🏆 Official Guide: Gamble Plantation Historic State Park — The only surviving antebellum plantation house in South Florida — located in Ellenton, Manatee County, Florida — a 3,500-acre sugar plantation built 1845–1850 using tabby construction (oyster shell/lime), where Confederate Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin hid from federal troops in 1865 before escaping to England — featuring guided mansion tours, museum exhibits, a visitor center, a 40,000-gallon cistern, and interpretive grounds.
Gamble Plantation Historic State Park preserves the last surviving antebellum plantation house in South Florida — a tabby-constructed mansion that witnessed the final chapter of the Confederacy. In May 1865, Confederate Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin fled here while evading federal troops, hiding at the plantation before escaping through the Bahamas to England. The mansion, built by Major Robert Gamble to oversee his 3,500-acre sugar operation worked by nearly 200 enslaved people, stands as a sobering monument to the antebellum South.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | 3708 Patten Ave, Ellenton, FL 34222 |
| Built | 1845–1850 — Major Robert Gamble |
| Construction | Tabby — oyster shells, lime, sand, ash |
| Original Plantation | 3,500 acres — sugar production |
| Enslaved Workers | Nearly 200 people |
| Civil War | Hiding place for Judah P. Benjamin (1865) |
What to See
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Guided Mansion Tours | Period-furnished interior — mid-19th century |
| Visitor Center | Museum exhibits — plantation + Civil War history |
| 40,000-Gallon Cistern | Original water storage system |
| Interpretive Markers | Grounds walkthrough — plantation layout |
| Architecture | Tabby construction — rare surviving example |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to take a guided tour?
The mansion interior is only accessible via guided tours. The grounds, visitor center, and outdoor interpretive markers can be explored independently during park hours.
What is tabby construction?
Tabby is a traditional coastal building material made from a mixture of oyster shells, lime, sand, and ash. The technique was widely used in the antebellum Southeast — the Gamble mansion is one of the finest surviving examples in Florida.
More parks nearby: Terra Ceia Preserve State Park is a short drive away, while Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site lies a short drive away.
Park Location
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