Bonnet House Museum & Gardens Visitors Guide

This property has a long romantic history that started in 1919 when real estate investor and attorney Hugh Taylor Birch gifted the 35-acre property to his daughter Helen Louise Birch and her husband Frederic Clay Bartlett. In 1920, Frederic built Bonnet House. After Helen’s death from breast cancer in 1925, Frederic’s visits to Bonnet House became less frequent until he married Evelyn Fortune Lilly in 1931. Together they adorned Bonnet House with the decorative elements that astound visitors to this day.

The Bonnet House Museum & Gardens is a historic, beautiful home—a favorite of locals and visitors alike. You'll see a fantastic collection of decorative and fine art and original furnishings in the main house. The property also features a Desert Garden composed of arid plantings, a hibiscus garden, and the main courtyard planted with tropical vegetation.