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Plan your visit to Manatee Village Historical Park.

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Our mission is "to preserve and share the heritage of 

Manatee County's founding period."

Manatee Village Historical Park

Take a step back in time at Manatee Village Historical Park! With free admission and 14 points of interest, this is a great way learn about the history of Manatee County and Old Florida long before paved roads and electricity.

We are located at 1404 Manatee Avenue East (SR 64), Bradenton, Fl 34208.  Just look for “Old Cabbage Head”, our 1913 Baldwin Locomotive, welcoming visitors to the Park from State Road 64!

Admission is FREE! Donations welcome.  Certain special events require an admission fee. Manatee Village Historical Park is primarily handicapped accessible. Due to the historic nature of some of our buildings, visitors may be offered an alternative experience. Call or e-mail for more information.

1850 Manatee Burying Grounds

Manatee Village Historical Park works in partnership with the City of Bradenton to offer free, self-guided walking tours of the 1850 Manatee Burying Grounds. This is the oldest established cemetery in Manatee County.  

Pick up a key to the cemetery and an information packet in our Whistle Stop Gift Shop. The Burying Grounds must be locked and the key returned by the time the museum closes (4:00pm).

Manatee County Historical Commission invites your participation in creating a Master Preservation Plan for the 1850 Manatee Burying Grounds. Through a grant from the Florida Department of Historical Resources, we will be updating the interpretation of the cemetery. 

Take the survey to tell us what changes you would like to see:   

Public Survey for 1850 Burying Grounds Plan (English): https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8TPCV6K 

Público Encuesta para Plan de 1850 Burying Ground (en Español): https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/LDJCYC8
      Wiggins general store
        Old Cabbage Head
          The 1860 courthouse
            Entrance to Manatee Village Historical Park
              Junior Junction

                The Whistle Stop Gift Shop

                The Manatee Village Historical Park is home to the Whistle Stop Gift Shop. It is located in the Wiggins General Store and features a wide variety of merchandise, specializing in books on Florida and local history. Water, soda, and snacks are also available for purchase. The Whistle Stop Gift Shop is run entirely by volunteers of the H.O.M.E. Committee, and proceeds support educational programming at Manatee Village Historical Park. Cash, check, debit, and most major credit cards accepted.

                Gift Shop Hours:

                September – April:
                Monday – Friday, 10:00am – 4:00pm
                2nd and 4th Saturdays each month, 11:00am – 2:00pm

                May – August:
                Monday – Friday, 11:00am – 2:00pm
                2nd and 4th Saturdays each month, 11:00am – 2:00pm

                If you would like to visit the Gift Shop and a volunteer is not available, please see staff on the second floor of the Wiggins Store. 

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                Village Hours:

                Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 4:00pm
                2nd & 4th Saturdays each month, 9:00am – 4:00pm

                Saturday openings in April and May are: April 13 & 27; May 11

                Closures: 

                • April 19 for all staff training
                • May 6-7 while staff are at Florida History Day
                • May 8 from 9am-1pm for staff training. We will be open to the public from 1pm to 4pm.
                • May 25-27 for Memorial Day weekend
                • The month of June for in-service work

                Phone: (941) 749-7165
                Email: manatee.village@manateeclerk.com

                E-mail addresses are public records under Florida law and are not exempt from public-records requirements. If you do not want your e-mail address to be subject to being released pursuant to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact by phone at the phone numbers above, or contact us in writing, via the United States Postal Service, at this address- Manatee County Historical Commission 1404 Manatee Ave. E, Bradenton, Fl 34208.

                Location Map:

                 

                Address:

                1404 Manatee Avenue East 
                (SR 64)
                Bradenton, FL. 34208

                Phone:

                941-749-7165

                Village Hours

                Monday – Friday and 2nd & 4th Saturdays of each month

                9:00am – 4:00pm

                Closed holidays and their corresponding weekends.