Manatee Village Historic Park

Bradenton, Florida: Take a trip back in time to the beginnings of Manatee County. Here amongst the large oak trees is the Manatee Village Historic Park, a collection of buildings that helped shape early Manatee County.

The park brings significant buildings of the county’s history and puts them on one parcel, making it easy to explore and learn about life in early Manatee County. From the first courthouse to the general store, it is all here to visit. There are fifteen historical sites located within the park, these sites include:

• Old Cabbage Head: This steam locomotive was built in 1913 and was moved to Manatee County in 1948 where it worked at Manatee Noccatee Crate Mill. The locomotive was in service until 1952 when the company went out of business and the train was left to deteriorate. In 2002, it was relocated to the historic park and restored.
• Wiggins Store: The only building that remains in its original location, it was the lifeline to the early settlement. The two story building operated as a general store on the first floor and a hotel on the second floor. Today a re-creation of the store remains on the first floor and a museum and park offices are on the second floor.
• Bat Fogarty Boat Works: Located on 135 acres near the Manatee River, the family run boat works operation was the first in the county. The operation served the boating community from the late 1860’s through 1944. In 1993 the family donated the land to the public and it was relocated to the park and preserved.
• Blacksmith Shop: Blacksmith shops like the replica on display here were important to the community. These shops made and repaired the settler’s tools.
• Turpentine Still: Stills were used to make pine tar and oil of turpentine which was used to caulk boats.
• Smokehouse: Smokehouses were a necessity; they were used to cure meats so they would remain preserved since there was no refrigeration. This smoke house was located in the Wingate homestead in eastern Manatee County.
• Stephens House: This 1912 pioneer homestead is a typical of Florida construction during the early 1900’s. The home was built in eastern Manatee County and was relocated to the historic park in 1982.
• Outhouse: With no indoor plumbing in early homes, outhouses were typical fixtures with pioneer homes.
• Potter Barn: A replica of the 100 Farm that was located in Palmetto during the late1800’s and early 1900’s.
• Old Meeting House: The traditional style church was began construction in 1887 just a few blocks from the historic park. It was donated to the park by the Manatee United Methodist Church and was moved to the park in 1975.
• First Courthouse: The oldest remaining original courthouse in Florida, the courthouse was built in 1860. It was built on donated land just north of the park. In 1977, the courthouse was relocated to the park and restored. The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in June 1976.
• Bunker Hill School: This one room schoolhouse was built in 1908 in the Bunker Hill region of Manatee County. In 1989 it was relocated to the park and renovated to its original state.
• Cow Hunter’s Bunkhouse: Located just outside the boundaries of the park, the bunkhouse is what remains from the cattle days of Manatee County.
• Manatee Burying Ground: The cemetery where many of Manatee’s early residents were buried is located across the street from the park.
  

Much of the parks daily operations and restoration projects are funded and completed by volunteers. Their dedication to preserving the county history is evident throughout the park.

The historic park is open weekdays and select Saturdays and admission is free.

Click on the photo above for pictures of the Manatee Village Historic Park.