow seagrass beds, the park provides an excellent opportunity for wildlife viewing.

Special Events for The Barnacle Historic State Park

OLD TIME DANCE
Date: November 22, 6:00 PM

Description: Kick up your heels to traditional American music played by Mudhole Control while learning traditional American folk dance steps from Rae Newoman. Dances such as circles, squares, contras, and waltzes were all the rage in the 1800s, so come dance like it's 1891! Gates open at 6pm, live music and dancing from 6:30-10pm. No pets or alcohol please.
Fees: $10.00 - 10 years and older
Contact: (305) 442-6866

Participation Requirements
OLD TIME DANCE
Date: January 24, 6:00 PM

Description: Kick up your heels to traditional American music played by Mudhole Control while learning traditional American folk dance steps from Rae Newoman. Dances such as circles, squares, contras, and waltzes were all the rage in the 1800s, so come dance like it's 1891! Gates open at 6pm, live music and dancing from 6:30-10pm. No pets or alcohol please.
Fees: $10.00 - 10 years and older
Contact: (305) 442-6866

Participation Requirements
STARLIGHT MOVIE CLASSICS - CASABLANCA
Date: November 29, 6:00 PM

Description: Watch an American classic movie on the lawn of The Barnacle while feasting on your own picnic with friends and family. This semi-annual event is for Barnacle Society members only. Gates open at 6pm, movie starts at 7 pm. No entry after 7:15 pm. No pets. To learn how to become a member, please call (305) 442-6866.
Fees: Free to Barnacle Society Members
Contact: (305) 442-6866

Participation Requirements
BARNACLE UNDER MOONLIGHT - MIAMI'S TOP BRASS
Date: December 2, 6:00 PM

Description: Bring a blanket, bring a picnic, bring your friends and family and join us on the lawn of The Barnacle for a holiday concert as the full moon lights up the skies of South Florida. Gates open at 6pm, music from 7-9pm. No Pets; No Alcohol.
Fees: Over age 10 $7; ages 6-9 $3; under 6 are free
Contact: (305) 442-6866
BARNACLE UNDER MOONLIGHT - DEBLOIS MILLEDGE
Date: January 30, 6:00 PM

Description: Bring a blanket, bring a picnic, bring your friends and family and join us on the lawn of The Barnacle for a full moon concert as the blue moon lights up the skies of South Florida. Featured is Deblois Milledge, an eclectic performer mixing folk, blues, jazz, rock and roll, and more to create her unique sound. Gates open at 6pm, music from 7-9pm. No Pets; No Alcohol.
Fees: Over age 10 $7; ages 6-9 $3; under 6 are free
Contact: (305) 442-6866

Participation Requirements
WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY REGATTA
Date: February 27, Race begins at 12:00 PM

Description: Follow in the footsteps of Commodore Ralph Munroe, yacht designer, Coconut Grove pioneer, and founder of Biscayne Bay Yacht Club. The Washington’s Birthday Regatta originated at Munroe's new boathouse in 1887.

This fun race is open to vessels of traditional design regardless of construction: mud hens, sea pearls, bullseyes, sharpies, Bahama dinghies, cat boats, gaff-rigs, etc.

There will be a Skipper's Meeting at 10:30 AM. The race will begin at noon, rain or shine.
Fees: Boat entry fee for participants. Park admission.
Contact: (305) 442-6896

Participation Requirements
BARNACLE UNDER MOONLIGHT - ALHAMBRA ORCHESTRA
Date: February 28, 6:00 PM

Description: Bring a blanket, bring a picnic, bring your friends and family and join us on the lawn of The Barnacle for a Moonlight Pops concert. This is the highly anticipated appearance of The Alhambra Orchestra. Gates open at 6pm, music from 7-9pm. Attendance is limited to the first 800 people, arrive early to be sure of admission. No Pets.
Fees: Over age 5 - $10; 5 and under are free.
Contact: (305) 442-6866

Participation Requirements

The Barnacle Historic State Park Ranger Programs

GUIDED TOURS OF THE BARNACLE
Year-round, Fri.-Mon.; 10, 11:30, 1, 2:30
Situated on the shore of Biscayne Bay, The Barnacle Historic State Park features one of the oldest homes in Miami-Dade County in its original location. Home to pioneer boat designer Ralph Middleton Munroe, The Barnacle and surrounding grounds offer visitors a rare glimpse at a bygone era. Group tours available Wednesday and Thursday by advance reservation. The park is closed on Tuesday. Park entrance fee.

