The Barnacle House

The Barnacle House, built in 1891, was home to three generations of the Munroe family. It has many subtle nods to some of Ralph Munroe’s true passions: boats, nature, and his family. The architecture of this house is quite unusual. Munroe built this house originally as a one-story home. However, as his family grew in size, so did his house. Rather than expanding out or adding a second floor on top, Munroe would lift the original first floor and build underneath it. The architecture of this house is uniquely old Florida in that its layout harnesses the great ocean breeze from Biscayne Bay to cool the living quarters creating a natural air conditioner. His unique renovations would preserve this invaluable airflow. The Barnacle House is an incredible feat of engineering, perseverance, and passion.  

We would love for you to visit our incredible historical house museum. The historical home is accessible by a guided tour only. Tour times are Thursday through Monday at 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, and 2:30 PM. Please inquire inside of our visitor’s center for more information.