Historic Stranahan House Museum

When it comes to South Florida, the history can be a bit more hidden. Between catastrophic hurricanes, housing market booms and busts, “old” buildings here are relatively new compared to other parts of the US or world. Ms. Jane was the curator onsite today and she greeted us and set us up with our touring “wands,” preprogrammed hand held audio devices that played the recorded material for each area or room of the house. From the foyer and office, to the parlor, dining room and kitchen downstairs, the bedrooms, bathrooms upstairs, the history of the early 20th century home was on display with antiques and period items and clothing, as well as the personal effects of Frank and Ivey Stranahan. One of my favorite parts was the upstairs wraparound porch. While there’s no touching in the house, here you were invited to sit in a white wicker chair and just watch the comings and goings along the New River’s water traffic. Yachts, water taxis, ferries, and paddle wheel steam boats touring all pass by while you take in the view. The tour was about 45 minutes long, though self-paced. Ms. Jane was well versed in the history of the home and other lore of the home. Well worth the visit to an oft-forgotten part of Florida history!

I ❤️ history! Ft.lauderdale is my hometown. The volunteers were super nice. It was a self guided tour. Great! Good price. A step back in time away from modern world.

This house is fascinating, mostly for the fact that it is entirely made out of a type of pine that is mold resistant and incredibly durable. That is how this beautiful structure has been able to last all This time. perfectly situated, my favorite part was sitting in the veranda and looking out at the boats. I learned to much about this original trading post and how life back then must have been in the Fort Lauderdale area. What a great little piece of history.

Go back in time to when Ft. Lauderdale first began with a trip to the Stranahan House. The self-guided audio tour gives you more than enough information about the Stranahans, the town, each room, and the people of the area from the early 1900’s up through Ivy’s death in 1971. This is a great tour for both locals and tourists. Be sure to take a break and sit on the outdoor porch for a bit to appreciate the beauty of the New River. While many of the artifacts in the house are “of the period”, there are a few gems that actually belonged to and were used by the Stranahans themselves. It’s a great affordable way to take in the quieter side of the city.

It is a beautiful piece of history, well preserved in a beautiful part of town. Staff were friendly and it was well furnished and had ample information. It’s only a 3 partly because it’s so small it is a quick activity to pay for, and partly because the self guided recordings were at least 5 times too long for each room, so after the second one you have to stop listening unless you want to spend a really long time in each very small room. Still definitely worth doing if you’re into old houses.

A beautiful and historic gem! The Stranahan House Museum is rich in history and so well preserved. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even more enjoyable. Overall, it’s a wonderful place to learn about the area’s past while enjoying the charm and beauty of this historic home. Highly recommend a visit!

A Step Back Time! This House is a delight and it's right in the midst of busy and modern Las Olas facing the beautiful New River. The house itself is a stunning example of simple yet beautiful design. Our guide, Missi, was very nice and very knowledgeable, sharing fascinating stories about the Stranahan family's history. The self-guided audio tour was true ingenuity - it allowed us to explore the house at our own pace while still gaining a deeper understanding of its significance. What truly impressed us was how the museum transported us back in time. The carefully preserved interior and artifacts created an immersive experience. This was definitely a unique and enriching experience in Ft. Lauderdale, the Stranahan House Museum is an absolute must-visit.

This place is fascinating!!! The curator who walked us in had the most interesting stories! I love the audio history of the house and area. I was pleasantly surprised that there are chairs to sit in on the balcony and you're encouraged to do so!

I'm surprised it took me 30 years to make it here .i took my best friend to explore this lovely home . About the home The Stranahan House was built in 1901 by Frank Stranahan, credited as Fort Lauderdale's founding father, and his wife Ivy Cromartie Stranahan, the area's first school teacher. It is the oldest surviving structure in Broward County and has served as a trading post, post office, town hall, and home to the Stranahans. The house is a wood-frame vernacular structure with wide porches and a stunning view of the New River. It was lovingly restored by the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society and the Fort Lauderdale Board of Realtors and opened to the public as a historic house museum in 1984.

This was one of the oldest houses in Florida. It is now a museum. I found the history behind this house interesting. The original owners were truly pioneers. This area and house had so much history. Who would have guest. The house comes with a self-guided tour. They give you this device to use that acted as a guide inside the house. It explained things and pointed out things. The tour was good. It was entertaining. It was cool going back in time. The staff was very helpful. The young lady by the front was great. The older gentleman had so much knowledge of the place. He was open to questions and had good stories. I was glad I did this.

