Known as “The Commodore”, Ralph Middleton Munroe, a naval
architect and photographer, moved to Coconut Grove in 1891 and built
what became known as the Barnacle at his home. He first visited the
area in 1881 in the hope that the climate would help improve his
wife’s health, who was suffering from tuberculosis. He was
then to fall in love with Coconut Grove and have a massive influence
on the area.
His main talent lay in the designing of shallow-draft boats for the
dangerous Florida waters, and this earned him an enviable reputation
throughout the U.S. However, it was his skills in domestic building
that have left a lasting impression. The Barnacle is really a fascinating
work of art. It is raised to aid air flow and prevent flooding from
the regular torrential rainstorms. The anchoring pine posts were
coated in an oil to repel termites and this also helped it survive
the vicious hurricanes of 1926 and 1992. There is an intricate pulley-operated
skylight which improves air circulation but perhaps most impressive
of all is the extra living space that he created beneath the initial
raised Barnacle.
His children sold it to the state in 1973 for protection as a State
Historic Site after resisting offers from various developing companies
.Guided tours of the site take place on Fri-Sun at 10am, 11:30am,
1pm and 2:30pm. The grounds are open to the public during daylight
hours.
|
