287:, purchased the Spanish Point homestead, as well as thousands of acres for cattle ranching, citrus groves, and real estate development. The Webb homestead was part of the land she chose for her 360-acre (150 ha) estate which she named "Osprey Point." She preserved the pioneer buildings and connected them with lavish formal gardens and lawns. Mrs. Palmer died of breast cancer at age 68 in May 1918. Her family maintained Osprey Point and in 1959, her grandson Gordon Palmer sponsored the three-year excavation of the archaeological site by Ripley P. Bullen. The site is now home to the museum at Historic Spanish Point.
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676:, shell tools, pottery, and other early artifacts built up through the Late Archaic (5,900-3,200 years ago), Manasota, and Late Woodland (3,200–1,000 years ago) periods. It is the only archaeological exhibit in the United States that is built inside an archaic midden. The occupation would have been by the
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sailboat is an operational replica of an 1890s boat and was designed by master boatbuilder Stan Lowe & built under his direction by volunteers at
Historic Spanish Point using traditional tools, techniques, and materials. The wood was harvested from local trees, cut down and shaped by hand. No
640:- Frank and Lizzie Webb Guptill built their home on the prehistoric Archaic Midden in 1901. They rented rooms to winter boarders. Ten years later, the home was acquired by Mrs. Potter Palmer and called Hill Cottage. The Guptill House is furnished to depict the Florida
692:- The Jungle Walk was created by Mrs. Bertha Palmer with shell paths meandering past classical urns and tropical vegetation. A miniature aqueduct features water flowing over a shell cascade. To the north was once the Blue Garden and Mrs. Palmer's house,
742:- Also known as "Bertha's Cottage", the house was constructed in 1931 for Potter Palmer III and his wife, Rose. It was later occupied by Potter's sister, Bertha, and her husband, Oakleigh Thorne. Today, it serves as a center for educational programs.
770:- The Sunken Garden was created by Mrs. Bertha Palmer between 1912 and 1915 as a formal garden area within the native Florida environment. The adjacent Pergola was constructed to provide views of the bay. Today, it is a popular wedding venue.
253:(3,200–1,000 years ago.) Prehistoric people living on Tampa Bay's shoreline began using ceramics and transitioned from nomadic hunters and gatherers to settled subsistence societies. They capitalized on the abundant resources provided by the
778:- Originally built by Jack Webb in 1884, this building became "The Dormitory" in the 1890s for the Webbs' Winter Resort. The first floor features exhibit galleries. The second floor houses a research center that is open by appointment only.
257:, marsh, woodland, and bay ecosystems; and used growing specialized tool technology to further establish the permanent and seasonal settlements. These people disappear from the archaeological record of the site sometime prior to 1100 AD.
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as far up on land as he could. Further than he had ever seen the waterline rise to previously. However, the
Hurricane was a fierce storm and worse than was expected. After the storm had died down Charles Webb went to check on the
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672:- Known as Palmer site 8s02, this is the oldest midden at Historic Spanish Point, dating to before 3000 BC. The site is thought to have been built by the Calusa Indian tribe. The Archaic Midden is made up of layers of
762:- The highest point on the Shell Ridge Midden was created by the early inhabitants, perhaps to serve as a platform for the chief's residence or temple. It is also the site where the Webbs built their home, in 1867.
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704:- The original Footbridge was constructed in the late 1890s by Daniel Cock, whose boarding house, "Fiddler's Lodge", once stood at its northern end. Today, it provides an excellent view of the
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told them of an elevated point of land on the bay. The Webbs named their homestead
Spanish Point to honor the good advice of the trader. John Webb and his family planted citrus,
518:- Mary's Chapel is named for Mary Sherrill, a young woman who died while staying at Webbs' Winter Resort, operated by the Webb family. The 1986 reconstruction contains the six
345:. It served as the Historic Spanish Point Visitors' Center housing an orientation program, administrative offices, and a museum store. It now houses the Osprey Public Library.
572:, the field was once a large grove of lychee trees, a fruit-producing evergreen imported from the Far East. The Lychee Field was part of Gordon Palmer's nursery in the 1950s.
