10 Historical Places In Florida, USA

historical places in florida
Vanna
Vanna 
Updated
| 3 min read

Florida isn’t all about sunshine 365 days a year, long stretches of pristine beaches, wide swathes of well-preserved swampland, and a very healthy dose of tropical heat and vibes in the continental United States. Unbeknownst to many travelers not quite familiar with American history, Florida is positively teeming with historical places, all dotted across the state. You’ve got old forts, beautiful luxury estates once owned by some of the wealthiest Americans, plantations, historic pools and gardens, and even curious works of art. This great variety in historical attractions help negate the notion that historical sites are pretty much the same. In Florida, you know that statement simply isn’t true. So, to help you get started on your history tour of the Sunshine State, here are 10 of our favorite historical places in Florida, USA.

1. Coral Castle

Homestead FL Coral Castle pano01
Source: Photo by user Ebyabe used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Built in 1920, Coral Castle is one of the most interesting historic finds in Florida. It’s not a castle, nor is it entirely made of coral, at least not technically. It’s actually an oolite limestone structure, a work of Ed Leedskalnin of Miami-Dade County. Everyone’s still quite puzzled how he managed to carve over 1,000 tons of limestone (which is made of corals’ skeletal fragments). This mystery is all part of Coral Castle’s charm.

Coral Castle

Address: 28655 South Dixie Highway, Miami, FL

Website: Coral Castle

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 9am - 6pm; Fri - Sat: 9am - 7pm

Price: 18 USD (for ages 13-64); 15 USD (seniors); 8 USD (kids ages 7-12); free for kids under 6

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2. Castillo de San Marcos


Built in 1672 and finished in 1695, the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is officially recognized as the oldest and largest fort of its kind in the continental United States. The entire monument covers 20.5 acres (8.20 hectares) and is a great repository of approximately 340 years of history. Definitely a must-visit place for any US history aficionado.

Castillo de San Marcos

Address: 1 South Castillo Drive, Saint Augustine, FL

Website: Castillo de San Marcos

Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily) (closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day)

Price: 15 USD (for guests ages 16 and above); free for kids under 15, must be accompanied by an adult

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3. Fort Jefferson

Fort-Jefferson Dry-Tortugas
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user U.S. National Par... used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Castillo de San Marcos may be the largest and oldest masonry fort in the continental US, but Fort Jefferson is simply one of the most beautiful. Located in the Tortugas in Key West, Fort Jefferson covers 16 acres (6.47 hectares) and was never finished. Although it never fulfilled its role as a fortress, Fort Jefferson helped link the other coastal forts in this side of the coast (all the way to Maine!) Explore the ruins and bathe in the crystal clear waters surrounding this impressive fort.

Fort Jefferson

Address: 40001 SR-9336, Homestead, FL

Website: Fort Jefferson

Opening hours: Open all year round

Price: 15 USD; free for kids under 16

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4. The Barnacle Historic State Park


Are you a fan of historic homes? The Barnacle Historic State Park should be right up your alley in Miami-Dade County. The heart of the park is the Barnacle, a coconut grove house built in 1891, but its age isn’t the only thing that makes it special. This is the oldest home in Miami-Dade County that’s still standing in its original location. The entire estate is well-preserved, overlooking Biscayne Bay, making it quite a scenic destination as well.

The Barnacle Historic State Park

Address: 3485 Main Highway, Miami, FL

Website: The Barnacle Historic State Park

Opening hours: Wed - Mon: 9am - 5pm (closed on Tue)

Price: 2 USD; free for kids under 5

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5. Venetian Pool


It’s no secret that it can get hot in Florida, so why not cool off by taking a dip at the Venetian Pool in Coral Gables? Carved out of a coral rock quarry in 1923, it’s a refreshing and historic spring water swimming pool. Look out for the two watchtowers which have been there since Venetian Pool was first opened to the public.

