This is a historic bridge located in Tarpon Bend, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Ft. Lauderdale…read morethat it is bounded by the New River, South Andrews Avenue and Davie Boulevard. The neighborhood also contains its namesake river, the Tarpon River, a naturally flowing river that meanders through the Tarpon River, Downtown, and Rio Vista neighborhoods. Many ancient artifacts from the Tequesta people have been found in the neighborhood and it was the site of the second Fort Lauderdale during the Seminole Wars. There is a display about the Tequesta artifacts in nearby Lewis Landing Park. Today the neighborhood is prized for its charming historic homes, beautiful parks, and its proximity to the City of Ft. Lauderdale. The bridge was built in 1928 and rebuilt in 1968. It won an Ocean Environmental Design award in 1984. In 1997 City Commissioners renamed the Tarpon River bridge after the late Broward Sheriff Ron Cochran. Cochran was Fort Lauderdale's police chief before becoming sheriff. Today the bridge continues to carry vehicles, bikers, and pedestrians over the Tarpon River. Its bright blue color and paintings of tarpon on the bridge make it an instantly recognizable landmark of Tarpon Bend. It is an easy walk across the charming bridge where you can get a view of the Tarpon River and Lewis Landing Park is just a short stroll away.

The 1913 Shippey House was the home of Broward County's second judge, Frederick Beeker Shippey. Fed…read moreShippey served as county judge from 1920 to 1933 when an illness forced him to resign. As a member of the Elks Lodge, he was recognized for his work with disabled children. Also of note was that he married the celebrities of the time including presiding over the wedding of Tarzan actor and swimming champion, Johnny Weissmuller. The home was slated for demolition in 2008 but was saved and moved at a cost of $200,000 from its original location in Sailboat Bend on Southwest Seventh Avenue to the Riverwalk, home of Ft. Lauderdale's historic buildings. After 5 years of renovation a ribbon cutting ceremony was held in 2016. The building now houses Cycle party Tours, a recreational equipment and tour business. They finished restoring the landscaping and interior of the house. The rent kayaks,bikes, and segways as well as offer tours of Ft. Lauderdale. Next to the Shippey House is a public parking lot that allows people to park and access the river front.

This unique "castle" began as a concrete block house that was built in the 1920's. The coral rock…read moreon the outside and the spires were added later -- in the 1970's. In 1985, the City of Fort Lauderdale listed it as a possible candidate for historic preservation; However, it wasn't until 2022 (after the current owner purchased the property) that the City commission gave it landmark status. The miniature "castle" is located in the Tarpon River neighborhood on the banks of the New River. To the west of the property is the tiniest city park you'll ever see. A small buffer area where the ground is covered with small stones. You wouldn't know it was even an "official" park except for the Parks & Recreation sign. Two City employees were taking measurements of it when we stopped by to see the "castle". Along the River, there is dockage for four large boats. The property has a lovely tree shaded area with stone lions and seating. Per Zillow, it's two lots together with a total area is just under 18.000 square feet. The "castle" itself is only a one-bedroom, one bath house with just under 900 square feet. There is a fence around the property, but you can see over and through it; and when we visited you could walk just inside the open part of the fence even though there were construction workers right next to it. It still is private property so you must be respectful. It's not technically open to the public. So glad we got to see Fort Lauderdale's only "castle".

On this beautiful day, I rode my bike along Himmarshee Street and veered off one road to the south…read morealong the historic district of Riverwalk with scenic views of the New River just in time to watch the railroad draw bridge open its rusty steel jaws to allow yachts to pass. In this area of the Linear Park, which was densely fortified with plants, trees, winding bike and walk paths, there were restaurants, historic landmarks, cultural exhibits and monuments.

The Riverwalk pathway runs from the Esplanade Park through the historic district to the New River…read morebridge and train tracks. Nice area shaded by trees with incredible views of the New River. Great pathways to ride your bike or walk your puppy and have a matcha at Pure Vida.

Above & Beyond Service - Thank You, Captain Patrick!…read more We're staying at the beautiful Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel and decided to head over to Las Olas Boulevard for dinner. On the way back, we chose to try the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi--and it ended up being one of the best decisions of our trip. It was an easy walk to the stop, followed by a gorgeous boat ride through the canals, and we were dropped off right in front of our hotel. Everything about the experience was seamless... until I realized I had left my purse on the boat. Panic set in immediately. I scrambled to find the Water Taxi phone number, fully expecting to leave a message and hope for the best. Instead, after a quick recording, I was given the option to speak to a supervisor--and to my surprise, a real person picked up. That person was Captain Patrick--and he was absolutely incredible. Calm, reassuring, and immediately proactive, he asked which boat I had been on and then called the captain directly while I was still on the phone. Within seconds, he confirmed they had found my purse. Without hesitation, he coordinated a handoff to the next water taxi heading back toward my stop. Not even 10 minutes later, the boat arrived--and my purse was safely back in my hands. I truly could not have asked for a better outcome to a situation I completely created myself. The level of care, urgency, and professionalism Captain Patrick showed was beyond anything I expected. He turned a stressful moment into a story I'll actually be grateful for. The Water Taxi is already a fun and unique way to experience Fort Lauderdale--but it's the people like Captain Patrick who make it exceptional. Highly, highly recommend!

Got a day to waste? Take the water taxi!…read more Took the taxi to get to one restaurant. Just one. Left at 11am. Didn't get back to my point of origination until 5pm. It was an OUTRAGEOUS waste of time waiting for this taxi, then that taxi, not knowing when the next taxi would appear. One taxi was pulling up to the restaurant where I had been waiting for an hour. Finally! I thought. Nope, suddenly the 'captain' changed his mind and left me standing there dumbfounded. Had to wait another hour for another boat. That's TWO hours of waiting outside after completing my meal. Gross lack of coordination between boats. Passengers were confused on which boat to jump on; it's three different routes. Boats are not marked as to which is going where. The boats move as slow as molasses, too. The good? The staff were nice and gave tour information as you crept along. Other than that, save your TIME and money and take a taxi on wheels, instead. You just want to get where you're going. Who has time to waste like that?!?

