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Stranahan House
335 S.E. 6th Avenue at Las Olas Boulevard
Telephone - (954) 524-4736
Fax- (954) 525-2838
Map
Website
Wikipedia
Video
Tours every day at 1, 2 & 3 pm. River Ghost Tour at 7:30 pm.
Reservations are required BEFORE 6:00 PM on Sunday. SPACE IS LIMITED!
Stranahan House, located in downtown Fort Lauderdale on the New River,
has been the site most closely associated with both the founding of
the City and its economic and social development. Frank Stranahan
originally selected the site because it was where he operated his
barge ferry across the river as part of the new road from Lantana to
what is now North Miami. Today, Stranahan House is the eastern anchor
of River Walk, a linear waterfront park connecting Fort Lauderdale's
historic district with the soon to be created cultural district
anchored by the Performing Arts Center and the Museum of Discovery and
Science.
Begun as a trading post for settlers and the Seminole Indians in 1901,
it evolved into the post office, community center and town hall as
Frank became Fort Lauderdale's first postmaster, a banker and
businessman. He married another pioneer, Ivy Julia Cromartie, the
area's first school teacher, and soon dances and community festivals
were held on the upper floor of the house. In 1906, it became the
Stranahan's personal residence until Ivy Stranahan's death in 1971.
Following Frank's suicide during the depression, Ivy leased the first
floor of the house to outsiders for use as a restaurant, while she
continued to live upstairs. In 1973, the house was named to the
National Register of Historic Places. In 1979, the restaurant closed
and the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society took possession. This was
the beginning of thoughtful restoration necessary to preserve the
home. In 1981, Stranahan House, Inc. was incorporated to own and
manage the property.
The house itself, built of Dade County pine, is an example of Florida
vernacular architecture in a tropical wilderness setting. Expanded and
renovated numerous times, it is presently restored to its 1913-1915
configuration. At that time the Stranahan's seven year old home had
electric wiring, indoor plumbing and running water, interior
stairways, bay windows and wide porches. All woodwork, flooring and
paneling have been refinished and the exterior repainted in the
original white with green trim. A new roof, a prototype for other
historical properties, was completed in 1996 and meets current
hurricane specifications. Many, but not all, of the original
furnishings were either sold or given away over the years, and the
house is furnished with examples of period Victorian furniture and
decorative pieces.
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ART & GALLERY PAGES:
Art Connection Las Olas
Bellagio International Gallery
Blue Gallery
Call of Africa
Casa Chameleon
Hamilton Gallery
Howard Alan Events
Inspired Interiors
J Britto Designs
Karanky Gallery
Kings Gallery
Las Olas Fine Arts
Mika Fine Arts
Mission Gifts/Upper Room Art Gallery
Museum of Art | Fort Lauderdale
New River Fine Art
Objets d'Art
Pocock Fine Arts and Antiques
Regency Gallery
Saba Gallery
Seldom Seen Gallery
Silver Street Gallery
Stranahan House
Wentworth Gallery
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