Old Manatee Tour

lorida Stories, a walking tour app, supports the creation of cultural, historical, and architectural walking tours for communities across the state of Florida. Florida Stories allows users to learn about the history of some of Florida’s most unique towns at their own pace and on their own schedule. The Old Manatee tour, available now on the Florida Stories Walking Tour app, is an initiative of the Florida Humanities Council and Manatee Library Information Services department.

Old Manatee refers to the area of the original Town of Manatee situated on the Manatee River (east of 301); the tour will highlight sites pertaining to its history including 19^th and early 20^th century buildings constructed by early settlers in the town as well as rural areas, the Old Manatee Burying Grounds, and information about an early community known as Angola, a Maroon community (escaped slaves who lived with indigenous people) in the pre-Civil War era which was recently designated as a site on the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

Town of Manatee historical marker Angola historical panel Manatee Mineral Spring historical marker

Manatee Village Historical Park hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, 2nd & 4th Sat each month 9:00 am - 4:00 pm (keys to Old Burying Ground gate must be obtained from park staff). Schedule your visit.

Reflections of Manatee hours: hours vary for interior tour, please see the Reflections Facebook page for program listings

The Old Manatee tour is approximately 0.7 miles walking distance, one way, and can be walked or driven. Depending on how much time you spend at each stop, the tour can last from 1.5 to 2.5 hours.

If you do not start the tour at Stop 1 and start at the Manatee Village instead, we recommend driving across Manatee Ave/SR 64 on 15th St E in order to get from the Manatee Village to the Manatee Mineral Springs, though there is a crosswalk if you choose to walk.

See below for Old Manatee tour route:

Old Manatee tour route

Thank you to our partners listed below! Their support and scholarship make this project possible.

Florida Humanities Council
Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Realize Bradenton
Manatee Village Historical Park and Historical Resources, Manatee Clerk of Court
Reflections of Manatee
Friends of the Central Library

For more information about this tour or other historical resources, please contact Information Services at [email protected].

Florida Stories is sponsored by the Florida Department State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.