I came here for their Prohibition party and talk. We got a Stranahan House mug and 2 tickets, 1 for a cocktail and 1 for an empanada. There was a gin or vodka cocktail made with blood orange juice. The talk about prohibition was interesting. Beautiful night outside by the New River.

I remember I was the ONLY person inside of this house when I came to do this very fun event by myself. The statues inside of the living room looked extremely creepy and scared the living daylight outta me when I thought it was real people. Everything looked so beautiful and interesting, but remodeling the entire property defeats the purpose of the entire idea of how the lifestyle of these people really were while on the property. What we are seeing in this house is just entirely a good hypothesis of how they lived because nothing was left in place. I picked up on peaceful energy inside of the house, but I didn't suspect it really being haunted. In a sense it felt as though Ivy Stranahan wanted me to come back for dinner since my favorite place inside of the house was her kitchen. If this house really is haunted as it has a reputation for, I guess I'm not surprised.

While visiting a historic building may not be the first thing that comes to mind when visiting a beach town, a visit to the Stranahan House is a great way to learn some local history on how Fort Lauderdale got to be the city it is today. Our tour guide was John and he was amazing. He even knew Ivy Stranahan who lived in the house all those years. John is 83 and is a local historian and seems to be the custodian of the house, caring for it as if it was his own and sharing stories of its past lives. He is also very knowledgeable about Florida history so I learned a lot during the 1.5 hours of the tour. Oh and that reminds me- if you drive and park with a meter, while the website says the tour is an hour, today's tour lasted almost 2 hours as John is very passionate about what he does so plan accordingly! During my visit, as you will see in the photos, the house is decorated for the holidays which makes it just that more special. it would be a great place for a December wedding with all of the extra touches! There is construction going on to the east of the house which makes getting to the house a bit of a challenge (enter from Las Olas as you can't get there right now from the Riverwalk although that will change in a few months when the construction is complete). This has also limited the days they are giving tours to check out their website to buy tickets and know which days it is open. The admission price for an Adult under 60 years old is $12, Seniors (Ages 60+) pay $11, Students pay $7, and Members get in for free. Paid parking is available in the Riverside Hotel garage, on the street or in any of the nearby lots. All in all a great way to spend a couple of hours learning about the history of Fort Lauderdale and how it is so much more than the beaches everyone knows it for!

I am not a big fan of history museums, but the Stranahan House is worth the visit. Learning about the history of Fort Lauderdale and how this city came out to be what it is today is really interesting. The Stranahan House was built in 1901 by Frank Stranahan, credited as Fort Lauderdale's founding father, and his wife Ivy Cromartie Stranahan, the area's first school teacher. It is the oldest surviving structure in Broward County and has served as a trading post, post office, community gathering, and home to the Stranahans. The house is a wood-frame vernacular structure with wide porches and a stunning view of the New River. It was restored by the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society and the Fort Lauderdale Board of Realtors and opened to the public as a historic house museum in 1984. A guided tour of Fort Lauderdale's Historic Stranahan House Museum is like a journey through time. It is a link to a time when Seminole Indians made friends with a young Ohioan who settled in the frontier town now known as Fort Lauderdale. Admission to the Historic Stranahan House Museum is by guided tour only. Experienced docents lead you through the museum to share the story of the house, the founding family, and the City of Fort Lauderdale. The tours last approximately 45-60 minutes. The admission price for an Adult under 60 years old is $12, Seniors (Ages 60+) pay $11, Students pay $7, and Members get in for free. They offer guided tours at 1p, 2p, and 3pm, seven days a week.

If you are a history buff like me, then here is some information about this old historical house. It is located right on the waters edge along the Fort Lauderdale River walk. Stranahan House is the home of Fort Lauderdale pioneers Frank and Ivy Stranahan. Built in 1901 as a trading post and converted into a residence for the Stranahans in 1906, the house is the oldest surviving structure in Broward County. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and today operates as a historic house museum. The House is open for guided tours at 1, 2, and 3 p.m. daily, and hosts special events throughout the year.