Participation Requirements

Call 305-442-6866 for more details.
YOGA BY THE SEA
Wednesdays, 6 - 7:30 PM
Yoga will be on Tuesday, 11/24 so that participants and staff may spend Wednesday evening with friends and family on Thanksgiving preparations.

Enjoy a mid-week restorative yoga practice in the Real Florida, in the heart of the Grove. This class is for all levels and will be held on the grassy front lawn of The Barnacle overlooking Biscayne Bay (in case of rain, class will meet in the Micco Pavilion). Bring a mat, blocks, and a strap.

There is minimal parking inside the park, so car pool if possible and arrive prior to 6 p.m. to ensure that the class begins promptly. Enjoy the peace and tranquility that The Barnacle offers for Yoga by the Sea.

Classes are $13 each which includes park entrance fee.

Participation Requirements

Call (305) 442-6866 for more details.

The Barnacle Historic State Park History

Ralph Munroe first visited South Florida in 1877 while on vacation from New York. His next visit to the area was not as pleasant. In 1881, doctors told Munroe that his wife Eva and her sister Adeline suffered from tuberculosis. According to Munroe, doctors warned that without an absolute change of climate, they would be incurable.

Munroe immediately thought of beautiful Biscayne Bay, and at once prepared to take them there. Despite his efforts, illness took its toll. Eva passed away at their camp along the bank of the Miami River. Her sister’s death followed and Munroe was met with the news of the death of his infant daughter upon his arrival back in New York.

He returned to South Florida in 1882 to visit the grave of his wife and to help an acquaintance open a hotel on the shore of Biscayne Bay. First known as Bay View Villa, the hotel was renamed Peacock Inn and the establishment had a long and profitable history.

Ralph Munroe originally purchased 40 acres of bayfront land in 1886 for $400 and one of his sailboats, Kingfish, which he valued at an additional $400. His boathouse was built in 1887 and Munroe lived in its upper floor until he had his main house built in 1891. The house was a one-story structure which was raised off the ground on wood pilings. Its central room was octagonal in shape and Munroe came to call his home the "Barnacle." It remained a bungalow until more space was needed in 1908. At that time the whole structure, as it stood, was lifted and a new first floor inserted below. The Barnacle house survived the disastrous hurricane of 1926 and Hurricane Andrew in 1992 with only minimal damage.

Ralph Munroe’s principal zest in life was designing yachts. Boats were a major form of transportation in the early days and yachting was a popular sport. Many South Florida pioneers commissioned Munroe to design their yachts. In 1887, a group of residents formed the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club. They elected Ralph Munroe as Commodore, a title he held for 22 years. In his lifetime, the Commodore drew plans for 56 different boats. Micco, the last of Munroe’s boats in existence, was displayed here until Hurricane Andrew’s impact reduced the 101-year-old vessel to fragments. Egret, a replica of Munroe’s 28-foot modified sharpie, is now moored offshore. The fall of 1894 marked the beginning of Ralph Munroe’s new family. He met Miss Jessie Wirth while on a cruise with friends. They were married that spring, the beginning of a long and happy home life at the Barnacle. In 1900, Jessie gave birth to a daughter, Patty. Patty was followed two years later by her brother Wirth. The family took frequent cruises on the Bay and the children learned to sail at a very early age.

With the Florida Reef lining the southeast coast, ships frequently ran aground. Many people in the area made a living by salvaging these ships - a profession called wrecking. This was one of Ralph Munroe’s most adventurous endeavors. Before his time, wrecking activities were often carried out by pirates and buccaneers. Munroe’s wrecking days were honorable. There were formal contracts between wrecking companies and underwriters. Work was performed by divers, steam winches, pumps, barges, tugs and other modern equipment of the era. When on a tour of the Barnacle, you will see some remnants of Munroe’s wrecking ventures.

As you walk into this historic site from busy Main Highway, you are surrounded by a forest called a tropical hardwood hammock. In the 1920s it was a representative example of the original landscape within the limits of Miami. Today, it is one of the last places where one can see a remnant of the once vast "Miami Hammock." Commodore Munroe preserved the original hammock between the road and the Barnacle, cutting out only a winding buggy trail barely wide enough for one vehicle. As a result, the forest contains many old trees and appears much as it did in Munroe’s day.

As a historian, naturalist and photographer, Commodore Munroe was a man far ahead of his time. His home, the Barnacle, reflects the image of a simpler time in South Florida’s past. His property, home and its contents easily depict a lifestyle that exists no more. Enjoy your visit to this special part of the Real Florida’s past.