Beautiful spot. Lots of peaceful places for contemplation including a butterfly garden and bayfront observation spots Can't wait to go back read more

Most of the area was closed due to the hurricanes last year, they could have told us that before we paid. $20 person for a few block walk to see only a couple houses, a small butterfly enclosure and one garden really wasn't what I expected. Maybe Ok for a small child..... read more

This is technically a botanical garden, but it really is more like a historical museum. It's a beautiful place to walk and enjoy nature and artifacts. There is a person there with a big golf cart to help people get around the park. The cafe was pleasant. You can sit there and eat in front of the bay. read more

See all

There is no diversity of plants, it is no better than just walking through the woods or a neighborhood park. Then we went to the north campus thinking it might be better, but they did not accept our receipt for the south campus even though it was on the same day. $40 down the drain...so disappointing read more

We have been trying to visit local sights since the snow birds left! These gardens provide the most historical information about pioneer FL and the indigenous population than any other place that we have found here. If the weather is cool enough, the 45 minute boat tour sounds like a pleasant way to admire the intercostal. ( Wed and Fridays- make online reservations- includes admission) For us, it was too hot to sign up for the noon tour as wanted to walk around during the cooler temps. We spent a couple of hours walking the easy trails and admiring the lovely water vistas, historical buildings, local fauna, quaint butterfly house. There is a golf cart that drives around starting later morning in case you want a ride. Free parking but space is limited. read more

nice staff, not much plant variety. Perhaps the sister garden in Sarasota proper is more botanically diverse. lovely stroll but no bathrooms near the entrance, be forewarned. lots of foliage along the paths. read more

Historic Spanish Point is truly amazing. Now owned by Marie Selby Gardens, you will be immersed in history, nature, and finesse. I can describe this as a campus like the Marie Selby Gardens in nearby Sarasota. There are many landmarks along the way with a great story from back in the day. Two of my most favorite features are the sunken garden with beautiful bougainvillea flowers everywhere and the butterfly house. It recently opened in late 2020, so I definitely wanted to check it out. Historic Spanish Point is perfect for one who loves nature with picturesque water views and garden views. I think there is a lot for everyone. Check it out! It's a perfect trip that doesn't break a buck where there is a great amount of sun and shade. And is easy to social distance. Also it is best to wear gym shoes instead of flip flops. I'm so happy I followed that tip. read more

See all

An absolute treasure trove of beautiful and exotic plants scenery and history. The employees we encountered are volunteers. They performed their jobs stupendously by carting us to several spots and answering our questions with regard to the Palmer family that owned this area around the turn of the 20th century Even on this cool day we were able to appreciate the lavish beauty of the flowers that adorned the trails. The orchids were colorful and displayed God's artistic work. The butterfly area was housed in a tent like meshing filled with a variety of jeweled flowering plants. We enjoyed watching these graceful beauties drink their lunch There is a small cafe that serves hot sandwiches hot coffee and cold beer along with chips freshly made cookies and granola and various other available snacks and drinks. Many restrooms along the path so you need not worry about access to needed facilities. There are plenty of areas available for picturesque settings to create your memories on camera. There is a little white chapel there with beautifully stained glass windows vaulted ceilings with a taste of Pennsylvania Dutch architecture. The original bell sits by the pulpit as well as original antique furnishings Their are still some projects being worked on. But this place was so clean and well kept in good working order. You can tell a lot of detail has been placed into this. Much love has been contributed to this gorgeous park A lovely day in nature and with God and good friends. read more

See all

Such a beautiful botanical garden, I especially loved the walk through butterfly garden. Will definitely return when it is cooler outside.

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful spot. I'm a lover of nature, history, beautiful gardens, and archeology, so wow! We went in the morning and enjoyed the relatively cooler temps in July. Lots of good shade and many interesting things to observe. The house to tour is gorgeous- a woodworkers dream home. The way the archeology museum was constructed is nothing short of genius! The only shortcoming is I wanted more. More on the prehistoric culture, more artifacts, etc. Definitely wear shoes for hiking the crushed shell trails. A little bug spray probably a good idea too. read more

See all

Hands down one of the coolest places around. If you're into history or enjoy water views, this is the place to visit! Pro tip: wear comfortable shoes/clothing if you visit bc you will do a lot of walking on the shell pathways. You will have to pay to get in and do a self guided tour(unless you join the daily your). There is a free app to download that will help you walk through the properties and give you some history facts as you go. The only thing that I wasn't happy with is Selby Gardens just purchased the property and none of the history plaques were up to read. I'm sure they will eventually add their branded plaques. read more