At the age of 27, pioneer Frank Stranahan left Ohio and came to the area now known as Fort Lauderdale in January 1893. He took a job managing his cousin's camp and ferry at Tarpon Bend on the New River. He also established a trading business with the Seminole Indians who regarded him as a fair businessman. In 1894, Frank purchased ten acres of land west on the river and moved his trading post to it and he became the postmaster. By 1899 the community had grown large enough for a school teacher. Edwin T. King, a school trustee, built a school for his children and others to be educated at and 18 year old Ivy Julia Cromartie arrived from Miami to be the areas first school teacher. Ivy's first class had 9 students. Ivy would visit Frank Stratham at his trading post to send money back home. There weren't many people in Ft. Lauderdale at that time and dating options were limited. The couple courted and decided to get married on August 16, 1900 after which they became an important part of Ft. Lauderdale pioneer history. After she married Frank, Ivy could no longer hold a job as was the custom of the day, but she used her teaching experience to educate the Seminoles who would come to trade with Frank. The Stranahan House was built 1901 for the couple to live in. The first floor was the trading post and the upper floor was a community hall. Ivy was a very civic minded person. She was involved in African-American, women's, and Native American's rights, as well as the first chapter of the Audubon Society and the Red Cross. The Seminole's would paddle up the New River in their canoes and trade with the Stranahan's for the good's they couldn't grow. She also served as president of Women's Club from 1913 until 1916. In 1926 the Florida land boom collapsed due to two hurricanes followed by the Great Depression. Frank, once a wealthy land owner became destitute along with those who invested in him. The guilt coupled with ill health was too much for him to bear and he drowned himself in the New River in front of the house. After Frank's death, Ivy carried on by renting out part of the house and taking in borders. She eventually returned to her civic causes and was a long-term member of the city's planning and zoning committee, successfully lobbying for the Homestead Exemption law. She established the Friends of the Seminoles and the Broward County chapter of the Campfire Girls. She remained active until her death on August 30, 1971, at the age of 90. After Ivy's death she left the house to the Seventh Day Adventist Church, where she was a member since 1915. The house then became a restaurant for a couple of years. In 1975 the Stranahan House was purchased by the Ft. Lauderdale Historical Society who restored it and opened it as a museum in 1984. Today you can tour the house for $12 with discounts for seniors and children. Tours are docent led and advance online purchase is recommended. During the holidays the house is decorated and admission to the home can be combined with a New River boat tour. The Stranahan House is the perfect place to learn all about Ivy and Frank Stranhan, Ft. Lauderdales most famous pioneers. You can still see their legacy all over the Ft. Lauderdale, Stranahan Park named for the couple, Stranahan Landing, a park on top of the Kinney Tunnel near the spot where Frank Stranahan used to dock the ferry he used to take travelers heading north across the New River, the Ft. Lauderdale Woman's Club where Ivy served as president, the 1899 Schoolhouse Museum, a replica of the one Ivy taught at, and the Evergreen Cemetery where the couple and members of their family are buried. It is really cool to see this house from 1901, now dwarfed by the towering city buildings that sprouted up surrounding it. This historic building is well worth a visit. Oh, and it is haunted too!

Fun little museum in the middle of a modern downtown that really strives to keep and share the history of Fort Lauderdale alive. The house itself is the oldest house in Fort Lauderdale built by one of the city's founders that is well maintained and pretty much looks like it did 100 years ago. You take guided tours with knowledgeable guides and they even have events like Tea Parties where the staff wears period outfits. It's a great organization that is trying hard to preserve a bit of the past in an expanding downtown. If you're a history buff, this is a must in Fort Lauderdale. You should call ahead to make an appointment for a tour or to check on the hours.

My love for art and museums. This was a hidden gem. Built in 1901 The tour was unexpected. To learn about the history of the place was very informative. It was once a home to a lovely couple then turn into a restaurant and thensome. To go back in time and to know the struggles of life is still happening today. What a treat. I do not want to give away the history but it was well told to us during the tour. IT broke my heart to learn the outcome in the final end. The price is $12 per person very, very reasonable. Just a lovely place and well kept even though tons of hurricanes have past. It still stands today stronger than ever. I would recommend to any museum lover. This is a Must Tour!!!

Oh, how I adore this little gem in the river in Fort Lauderdale. There are beautiful views and rich history to be explored at the Stranahan House. My husband and I hosted our wedding reception here. We worked with Lindsay who was really great and friendly. She helped us to be sure to use the space really well. We rented a tent and set it up in the parking lot and had our dinner there. There is also a space that is already tented and has lights for the dance floor. The location of this venue is PERFECT. It is conveniently located on Las Olas, next door to Riverside hotel. Because it is so close, we did a block of rooms at Riverside so our guests were able to walk to our event which was pretty cool. There is also a parking garage right next door to the Stranahan house which made it simple for everyone attending. The house is right on the river so we got some beautiful professional pictures and the people on the water taxi made us laugh by cheering for us. I love that we were right on Las Olas because after we did our big exit for our wedding, some close friends walked with us over to Big City Tavern for a drink. The one thing that was a little stressful is that we needed to use quite a few other venders. This is not your one stop shop wedding venue. However, that worked for us because we did not want to have a wedding that has been done before. Lindsay and the Stranahan House worked well with our other venders (tent/tables, caterer, DJ). I loved that they opened the museum for our guests during cocktail hour. It was a fun little perk that many guests took advantage of while they waited for us to get photos done. Overall, we are so glad we got married here. We love that we will always be able to return to the place where we celebrated our wedding because it is such a historical staple.

