Selby Gardens adopted property in 2020
In April, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens recognized the 50th anniversary of the Historic Spanish Point campus’ having become the first property in Sarasota County to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation and is a part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate and protect America’s historical and archaeological resources,” a Selby Gardens news release points out citing the National Register’s website.
On April 16, 1975, “the Osprey Archaeological and Historic Site was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which recognized the significance of this outstanding property,” the release continues. “The listing on the National Register was the result of research conducted by local historian Janet Snyder Matthews, working with the Junior League of Sarasota and the Palmer family,” which still owned the property at the time, the release notes.
In recognizing this anniversary, Selby Gardens President and CEO Jennifer O. Rominiecki said in the release, “We are proud to be the stewards of this amazing property that preserves so much native nature and Florida history.”
Among the site features are a 4,500-year-old Archaic Shell Ring and a 2,500-year-old Shell Ridge that projects into Little Sarasota Bay, the release points out. “The Native American history and archaeology is featured in the permanent exhibit A Window to the Past,” the release says. “Other features of the site include the 1901 Guptill House, the 1885 White Cottage, and reproductions of the pioneer boatyard, packing house and chapel. The campus also features gardens created by Bertha Palmer in 1912,” the release notes.
“Following the 1975 National Register listing,” the release continues, “the property was donated for use as a historical and natural science museum. Opened to the public in 1982, the site has welcomed thousands of visitors and students to learn about history and nature. In 2020, the property was adopted by Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, resulting in a four-fold increase in attendance and a higher profile in the community,” the release adds.