If you love nature, I recommend coming to Historic Spanish Point. It's very beautiful. They give you a map of the place and you just walk around. Everyone, there is very friendly. My favorite part is the footbridge that overlooks the lake. I went with my family and it's a nice attraction to go to for fun and relaxation. The butterfly area is also very nice at the attraction, each of the butterflies is beautiful. read more

See all

We loved checking out the sprawling space & learning about the history of the land and buildings from the volunteers. A bit over a mile loop allowed us to get some great exercise on a nice day, but we would've liked to see more signage or details about the marked spots instead of just a numbered sign. My mom & I both love learning & were looking forward to getting the historic details as well as the insight on the plant life throughout the space. The water views were fabulous, and the food truck had delicious options by the White Cottage. I got the sliders & my mom got the fish tacos; she said they were the best fish tacos she had ever had & my sliders were incredibly juicy & tasty. The butterfly garden was a cool little spot & the volunteer was super knowledgeable. The wood working in the Guptil house was incredibly, & the stained glass in the chapel was beautiful. The estate is well maintained and cared for; additional informational signage would be the only improvement I would like to see. read more

Beautiful place to walk around and see the water. Butterfly garden is also filled with different butterflies.

Lovely place to spend a few hours north of Venice, FL. Staff is helpful and friendly. You will have to walk about 2 miles on flat, paved paths. A tram is available for non-walkers. Very cool experience of history from ancient Americans to pioneers to early 1900's. We went slightly after season and would have liked some more docents at sites but still able to read history. Well kept and amazing views of little Sarasota Bay. read more

Historic Spanish Point - Sunken Garden - Museums Near Me - Osprey, Florida

See all

Went for a wedding out by the water, it was absolutely stunning. For about 80 people it was the perfect sized venue. The lights that they put in the bushes and trees are beautiful, and the garden area was just serene for the ceremony. Growing up in Sarasota I wondered where the best places to get married are and honestly Spanish Pointe never crossed my mind, I always just thought of it as the historic place we went to on field trips as kids (which that part is great too). But the venue was wonderful and the staff were so helpful. I hear they also have a small chapel for even smaller weddings, but I thought the place by the water was just perfect. read more

Historic Spanish Point - Beautiful spot for a wedding. - Museums Near Me - Osprey, Florida

Ten bucks entrance fee at the gate to roam around the estate.Nothing worth seeing here. good to kill time when you have nothing else to do but the 10 bucks fee is expensive just to walk around and check out old houses. read more

See all

Old Florida. I was sorry I wore sandals - most of the trails were shell. Spent a lot of time kicking shell out of my show. Otherwise, it's a nice walk in the mangroves. read more

See all

A childhood favorite. This place is not only beautiful but very educational. Took a few field trips and many picnic's here as a kid, as well as anyone in my family who came down to visit. The landscaping and natural beauty here is always a refreshing reminder of the paradise we live in. I can't wait to come back soon! read more

We had friends visiting us and since we were new to the area we hadn't been on the tour and didn't know what to expect. We were greeted by a volunteer at the museum who started a video for us to watch for a few minutes so that we had a nice overview of what we would be seeing. A tour began about a half hour after we arrived which lasted for approximately 1.5 hours. Our volunteer tour guide was fabulous. He was knowledgeable and easy to hear and understand. In total the walking area is probably a mile but each segment was only a 10 minute walk between so it's not strenuous for most seniors. There is a tram that will bring you from site to site but it didn't seem to be operating the day we were there. I was surprised to read Alk K's negative review and have to wonder if he/she took the tour or just walked around by themselves. We went on a windy overcast day so it was a little uncomfortable but the experience was well worth while. I'm going to put this on the A tour for our visitors. read more

Hidden gem in Sarasota. Very interesting to people of all ages. The Indian shell mound is a must see. You may want to bring some bug spray.

This was a last minute stop on our way home from a Siesta Key vacation and I'm so glad I found Historic Spanish Point on Yelp. I found it to be a fascinating old Florida and prehistoric Florida history lesson. My kids, ages 10, 12, 15 & 16 enjoyed it too, especially the "Window to the Past" which is an incredible archeological excavation of a prehistoric shell mound. Many thanks to volunteer Bonnie, who gave us so many interesting facts while we toured the Guptill House! She was so knowledgeable. We did the self-guided walking tour, but I understand there is a once-per-day guided tour (off season) as well. I highly recommend Historic Spanish Point to anyone who likes historical tourism and/or archaeology. read more

It is a beautiful setting , the place is on the water but the food is very mediocre . Very long waiting time for food

