The Gamble Plantation is a 10 room, 2 story Greek Revival Vernacular plantation house located in…read moreEllenton, Florida in the Judah P. Benjamin Confederate Memorial at Gamble Plantation Historic State Park. This plantation house offers visitors a glimpse into the antebellum period of Florida. It is the only surviving plantation house in South Florida and as such holds a significant place in the areas history. The Gamble Plantation provides a fascinating look into the lifestyle of Major Robert Gamble and his extensive extensive sugar plantation during the mid 19th century. Also living at the plantation were hundreds of slaves that worked in the fields, as skilled laborers, and in the house. Visitors to the park can take $6 guided tours of the mansion six times a day. A tour lasts 45 minutes and you must be part of a tour to see the inside. You are not free to just walk around inside the mansion. Our guide was Jesse who shared his knowledge and insights into the history of the home along with a dash of humor. Notable features of the house include its columns and two foot thick walls made out of tabby, a unique type of concrete first used by Spanish and English settlers as a stand in for bricks. By 1856 Major Robert Gamble was in financial ruins and he left the house. His slaves were taken to pay his debts. During the Civil War the Gamble Plantation was occupied by Captain Archibald McNeill, a famous Confederate blockade runner. The house holds particular historical significance because it is thought that Confederate Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin took refuge here after the fall of the Confederacy until his safe passage to England could be secured. At the time he was being accused of having arranged the assassination of President Lincoln. With McNeil's help he first escaped to the Bahamas and then to England where he ended up having a successful law career. The plantations sugar mills were destroyed by the Union in 1864. After the war the house was left decaying and abandoned until the Daughter of the Confederacy restored it in 1925 and donated it and 16 acres of land to the State of Florida. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 12, 1970. The mansion had a further exterior renovation in 2020. Unfortunately the original furnishings were removed and accidentally burned in a fire. There is minimal period furnishings in the rooms and not all of the rooms are open as some are used as storage. This house doesn't have the same grandeur as say Boone Hall in Charleston. Think of this as a frontier plantation. At the time there wasn't anything around here although today there is a Popeye's Chicken across the street and a major road runs in front of the house that is visible from the upstairs veranda. The surrounding grounds of the house once held gardens. Today the house is a popular destination for area weddings. On the grounds there is a visitors center with exhibits that provide additional historical context to the Gamble Plantation. As a history enthusiast, the Gamble Plantation was a must-visit destination for me. Thank you Mary Ann for being amicable to stopping by for a visit and waiting for the next tour. I will never forget our Popeyes picnic. The well-preserved mansion, grounds, friendly staff, and educational programming make history come alive here. As someone who loves architecture and exploring historical sites, the Gamble Plantation offers a unique and informative journey into Florida's past.

The Gamble Mansion. You will see signs for it and it will make you curious. It has nothing to do…read morewith Gambling or Casinos it was just the name of the slave owners of this property. Very unique piece of property and history that survived old Florida from being burned down or taken over. Cheap tour was $6. And $4 per child under 12. That is what it cost to see the inside. You can walk around the outside grounds for free. Worth the tour and history lesson. Very well kept property it almost seems like it was built a few years ago and not actually 1872. Florida history is something else

