Explore Architectural Landmarks in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Maria Montalbano October 21, 2024
Maria Montalbano October 21, 2024
The landmarks above are the headline sites. Below, we cover what readers ask about most after seeing them: which historic houses you can still tour, how the city's historic districts work, what residential and commercial architecture looks like across town, and what changes when you buy near a protected property. If you want to see how these styles show up in homes on the market, Maria Montalbano and our team can walk you through current Fort Lauderdale homes for sale.
Several of the city's best-known houses are open to the public, and each one shows a different way of building in South Florida.
Stranahan House, built 1901
Frank Stranahan and his wife, Ivy Cromartie Stranahan, built this wood-frame vernacular house with wide porches and a view of the New River. It has served as a trading post, post office, town hall and family home, and it is the oldest surviving structure in Broward County. Today it operates as a museum.
Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, built 1920 to 1921
Artist Frederic Clay Bartlett designed this 35-acre estate for tropical beachfront living. It sits on the barrier island between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic, and its eclectic style reflects Bartlett's world travels. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, is a City of Fort Lauderdale historic landmark, and operates as a house museum and tropical garden at 900 North Birch Road.
Himmarshee District houses
The Himmarshee district holds about 17 properties, including the Philemon Bryan House, the King-Cromartie House and the restored New River Inn, which operates as a historical museum. The Fort Lauderdale Historical Society is based in the district's Hoch Heritage Center, and a replica of the city's first schoolhouse stands there too.
Sources: Historic Stranahan House Museum, stranahanhouse.org (accessed October 2026); Broward County, National Register of Historic Places profile of Bonnet House (accessed October 2026); Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, bonnethouse.org (accessed October 2026); City of Fort Lauderdale, Historic Districts page (accessed October 2026).
Plan ahead. Tour schedules, admission and open days change, so confirm details on each museum's website before you go. For ideas to fill out the rest of your day, see our guides to things to do in Fort Lauderdale and things you might not know about Fort Lauderdale.
Use this table to compare the era, style and key facts of the sites covered in this guide.
Landmark | Era | Style or character | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
Stranahan House | Built 1901 | Wood-frame vernacular with wide porches | Oldest surviving structure in Broward County; museum |
Bonnet House | Built 1920 to 1921 | Eclectic, designed by artist Frederic Clay Bartlett | 35 acres; National Register since 1984; City historic landmark |
NSU Art Museum | Opened 1986 | Modernist, designed by Edward Larrabee Barnes | 83,000 square feet at 1 E Las Olas Blvd; part of Nova Southeastern University since 2008 |
Sailboat Bend | Early 1900s to 1950s | Bungalow, Mission and Mediterranean Revival details | Largest of the three historic districts, with more than 550 buildings |
Himmarshee District | Early 20th century | Early commercial downtown buildings | About 17 properties; oldest section of the commercial downtown |
Sources: Historic Stranahan House Museum (accessed October 2026); Broward County, National Register of Historic Places profile of Bonnet House (accessed October 2026); NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, About the Museum page (accessed October 2026); City of Fort Lauderdale, Historic Districts page (accessed October 2026). Details are accurate at the time of writing.
The NSU Art Museum sits at 1 E Las Olas Blvd. If that part of town appeals to you, browse Las Olas homes for sale and Las Olas condos, or read our look at boutique shopping and art walks on Las Olas.
Fort Lauderdale protects its older buildings through a formal historic preservation program. The city's own figures show how much of that heritage is recognized.
3
locally designated historic districts
62
individually designated historic landmark sites
15
sites on the National Register of Historic Places
Source: City of Fort Lauderdale, Historic Preservation page (accessed October 2026). Counts may change as new sites are designated.
Sailboat Bend, in the southwestern part of the city, is the largest district and the oldest neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale, dating from the early 1900s to the 1950s. Its key contributing sites include the Swing Bridge, the West Side Fire Station and the West Side School, and all three are also individual local landmarks. The third district is the Stranahan House property itself, which the city rezoned as an H-1 district in 1982 to protect it from development. For maps and details on all three, see the City of Fort Lauderdale's Historic Districts page.
Older homes raise questions about value and upkeep. Our guide to home age versus market value in Las Olas and Harbor Beach explains how age can factor into pricing.
If you are touring neighborhoods or searching for a home with character, these are the residential styles the sources above describe.
Old Florida frame vernacular
Wood-frame construction with wide porches, as seen at the Stranahan House. The porches and the setting along the New River are the features most visitors notice first.
Bungalow, Mission and Mediterranean Revival
Most houses in Sailboat Bend are small, one-story vernacular homes carrying details from these styles, according to the city. Some larger homes sit along the New River.
Eclectic estate design
Bonnet House was designed by its artist owner and blends influences from his world travels with a layout built for tropical beachfront living.
Sources: Historic Stranahan House Museum (accessed October 2026); City of Fort Lauderdale, Historic Districts page (accessed October 2026); Broward County, National Register of Historic Places profile of Bonnet House (accessed October 2026).
These older styles are one chapter of the story. For a close look at a single neighborhood, read our breakdown of the architectural styles that define Rio Vista estates. For more recent design, see our guides to luxury home design trends and interior design styles for Fort Lauderdale homes. When you are ready to see these styles up close, browse Fort Lauderdale homes for sale or ask Maria Montalbano to build a search around the look you want.
Commercial architecture in Fort Lauderdale starts downtown. The Himmarshee district is the oldest section of the commercial downtown, with early 20th century businesses along Himmarshee Street. On the cultural side, the modernist NSU Art Museum building opened in 1986 and holds 25,000 square feet of exhibition space and a 256-seat auditorium.