Love the history I do wish more locals would volunteer to keep up the grounds a bit more. It is lovely and a great tribute to Sarasota County's history! Let's work to keep this historic establishment in existence read more

We love to visit historic places when we travel. This place is very clean, informative and the volunteer staff are very nice. You can see historical artifacts, witness the architectural ruins and the remodeling job done to some structures throughout the place. The butterfly garden is very peaceful, trails are very well labeled, and dog walkers you can even find a waste disposal station. Gift shop is very modest and the admission prices are very reasonable. read more

Historic Spanish Point - Museums Near Me - Osprey, Florida

A great historic place to stop bye. Take your time and enjoy the surroundings. Nice leisurely cool stroll on a hot day. Fascinating to learn the history Florida. read more

Worth the visit. A hidden gem in Sarasota. Very knowledgable guides. Will definitely be back.

My husband and I visited this place on 7/30/2011. This is really worth more like 3.5 stars. My advice - don't be stupid like us and go during the summer! Any other time of the year you will enjoy it a lot more. Wear cool clothes if you plan to visit any month from April to September, and also wear good walking shoes. The paths are all crushed shells, and it's about a mile from beginning to end. This is a good place to visit if you enjoy history in general. When you get your ticket, they also give you a map that includes family activities on it (a scavenger hunt of sorts). I thought this was a neat way to get kids more interested in history. There is some interesting history here and some good photo ops of the bay. Historic buildings include an old school house which now doubles as the visitor center, a church, a recreated orange packing plant, a boat house, and various homes. One of the homes is done up in the way it would have looked at the turn of the 20th century. We both really enjoyed the movie room half way around the trail. You watch a small video on the history of the natives and other settlers and walk around to see the Indian mounds behind the glass. There are various places to stop and enter AC, but they don't keep it cool enough and you end up sweating indoors as well. Lots of little things to read at the various stops along the trail, again all on the history of the natives and a lot of the Palmer family. A good place to spend 3 hours max. Be aware that they do not have a place to eat, but you can bring a picnic and eat on the grounds. They do offer bottled water in the gift shop for $1. read more

I ended up here on accident, walking from nearby area, so I did the whole thing in reverse. It was very interesting. I like learning about older human history, so the shale mound was the best part for me. Also liked learning more about Bertha Palmer and the early orange industry. Very pleasant walks. Beautiful scenery. I would bet that teens would be bored out of their minds, though read more

I volunteered at the fairy festival today not knowing what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. It was great to see such an event being held for children as well as their parents and grandparents spending quality time with them. We need more events like this. The planning that it took and the volunteers contributing their time hopefully made it a success. I will help again and I would encourage others to help in the future. It was very organized and everyone was enjoying the activities. read more

Spanish Pointe is an excellent place to get a look back in time. Beautifully, shaded grounds to explore and learn about Florida's rich history. Wear good walking shoes and be prepared to take your time to enjoy the scenic stops along the way. February was an absolutely gorgeous time of year to visit. read more

Not worth paying $12/pp super disappointing. The butterfly garden needs to be maintained and its just a boring trail. Go to the beach for free. read more

I have lived here 16 years and never visited. Spectacular place to walk. It has so many little nooks and crannies of interest. I could see why people have weddings here. At Christmas it is all lit up and people tell me it is magical. Its like going back to old Florida. Lots of history of how it was and who settled it. I highly recommend a visit. Give yourself plenty of time to wander and stop to admire the views. read more

Very disappointing to drive all the way there, find out it is closed today for special event, even closed to members! The greeter at the gate didn't communicate, was clueless--very awful! read more

It has been a couple of years since we visited Spanish Point. Our company wanted to go and I was worried it would be boring a second time. However, it was fun and interesting. It really is a beautiful historic part of old Florida. read more

Probably the most historic site in SW Florida. Definitely worth a visit. Covers original Calusa Indians who build the shell mounds to early pioneers to Bertha Palmer who settled in the area and made Spanish Point her winter home. Enjoyed viewing a totally excavated shell mound. read more

Spotted the sign while driving by on my way to lunch. Stopped in the museum to ask what it was they staff greeted me and answered all my questions. It was a nice hike thru the woods. The houses are set up like they were several years ago. It was nice to see the historic aspects while seeing nature as well. Very pleased!! I will recommend and return. read more

Delightfully historic. Take the time to see it all, and to read all the history. This is probably not the best place for children, but the grounds are well worth more then just a quick stroll. I suggest you pack a picnic lunch and some water. Pets are welcome if leashed. We did not spot any gators. read more