OK. YES, IT'S AN OLD BRIDGE…read more.. I drive over this ancient swing bridge alot and never knew it had historic value. The unobstructed River and Yacht views from each side of the bridge are dramatic. This bridge connects Sailboat Bend to the New River Park. Never observed it in swing use but plenty of vehicular, bicycle and pedestian traffic is common. It provides me an alternate route to one of my favorite Riverside Market and Pizza Spot. Like I said, its a bridge.

Another historical gem. The Snow-Reed Swing Bridge is one of the oldest bridges in the Fort…read moreLauderdale area, and one of the few remaining swing bridges in Florida. The bridge connects the neighborhoods of Sailboat Bend and Riverside Park. In 1989 it was officially renamed and designated a historic landmark. The Champion Bridge Company was a well-known builder of truss bridges. The bridge is a truss bridge with an approximately 100-foot span. To open the bridge for marine vessels, an electric motor drives a pinion gear which engages a ring gear in the base of the bridge. If the electric motor is not working, the bridge can also be opened manually using a large wrench. The bridge was originally designed only to be operated manually, a gasoline motor was installed in 1930. The electric motor was installed in 1954. I walked across it. I was hoping to see it in action, but unfortunately not this time.

The West Side Grade School was built in 1923 during Florida's land boom. After studying the…read morepopulation growth of the area it was decided to build this school, the second in Ft. Lauderdale's district, in Sailboat Bend. The school was designed in the Mediterranean Revival style by architect John Morris Peterman. A construction contract was awarded to the firm of Cayot and Hart to build the school for a cost of $17,577.90. In 1925, 10 acres were added to the school upon which 4 open air classrooms and a pavilion were built. That same year the Harmon Foundation donated $2,000 for a playground, drinking fountain, and a monument which has since been relocated to the front of the school. The school remained in operation from 1923 until 1961. From 1961 until 2002 the building was used as School Board Administration Offices. In 2009 the building was extensively restored and became the headquarters of the Broward County Historical Commission. They paid $3.75 million dollars for a 39 year lease in the building that they were planning to use to store their historical archives. $2 million dollars was used for the building renovation and 1.75 million was used for the Artists Lofts Project. After only 6 years the Historical Commission moved out due to flooding and buckling floors. When Lenar homes built the lofts north of the building it shifted the water flow causing it to gather underneath the historic school. Broward County eliminated the Historical Commission in 2014 and the archives are now stored on the fifth and sixth floors of the Main Library. After Broward County invested millions of dollars into the building, it now sits empty.

The King-Cromartie House is now part of History Ft. Lauderdale. It was one of the earliest homes in…read moreFt. Lauderdale having been built in 1907 by building contractor Edwin T. King for his family. King came from a wealthy family that was left destitute in Georgia by the Civil War. He became a farmer but he lost his crop in the 1894 frost which destroyed the Florida citrus industry. He then moved from Volusia County to Fort Lauderdale. King built his first house in 1895 in the Rio Vista section of Ft. Lauderdale. It was replica of his his family's Georgia estate but it burned down. He went on to build the Stranahan House which was the areas first hotel, trading post, and post office. He also built the school 18 year old Ivy Cromartie Stranahan taught his children in. Other notable building he constructed include the New River Inn and Ft. Lauderdale's first courthouse. When he wasn't building, King served as Ft. Lauderdale's first undertaker charging $10 per burial at the Evergreen Cemetery. King was on his way to Miami when he found Ft. Lauderdale containing 20 residents. The one story bungalow was built from Dade County pine and joists made of salvaged ship's timbers. It was one of the first houses in Ft. Lauderdale to have electricity. He also installed the first private telephone. Mr. King gave the house to his daughter Louise and her new husband Bloxham Cromartie upon their marriage. Bloxham Cromartie was the brother of pioneer Ivy Cromartie Stranahan. The couple added the second floor in 1911. Edwin T. King and his family moved to Belle Glade in 1928. He was killed in the 1928 Hurricane when he was hit by debris while trying to help rescue two children. King-Cromartie family members continued to live in the house until 1968. Stanford Smoker donated the house in 1971 to the Junior League of Fort Lauderdale who raised the funds to move it thereby saving it from demolition. The house was taken from it's original location in Smoker Park and was floated down the New River on a barge to it's current location. In 1994 the Ft. Lauderdale Historical Society took over the house and it is now a museum with period furniture and clothes. The house is well known as a haunted location. It is said the ghost of Louise King Cromartie who passed away from yellow fever can been seen looking down from the second story window that was her bedroom. Many people have noticed the curtains moving in the window. Today children come to the house to learn what life was like in Ft. Lauderdale for the earliest residents. They learn how difficult pioneer life could be. Tours are available of the house and children can take part in Pioneer School Day to learn what school and life were like for children over 100 years ago.

My husband and I finally took a self-guided tour here since we saw they recently made it free…read moreadmission on Wednesday's for locals and it's definitely worth the visit! The tour took about 45 minutes and was super interesting and informative. Just a heads up that the second floor isn't air conditioned so it was just a little warm up there!

This was a great opportunity to learn more about Fort Lauderdale's origins and some of the key…read morefigures involved. The staff member at the front desk when you walk in was very friendly and detailed the best way to go through all of the exhibits. While it was a little hot upstairs, most of the longer stages of the exhibit take place in the nice and cool first floor. If you are a long term resident, you should definitely go!