The house was built using salvaged timber from shipwrecks, a common construction practice in the late 19th-century Florida Keys.
Ralph Middleton Munroe was a founding member of the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club, which held its early meetings at this site.
The house uses a 'gravity' ventilation system, utilizing a floor-to-ceiling fireplace and high-placed windows to pull cool air in and push hot air out.
The site was never damaged by the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926, demonstrating the structural integrity of its timber-frame design.
The park's grounds feature rare native plant species that have been largely eradicated from the rest of the Miami coastline by development.
The Barnacle Historic State Park preserves the 1891 home of Ralph Middleton Munroe, one of Coconut Grove's most influential early settlers. It is the oldest house in Miami-Dade County still standing in its original location. The structure features a unique design adapted for the Florida climate, including high ceilings and wide, wrap-around porches to facilitate cross-ventilation. The five-acre grounds serve as a remnant of the original tropical hardwood hammock that once defined the shoreline of Biscayne Bay. Munroe was a pioneering yacht designer, and the site includes replicas of his classic sailboats. Visitors can explore the preserved architecture and the surrounding native vegetation. The park offers an unobstructed view of Biscayne Bay, reflecting the lifestyle of early bayfront homesteaders. It functions as an island of tranquility amidst the urban density of modern Miami.
The wide, wrap-around porch facing the expansive view of Biscayne Bay.
Bring insect repellent, as the humid, shaded hammock environment attracts mosquitoes.
Opt for comfortable walking shoes to navigate the limestone paths and uneven ground around the house.
Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at the waterfront tables overlooking the bay.
Do not attempt to walk along the rocky shoreline at high tide, as paths can become slippery or submerged.
Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Maintain silence inside the historic home and refrain from touching the original 19th-century artifacts.