Historic status also changes the math for commercial owners. The city and Broward County offer tax relief for designated historic properties used for commercial or certain nonprofit purposes.
50%
City property tax reduction for designated historic resources used for commercial or non-profit purposes
50%
Broward County exemption on the assessed value of qualifying historic property used for commercial or certain nonprofit purposes
2,500 sq ft
Adaptive reuse commercial structures up to this size are exempt from off-street parking requirements
Sources: City of Fort Lauderdale, Historic Preservation Incentives page (accessed October 2026); NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, About the Museum page (accessed October 2026); City of Fort Lauderdale, Historic Districts page (accessed October 2026). Eligibility rules apply at the time of writing.
These programs have conditions, and they apply only to designated properties. To use either commercial exemption, a property must also be regularly open to the public, at least 40 hours a week for 45 weeks a year or the equivalent of 1,800 hours a year. Confirm eligibility with the city before you rely on any of them.
If you are exploring investment property, start with our Fort Lauderdale commercial properties page, read buying commercial property for beginners, or look at available Fort Lauderdale land.
A home with historic status comes with its own rules and its own incentives. Here is the process in the order most buyers meet it.
1Confirm the designation.
Ask whether the property is an individually designated landmark or sits inside a historic district. The city's Urban Design and Planning team keeps historic resource maps and district maps.
2Expect review for exterior work.
Proposed work that affects a designated landmark or sits within a historic district is reviewed by the city's Historic Preservation Board Liaison, who decides whether it can be approved administratively or needs the Historic Preservation Board.
3Look at the tax incentive before you plan work.
The city offers a 10-year ad valorem tax exemption on the added assessed value from restoring, renovating or rehabilitating a designated historic landmark. The applicant must apply before construction begins, and it applies only to taxing authorities that agree to participate.
4Ask about flood and building code relief.
FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program exempts historic structures from its elevation and floodproofing requirements, and the Florida Building Code has a chapter on historic buildings. A licensed professional can tell you how each applies to a specific home.
5Inspect before you commit.
A thorough inspection helps you price repairs on an older property before you decide. Read our guide to getting a home inspection before buying, and weigh your options in should you renovate or sell as is in Rio Vista.
Sources: City of Fort Lauderdale, Historic Preservation page and Historic Preservation Incentives page (accessed October 2026). This summary is informational, not legal or tax advice, and rules change.
Own a home with architectural character and curious about its value? Request a home valuation from our team.
Once you know which architecture draws you in, use these starting points to browse listings and neighborhood guides.
Museums, galleries and downtown
Browse homes near Las Olas Boulevard, home to the NSU Art Museum.
Architectural variety near downtown
Start with Rio Vista listings, then read how its homes are designed.
Waterfront and boating
Compare Harbor Beach homes and condos, and learn what the bridge setup means for boaters.
Oceanfront and new development
Explore contemporary residences and branded developments on the water.
Estate-scale luxury
See luxury listings across the city, plus Bay Colony.
Condos, townhomes and single-family
Filter by property type when the architecture matters less than the layout.
Bring this list to showings and to your first call with your agent.
Listings and results
Buying guides
The best-known landmarks include the Stranahan House, the oldest surviving structure in Broward County, and Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Downtown, the Himmarshee district protects early commercial buildings and the New River Inn museum, and Sailboat Bend preserves the city's oldest neighborhood. According to the City of Fort Lauderdale, the city has three locally designated historic districts, 62 individually designated landmark sites and 15 sites on the National Register of Historic Places.
Pair the Stranahan House with the Himmarshee district, where the New River Inn operates as a historical museum, then add Bonnet House on a separate trip. For something less expected, the Himmarshee district also includes a replica of the first Fort Lauderdale schoolhouse. Our guide to things to do in Fort Lauderdale has ideas for the rest of the day.
The Stranahan House, built in 1901, is the oldest surviving structure in Broward County, according to the Historic Stranahan House Museum. It has served as a trading post, post office, town hall and family home.
Artist Frederic Clay Bartlett designed Bonnet House himself. Architect Edward Larrabee Barnes designed the modernist NSU Art Museum, which opened in 1986. Frank Stranahan built the Stranahan House in 1901. Our guide to Rio Vista architecture covers residential design in one neighborhood.
Fort Lauderdale mixes Old Florida frame vernacular, Bungalow, Mission and Mediterranean Revival details, eclectic estate design and modernist civic buildings. To see these styles in current listings, browse Fort Lauderdale homes for sale or contact Maria Montalbano.
According to the City of Fort Lauderdale, the city commission can authorize a 10-year ad valorem tax exemption on the added value from restoring or renovating a designated historic landmark, if the owner applies before construction begins. Historic properties used for commercial or non-profit purposes can qualify for a 50 percent City property tax reduction. These programs have conditions, so confirm eligibility with the city. If you are comparing historic properties, Maria Montalbano can help you narrow Fort Lauderdale homes for sale.
Both operate as museums. At the time of writing, the Stranahan House says it is open five to six days a week for tours, and Bonnet House runs as a house museum and tropical garden. Hours and admission change, so check each website before you go.
Sources: City of Fort Lauderdale; Historic Stranahan House Museum; Bonnet House Museum & Gardens; Broward County; NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale. Accessed October 2026.
Whether you are drawn to historic charm or modern design, our team will build a search around the architecture you love. Start with current Fort Lauderdale homes for sale, or learn more about Maria Montalbano.
This section is informational, not legal, financial or tax advice. Laws, incentives and tour schedules change, so confirm current details with the City of Fort Lauderdale, each museum and a licensed professional before you rely on them.
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