The correct name for this historic site is the Judah P. Benjamin Confederate Memorial at Gamble…read morePlantation Historic State Park but the right name is too long for Yelp. This is one of Florida's 175 State Parks. Florida has one of the largest State Park systems in the country and includes nearly 800,000 acres and 100 miles of beach. The Florida State Park System is the first four-time winner of the Gold Medal honoring the nation's best state park system. This State Park in Ellenton contains the only surviving plantation house in South Florida. In 1843 Major Robert Gamble established a sugar plantation in a remote region along the Manatee River. It took six years to build the Gamble Plantation. Gamble was a bachelor but he built a lavish for the times 10-room, two-story mansion with two feet thick tabby walls and wide shaded verandas wrapping around three sides of the house. Gamble only operated the plantation for 12 years and left for good in 1856 due to sinking sugar prices. After the Civil War it is thought that Confederate Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin hid out here after the fall of the Confederacy. Benjamin was a prominent Jewish New Orleans plantation owner and a trusted confidante of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. At the Gamble Plantation he was helped by Archibald McNeil, a blockade runner who secured his passage to the Bahamas before he escaped to England. In 1925, the house and 16 acres of land were saved by the United Daughters of the Confederacy who restored the house and and donated to the state. The jewel of the park is the mansion which you can tour six times a day ,Thursday through Monday for $6. In addition to the Gamble Mansion the visitors center has a small museum with exhibits and a few objects from the Civil War. One of the most moving displays is a Census Bureau document listing the enslaved people on the plantation by name. During the tour park Ranger Jesse mentions it with a pledge "We know their names and we honor every one of them." Also in the park is the 1895 Patten House, a pioneer farmhouse also preserved and maintained by the United Daughters of the Confederacy but not open for tours during our visit. Other park amenities include picnic tables, benches, and restrooms. The visitor center is open from 9 to 11:45 a.m. and 12:45 to 5 p.m., Thursday through Monday; it is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Looks pretty cool. Would love to be able to get in to see all the markers but all gates are closedread more

This archaeological site in Manatee county is in need of some love. The signs are faded, hard to…read moreread, or vague. There are 2 parking spots, but I guess that's ok, it doesn't seem to be heavily visited. The mound is literally in front of several people's homes, which means something, I'm sure. One picnic table, an In need of repair earthen stairway that leads to the top of the mound and 3 signs of any significance. Seems maybe there could be more.

Madira Bickell Mounds is a nice place off the beaten path to have a picnic. It is nestled in a…read moreresidential area which unfortunately has been built upon an archeologically rich area. What remains is the small area and the preserved mound used by Native Americans. The park itself is very small, and the mound is overgrown by vegetation and is hard to see. There are some signs that provide information about the historical significance of the mounds. This is not a major stop of a state park. It is very small and is best suited for anyone who does have an interest in the historical aspects of the park.

I often bring our grandson here and he absolutely loves it. I love watching him get excited about…read morebooks. All of the Manatee County Libraries have been amazing. I've heard they are going to be revamping this branch and changing up the children's area so I am excited for that!

Very friendly staff here and it is easy to request books from other branches. Funny to say out loud…read morebut this branch seems to offer more large print books than normal size font books. I experienced that mistake once and learned my lesson! Yikes, knock wood, not ready for that option yet.... Appreciate that you can drop off food donations for the Manatee food bank and donate books for the library book sale. Last weekend, there were plenty of kiddos enjoying a Saturday morning activity which was fun to see their enjoyment. This branch seems to offer many community activities, posted on their outdoor marquee, which is appreciated.

This is marker commemorates the history of Mr. Beall and his shop that became Bealls. His civic…read moreroll in bringing the Cardinals to town for spring training is also noted.

This was such a great experience! We did the Murder Mystery ride and it was amazing! The…read morecharacters were engaging and involved the audience in solving the murder in a fun way. The staff was friendly and welcoming and the food was delicious! Highly recommend this experience!

We had high expectations for the North Pole Express at the Florida Railroad Museum, but…read moreunfortunately the experience was very disappointing. The weather was extremely poor, which significantly affected the event, yet it still went on without any real adjustments or consideration for guest comfort. Long waits in the cold and rain, general disorganization, and a lack of clear direction made the evening stressful rather than enjoyable -- especially for families with children. The overall experience did not come close to what was advertised or priced. When we reached out afterward, customer service was slow and unresponsive, and a refund was denied despite the circumstances. The alternative offered was a future-use gift card, which isn't helpful if you're unable to return. To make matters worse, the amount offered didn't even match what we actually paid. Between the event itself and the way concerns were handled afterward, this was a frustrating and disappointing experience. We would not recommend this event based on how it was run and how customer issues were addressed.