750:- This archaeological exhibition is located inside a prehistoric shell midden. It features an audiovisual program about Historic Spanish Point's first inhabitants, a
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276:, and vegetables; and built a packing house to prepare their goods for market. In the early 1900s, the Webb family sold parcels of the homestead to new settlers.
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294:. In 1975 it became the first site in Sarasota County to be listed in the National Register. In 1980, the Palmer heirs donated the National Register site to
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was not known. Recently it was discovered that
Charles Webb had left a handwritten journal and in that handwritten Journal he told of the demise of the
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commerce. Frank
Guptill operated his boatyard on the shores of Little Sarasota Bay very near to the place where this working boatyard is built.
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to transport and entertain guests at Webb's Winter Resort. It has been told for years by the docents at
Spanish Point that the demise of the
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that were salvaged from the original building by Mabel Webb
Johnson Sims. The chapel is a popular place for small country weddings.
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An archaeological record exists on the site from approximately 5,000 years of
Florida prehistory. Habitation of the site spans the
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Gordon's widow, Janis, along with Potter Palmer IV and other family members, encouraged the nomination of
Spanish Point to the
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North
Americans who lived along the Shell Ridge Midden from about 300 to 1000. Human bones and ceremonial offerings of
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907:"Marie Selby Botanical Gardens adopts Historic Spanish Point as a companion campus to Selby Gardens Downtown location"
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at 337 North Tamiami Trail. The museum includes an archeological exhibit of a prehistoric shell mound known as a
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530:- Next to Mary's Chapel is the family graveyard where members of the Webb family and other area pioneers are
404:- The Water Garden, or Ornamental Pond, was created by Mrs. Potter Palmer as part of her Osprey Point estate.
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Oral History Slideshow: Historic Spanish Point Director Linda Mansperger Discusses Early Settlers
501:. A hurricane hit the Osprey area in 1921. Before the hurricane arrived Charles Webb dragged the
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Historic Spanish Point: Enjoy Nature, Experience Prehistory, Explore Florida's Past
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fruit was washed, cured, sorted and crated in the Packing House for shipment to
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and other materials were periodically placed on the mound, then covered with
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to serve a growing population due to the 1920s real-estate boom. Designed by
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that depicts a prehistoric dwelling, exhibits, and interactive displays.
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is a 33-acre (13 ha) museum and environmental complex located in
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580:- The garden was designed to provide for the complete life cycle of
451:, where it then was shipped to northern markets. The building is an
936:"National Register Information System – (#94000707)"
797:"National Register Information System – (#75000569)"
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384:, 1910–1918. Although not fully restored, it features many native
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In May 2020, Historic Spanish Point became a companion campus of
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National Register of Historic Places in Sarasota County, Florida
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packing house, a chapel, boatyard, gardens, and nature trails.
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was one of five schools built between 1926 and 1928 along the
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Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Florida
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and the Gulf of Mexico were central to life. The Webb family
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Institutions accredited by the American Alliance of Museums
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by John Webb around 1900 is moored near the Packing House
542:- Mrs. Palmer's formal Duchene Lawn features two rows of
361:- The Entrance Cottage is located at the entrance to the
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and found that it had been totally destroyed by the sea.
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624:- The entrance to Mrs. Palmer's Fern Walk is under the
883:. Gulf Coast Heritage Association, Inc. Archived from
827:. Gulf Coast Heritage Association, Inc. Archived from
412:- The Burial Mound was built by many generations of
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plants. Milkweed is both a larval and nectar plant.
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916:(Press release). Sarasota, Florida. April 17, 2020
652:- For early settlers along Florida's coast, local
1022:"Historic Spanish Point: Sarasota's Hidden Oasis"
730:power tools were used in the construction of the
377:is similar to one that was part of Mrs. Palmers'
1103:Spanish Colonial Revival architecture in Florida
660:was dependent on aquatic resources, boats and
684:who inhabited the Southwest Coast of Florida.
628:. In a natural hollow created by the archaic
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489:. John Webb's grandson, Charles Webb, used
101:Archaeological museum and botantical garden
279:In 1910 a wealthy Chicago socialite named
264:to establish a homestead on the shores of
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632:, beautiful ferns and palms are featured.
159:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
16:Historic house in Florida, United States
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245:(5,900–3,200 years ago) through to the
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268:. A Spanish trader the family met in
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941:National Register of Historic Places
802:National Register of Historic Places
343:National Register of Historic Places
292:National Register of Historic Places
1078:Museums in Sarasota County, Florida
734:The sails are hand-stitched cotton.
1123:Houses in Sarasota County, Florida
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1083:Historic house museums in Florida
1073:Archaeological museums in Florida
465:- When not out cruising the bay,
315:Visitors’ Center at Osprey School
341:, the building is listed in the
222:, a turn-of-the-century pioneer
1113:Archaeological sites in Florida
540:Duchene Lawn and Classic Portal
455:reconstruction of the original.
296:Gulf Coast Heritage Association
260:Webb and his family moved from
877:"About Historic Spanish Point"
339:Spanish Colonial Revival style
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1:
914:Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
303:Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
110:Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
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1057:Visit Historic Spanish Point
120:Sarasota County Area Transit
1098:Open-air museums in Florida
1010:. Illustration by Sketches.
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680:people, a band of complex
22:Historic Spanish Point 999
768:Sunken Garden and Pergola
473:of what was originally a
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170:NRHP reference
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1108:Shell middens in Florida
852:"Historic Spanish Point"
690:Jungle Walk and Aqueduct
186:April 16, 1975
856:Sarasota History Alive!
715:and other wooden boats.
49:401 North Tamiami Trail
881:Historic Spanish Point
825:Historic Spanish Point
584:. This area showcases
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212:Historic Spanish Point
208:
946:National Park Service
807:National Park Service
520:stained-glass windows
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227:historic house museum
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116:Public transit access
1006:Dean, Laura (2009).
748:A Window to the Past
711:and the mooring of
402:Palmer Water Garden
266:Little Sarasota Bay
243:Late Archaic period
82:27.2013°N 82.4903°W
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760:Shell Ridge Midden
612:in the garden are
449:Cedar Key, Florida
437:Webb Packing House
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887:on March 25, 2016
702:Cock's Footbridge
650:Pioneer Boat Yard
568:field with a few
549:Phoenix reclinata
445:Key West, Florida
353:Old Osprey School
207:Historical marker
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87:27.2013; -82.4903
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610:flowering plants
578:Butterfly Garden
554:Washington palms
528:Pioneer Cemetery
359:Entrance Cottage
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918:. Retrieved
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821:"Prehistory"
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606:butterflies
592:plants for
582:butterflies
544:queen palms
479:retrofitted
421:shark teeth
414:prehistoric
283:, widow of
85: /
60:Coordinates
31:Established
1067:Categories
783:References
423:, smashed
371:The Gazebo
333:architect
274:sugar cane
190:1975-04-16
73:82°29′25″W
70:27°12′05″N
732:Lizzie G.
722:Lizzie G.
713:Lizzie G.
709:shoreline
674:shellfish
658:homestead
654:estuaries
622:Fern Walk
477:that was
453:authentic
394:epiphytes
249:and Late
224:homestead
54:, Florida
706:mangrove
694:The Oaks
662:maritime
626:aqueduct
594:monarchs
564:- Now a
552:s and a
532:interred
475:sailboat
309:Exhibits
270:Key West
247:Manasota
177:75000569
46:Location
1055:Video:
752:diorama
727:sharpie
725:- This
642:pioneer
471:replica
425:pottery
337:in the
237:History
188: (
126:Website
36: (
678:Calusa
630:midden
614:nectar
608:. The
590:nectar
586:larval
566:grassy
441:Citrus
417:native
382:estate
375:Gazebo
373:- The
231:citrus
220:midden
52:Osprey
910:(PDF)
508:Magic
503:Magic
499:Magic
495:Magic
491:Magic
481:as a
467:Magic
462:Magic
390:trees
386:ferns
331:Tampa
131:selby
106:Owner
1033:2021
922:2021
893:2021
863:2021
837:2021
644:era.
588:and
487:pier
469:, a
429:sand
392:and
229:, a
135:/hsp
133:.org
98:Type
38:1982
34:1982
447:or
325:in
172:No.
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954:^
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
