The Bonnet House: A Hidden Jewel in South Florida
Friday, March 29, 2024
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Tragedy struck in 1925 when Helen died from breast cancer. Frederic's visits to Bonnet House then became sporadic until 1931 when he married Evelyn Fortune Lilly.  With this marriage, a renaissance occurred on the site as Frederic and Evelyn entered a prolific  period of embellishing Bonnet House with the decorative elements that delight visitors to this day. Frederic died in 1953, but Evelyn continued to return each winter.

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In 1983, Evelyn Fortune Bartlett gave Bonnet House to the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. Her contribution—at the time, the largest charitable gift in Florida history—ensured that the site would be preserved for the enjoyment and education of future generations. Bonnet House Museum & Gardens is accredited by the American Association of Museums.

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The site was listed on the National Register of Historic places in 1984 and declared a historic landmark by the City of Fort Lauderdale in 2002. In 2004, the National Trust for Historic Preservation included Bonnet House in its Save America's Treasures program. Due to the threat posed by inappropriately massive nearby development, the National Trust and the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation designated listed Bonnet House as one of America's 11 most endangered sites in 2008.

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