Very nice house, that you would totally miss if you didn't know it was there. Right on the river, so it's quite beautiful. It's also a nice throw back to a time gone by, especially since all around this area there is more construction going on that will totally ruin downtown forever. But that's another topic. The house and grounds are very well kept and the tours are nice. You can learn about the history of the city and the people who helped build it in the early days. Then you come back out into the sweltering heat and look for the nearest Starbucks.

Nestled between the adjacent Federal Highway's Henry E. Kinney Tunnel ventilation systems and surrounded by high building development projects, but actually fronting on the New River, it provides one very nice historic and restful green spot. Regardless of anything else, I'm a fan of any green spot, historic or not, that manages to survive the ever encroaching onslaught of greed driven developers. There is a lot of history to this building and it provides an excellent example of the early Florida vernacular architectural style from what was once old time Indian trading post dating back to the early 1900's configuration. It's a real credit to the City of Fort Lauderdale and to the many dedicated persons who have fought to preserve it from destruction. Though the Dade Pine of which it is built is now extinct, this building and its history remain very much alive.

I went on national museum day when the entrance fee was waived. They offer tours on the hour that last 1 hour. They break you into groups of 9 people. Only 18 people allowed per hour so plan ahead. You get to walk through both levels of the home and hear the history of the people who lived there and about the settlement of Fort Lauderdale. There is a gift shop at the end of the tour. There is a parking garage behind the Riverside Hotel and you walk a block to the home. Staff is friendly and excited about their job.

Fort Lauderdale is a touristy beach destination, but Stranahan House offers a break from that. As the oldest surviving structure in Broward County and former home of Frank and Ivy Stranahan, the founding father of Fort Lauderdale and the area's first school teacher respectively, Stranahan House offers a glimpse into the past of Fort Lauderdale from before it became the beach town of today. Just a heads up - most of the furniture and decor in the house are not original to it but nevertheless are antiques dating from the era that will give you a realistic sense of how the home may have looked. Self-guided tours are not available. Guided tours are available daily at 1, 2, and 3 P.M. Tickets are $12 for adults, $11 for seniors, and $7 for students. Give yourself a little over an hour for the tour though since it might run a tad longer than an hour, and you also might find yourself staying even longer if you hang out in the gift shop to hear more stories. All of the staff are very knowledgeable and passionate. Tom, our fantastic guide, thoroughly gave us the history of the Stranahan family and home and their role in the formation of Fort Lauderdale. If you want to learn more about the Stranahan family, the gift shop employee knew Ivy Stranahan well and can recount many stories about her. A lot of information is covered in the guided tour, and it is not for everyone. Take the tour only if you truly want to learn and understand Fort Lauderdale's history. Aside from the daily guided tour, there is the River Ghost Tour on Sunday evenings, and the house is available to rent for private functions. Parking is available in the nearby structure.

We had a wonderful tour given by John, 83 years old and the caretaker for 30+ years. He had so many interesting stories to tell and was even acquainted with a member of the Stranahan family! They were so instrumental in the founding and development of Fort Lauderdale that if you have any interest in the city's history this is a bit-to-miss activity. The house is beautifully restored, right on the Riverwalk

In the spirit of Halloween a friend and I ventured to Stranahan House for their Sunday night Ghost Tour! We arrived at this historical landmark and were greeted by the grounds keepers who honestly look as old as the house itself. We were invited to roam the grounds before the tour started and read a little about the history of the house and its former inhabitants. When the tour got started the woman guide showed pictures of orbs that had been captured on digital cameras by other visitors and encouraged us to try our own luck at capturing oddities. Then she gave us a small ghost hunting lesson before going through each room of the house and the events that had affected the inhabitants over the years. After going through the house the group was put on a small river taxi and taken down the New River. While on the boat the male guide explained the connection the area had with Indians, wars and massacres all which had taken place on this small 9 mile stretch of water. This was truly an experience I won't soon forget. I had never imagined going on my own ghost tour! I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for more opportunities like this to learn some history with a little ghostly twist to it!

