Historic & Cultural Places to Visit in Bradenton, Florida

Gamble Plantation Historic State Park (3708 Patten Ave, Ellenton, FL 34222)

The Gamble Plantation Historic State Park offers visitors the opportunity to learn about the history of Florida and one of the largest sugar cane plantations in the country. This park is also known as the Judah P. Benjamin Confederate Memorial. Its prominent attraction is the imposing antebellum mansion that was home to Major Robert Gamble. At the present time the park contains 16 acres of what was formerly a prosperous sugar cane plantation. Gamble came to possess 3,500 acres of the sugar cane plantation.

The Gamble Mansion is one of the historical and architectural gems of Bradenton, FL. The building stands out for being an excellent exponent of the antebellum style. Its colossal white columns and thick walls made of tabby remain a symbol of power in the 19th century. The construction of this mansion took 6 years and was done mainly by slave labor, some artisans gave the final touches to the structure.

Due to the decline of the sugar market, Gamble had to sell its property in 1856. When the Confederate war was ending, the mansion served as a refuge for Judah P. Benjamin, who at the time was the Confederate Secretary of State. With the passing of time the mansion deteriorated due to the fact that tabby is a less durable construction material.

By 1925, the United Daughters of the Confederacy acquired the property and donated it to the state for the purpose of preserving its greatness. But It wasn’t until 1927 when the state of Florida carried out an extensive restoration, recovering its 19th-century wealthy style.

South Florida Museum and Bishop Planetarium (201 Tenth Street W Bradenton, FL 34205)

Bradenton, FL is the home of the largest museum in Florida’s Gulf Coast area. The South Florida Museum is specialized in the nature and culture legacy of the State. The museum features The Bishop Planetarium and The Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Aquarium; as well as a variety of academic programs, summer camps, and new exhibits each month.

This magnificent museum, inaugurated in 1947, has been dedicated to preserving the history of the region. It houses fossils and exhibits depicting the lives of Florida’s inhabitants from prehistoric times to the present day.

The first floor of the museum is dedicated to prehistory. You will find permanent exhibits showing fossils of enormous marine animals and mammals. You can also find archaeological objects from the region’s primitive inhabitants, such as ceramics and weapons. A underwater viewing window is a great spot to discover the manatees of the aquarium shelter that are in rehabilitation.

On the second floor of the museum, you will find The Visible Storage Gallery which displays several collections of historical objects. This exhibition is constantly being changed so there will always be something new to see. You can also enjoy permanent exhibits like The River Heritage Hall where you will learn about the maritime history of Bradenton City.

The other permanent exhibition on the second floor is The Environmental Hall; where you can learn about nature and the numerous changes that have taken place in the environment of Bradenton,FL. Discover the different biomes and geographic areas of the city such as pine uplands, estuary, riverine, and the gulf waters. Learn about Bradenton’s vast biological diversity and how we can contribute to its preservation.

The Bishop Planetarium (201 10th St W, Bradenton, FL 34205)

If you want to see the solar system and enjoy from the wonders of cosmos, you merely have to visit the Bishop Planetarium in Bradenton. This planetarium opened its doors in 1966, along with the first advances in space exploration. This attraction has always been considered a place of innovative technology.

In 2001, a fire attributed to an electrical failure caused extensive damage to the facilities, bringing much sorrow to the inhabitants and visitors of Bradenton. But in 2005 the new planetarium was inaugurated with brand-new features. Its most recent significant acquisition debuted at the end of 2013 with a modern projection system that has the most advanced planetary technology in the world.

The Bishop Planetarium has comfortable armchairs and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound system. You can sit back and enjoy the impressive presentations projected in the dome. Some of these presentations include ‘Passport to The Universe,’ narrated by Tom Hanks or ‘Dark Universe,’ narrated by the remarkable a Neil deGrasse Tyson. There is also a special presentation for all members of the family; this is ‘Perfect Little Planet’ an adventure that will lead you to discover what life would be like on another planet full of spaceships and aliens. Each of these presentations is approved by NASA and show the latest discoveries about the cosmos.

Bishop Planetarium has access to more than 200 satellites that allow it to showcase new advances in space exploration. If you want to learn about planets and constellations and be amazed at the greatness of our universe, you cannot miss the Bradenton Planetarium.

The Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Aquarium (201 10th St W, Bradenton, FL 34205)

This place is dedicated to the preservation of this aquatic mammal that is a symbol not only of Bradenton but of all Manatee County. The aquarium facilities have around 60,000 gallons of water, developing an ideal environment to rehabilitate sick Manatees and return them to their natural habitat.

This aquarium was for many years the home of Snooty, the mascot of the county. This manatee lived 69 years, becoming the oldest manatee in history. By visiting the aquarium, you will learn about manatees and the most effective way to preserve their natural habitat. You will even be able to interact with some of them. Another exhibition you can see is the one dedicated to sea turtles, where you can learn about the diverse species that are at risk and how to protect them.

– De Soto Memorial Park (8300 De Soto Memorial Highway, Bradenton, FL 34209-9748)

This vast park full of nature honors the memory of Spanish Conquistador Hernandez de Soto, who led the first extensive exploration of Florida’s land in 1539. The park is about 26 acres, where you can see how The Manatee River flows into Tampa Bay.

The arrival of Hernandez de Soto was aimed to conquer the lands of The New World. Its crew consisted of nine boats, and a significant number of horses, dogs and weapons. This exploration, like many others of that period, was characterized by violence. The Spaniards did not obtain the gold they had thought of, therefore they toured several villages, capturing the native inhabitants to make them their slaves. The exploration left an incalculable number of deaths and would mark the foundation for Spain’s position towards The New World.

The park’s mission is to educate its visitors about the events that occurred in the colonization of this area: the importance and consequences that this expedition entailed to America’s history.

The vast nature of the park allows visitors to enjoy various recreational activities such as kayaking, bird watching or hiking.