FLORIDA
Miami44) The Ralph M. Munroe House The Ralph M. Munroe House, located in the community of Coconut Grove, is the oldest home in Dade County still in it's original location. Munroe, one of Coconut Grove's earliest settlers, was a noted yacht designer, photographer, and naturalist. Munroe constructed his home, which he called the Barnacle, in 1891. For 22 years he served as the "Commodore" of the Biscayne Yacht Club, during which time he designed over 55 different boats. His last surviving vessel, Micco, was destroyed by a hurricane in 1992. Commodore Munroe preserved the original tropical hardwood forest, known as a hammock, on his estate. Today, it is one of the few places where visitors can see a remnant of the once vast "Miami Hammock".
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The Barnacle State Historic Site is located at 3485 Main Highway in Coconut Grove. The site is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's day. Admission. For more information write or call: The Barnacle State Historic Site, P.O. Box 330995, Coconut Grove, FL 33233: (305) 448-9445.