Venetian Pool

Address: 2701 De Soto Boulevard, Coral Gables, FL

Website: Venetian Pool

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 11am - 6:30pm; Sat - Sun: 11am - 4:30pm

Price: 13 USD; 8 USD (kids ages 3 to 12); 5.50 USD and 4.50 USD(Coral Gables residents)

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6. Henry B. Plant Museum

historical places in florida | henry b. plant museum
Source: instagram

Moorish Revival architecture isn’t something you see in Florida everyday, which makes the Henry B. Plant Museum quite special. It’s part of the University of Tampa’s sprawling campus and used to be a hotel in the late 19th century. Another thing that makes the Henry B. Plant Museum so unique is that it still houses the original furnishings used by Mr. Plant and his Victorian guests.

Henry B. Plant Museum

Address: 401 West Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL

Website: Henry B. Plant Museum

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 5pm; Sun: 12pm - 5pm

Price: 10 USD (adults); 7 USD (seniors and students); 5 USD (kids ages 4 to 12)

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7. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Vizcaya - View From The Rotunda
Source: Photo by Flickr user Keith Anthony Ng used under CC BY 2.0

Villa Vizcaya is definitely one of the most romantic and historic spots in the entire Sunshine State. The former home of successful businessman James Deering, the entire property consists of the beautiful Italian Renaissance villa and gardens, all overlooking Biscayne Bay. It was built in 1914 and encompasses a total area of 43 acres (14 hectares).

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Address: 3251 South Miami Avenue, Miami, FL

Website: Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Opening hours:Wed - Mon: 9:30am - 4:30pm (closed on Tue, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day)

Price: 22 USD (adults); 15 USD (teens ages 13 to 17); 10 USD (kids ages 6 to 12); free for kids age 5 and below

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8. Bok Tower Gardens


Looking for some peace of mind? Perhaps you’ll find it in Bok Tower Gardens, the lovely creation of renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. Open to the public since 1929, folks at Bok Tower Gardens say this is the place for some much-needed enlightenment. Your entire self will thank you after a visit to the contemplative gardens.

Bok Tower Gardens

Address: 1151 Tower Boulevard, Lake Wales, FL

Website: Bok Tower Gardens

Opening hours: 8am - 6pm (daily)

Price: 15 USD (adults); 5 USD (kids ages 5 to 12, dogs); free for kids under 5

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9. Ponce de Leon Inlet Light

historical places in florida | ponce de leon inlet light
Source: instagram

The Ponce de Leon inlet lighthouse has been providing light and guidance by the coast since it was constructed in 1883. It does a good job, seeing as the lighthouse stands a total of 175 feet (53 meters). It’s actually Florida’s tallest lighthouse as well as one of the tallest in the entire United States.

Ponce de Leon Inlet Light

Address: 4931 South Peninsula Drive, Ponce Inlet, FL

Website: Ponce de Leon Inlet Light

Opening hours: 10am - 9pm (daily)

Price: 6.95 USD (12 and over); 1.95 USD (11 and under); free for kids ages 2 and below

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10. Bonnet House Museum and Gardens


Lover of historic homes, are you still there? We have another recommendation for you: the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens. Acquired by Hugh Taylor Birch in 1895, this estate is just one of the many historic homes listed in the US’ National Register of Historic Places. One step into the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens and you’ll be transported back to Florida’s frontier age.

Bonnet House Museum and Gardens

Address: 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Website: Bonnet House Museum and Gardens

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 9am - 4pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 20 USD (adults); 16 USD (students ages 6 to 12); free for children ages 6 and below

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Florida has so much to offer

Aerial view of Miami
Source: Unsplash

The Sunshine State really has something for everyone. Aside from the historical places in Florida, USA, we’re excited for you to see more of the state. Read our Florida travel guides to experience the best of Florida, USA.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Vanna is born and raised in the Philippines and describes herself as a local tourist-- she's made it her mission to see as many of the country's 7,000+ islands. But that doesn't mean she's not...Read more

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