Napoleon Bonaparte Broward House, Historic residence in Jacksonville, Florida.
The Napoleon Bonaparte Broward House is a historic residence in Jacksonville featuring Folk Victorian design with decorated porches and a widow's walk on the third floor. The structure sits on elevated land overlooking the St. Johns River.
The house was built in 1878 as a private residence by a New York dentist and later became the summer home of Florida's governor in 1897. This transition marked a shift in the property's importance to the region's political landscape.
The house carries the name of former Governor Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, who made it his summer residence and became closely associated with the property. Visitors can see how this location represented the lifestyle of Florida's political leadership during that era.
The property sits on Heckscher Drive overlooking the St. Johns River with straightforward access to the grounds. It now operates as office space managed by the Timucuan Parks Foundation under the National Park Service, so visitors should check ahead for availability.
Beneath the property lie archaeological deposits of a Timucuan shell midden dating back roughly 3,500 years. These hidden layers reveal that the location held importance as a settlement site long before the house was constructed.
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