Built by Frank Stranahan in 1901, this is the oldest house in Ft. Lauderdale. He used the house as a trading post for the Seminoles and travelers in the wilderness. He married Ivy, who was the force behind him, and a strong woman in her own rght, tho she wasn't popular, standing up for the rights of Seminoles, Blacks and women. This is a story of a couple and their joys and hardships that you don't want to miss. If John, the caretaker is around to talk, take the time to listen for he knows "the rest of the story." Check the website for special events. Teas are given throughout the year.

We toured the Stranahan House this past weekend and it was great! The docents were very knowledgable and we even lucked out with it being decorated for Christmas as this time of year. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area!

Enjoyed the tour. Chris was our tour guide - very knowledgeable and patient with the guests' questions.

Well I would have never come here on my own, so I have to thank the Las Olas Food & Wine Festival for hosting the Privé party at Stranahan House! A gorgeous home built right near the edge of the Las Olas waterfront, which used to be many things before becoming the museum; it was the first post office (in the area), for one! After venturing around the exterior, I was invited to check out the interior (sans food and beverages) and gaze upon some Florida history. The ladies inside were extremely knowledgeable about the Stranahan House and told stories from bottom to top - it was like my own private tour! Overall, this historical waterfront home is gorgeous and should be taken in carefully - admire, but do not touch. I'd recommend strolling through here if you are in the area and have 20 minutes to spare.

Loved our Halloween tour! The actors really do a great job telling Frank's story. Priceless, historic home - the history of Fort Lauderdale.

You gotta love te history of a place like this! When a guide, like Chris, give you the tour and the stories behind the place. You come away with a better understanding of the history of the area and of the Stranahan House, and the people who made this place happen under incredible conditions! Stories about the River Crossing and the bell and the hurricane of '26 and on and on and on to delight those who love stories. Anet and I were enthralled.

We took a one hour tour of this lovely historic house on Saturday. There are tours at 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00. It was a wonderful tour. Our guide gave us all the history of the Stranahan family and the surrounding area of the home. It was informative, interesting and we enjoyed seeing inside the home. Loved the porches upstairs and downstairs on the house. There is a small cozy gift shop at the end of the tour. They sell a small amount of antiques, jewelry, books, handmade colorful wooden racing cars and more. Local artists sell some handmade and handcrafted pieces as well. Overall, we were happy with our visit to the Stranahan House located on the Intercoastal waterway. This is a nice place to visit to see how the Stranahan family lived back in the late 1800's to early 1900's :)

I took an amazing docent-guided tour through this wonderful old home and a slice of Fort Lauderdale history. I was fortunate enough to take a tour alone and had my guide, Tommy, all to myself! Tommy was very informative and entertaining. Jack, the property's caretaker, is a bookmark out of time for he actually new Mrs. Stranahan. He has a million wonderful stories and each one is set to blow your mind. He is an irreplaceable historic resource filled with immense knowledge of the city's early beginnings. Be sure to also catch his guided haunted tour; although I missed it, I have heard wonderful entertaining reports! Stranahan House is one tour you must not miss, and I intend to do it again. My thanks to all the staff and volunteers at the Stranahan House, especially David, Tommy and Jack. I look forward to seeing you again soon!

I am an event coordinator for a catering company in South Florida. Out of all of the venues I have had the pleasure of working at, this one is my favorite. We do a lot of weddings and corporate events here. It is in such a wonderful location and it is so easy to work at. Not to mention, they have a really awesome coordinator named Lindsey that helps with every aspect of the event. She is so down to earth and easy to work with- one of the main reasons I recommend this venue to all of my brides!

Wonderful tour! The two docents are very knowledgeable about the history of the house and the Stranahan family. Even though only about 30% of the furnishings actually belonged to the family, everything else in the house is original to the period. My favorite items were the dining room place settings and the "miser's" purse. The gardens around the house are only fair, but there is a view of the river. Sadly, the area is surrounded by high rises. The docents were good at getting you to forget the high rises and think about the early settlers. If you want a fun history lesson on Ft. Lauderdale this is a must.

Very interesting place with knowledgeable docents. The lady of the house was a suffragette, conservationist, educator and a kind person

I went here on a field trip with my fourth graders and it was great. We were a group of about sixty and they were able to manage our group well despite the house being smaller. There were plenty of rotations inside and outside of the house and the staff were all very good with the students and informative. We really enjoyed it and look forward to going again next year!

This was your typical tour, beautiful setting, but there really wasn't much relevant history of the house or the inhabitants to take up the entire 1 hour of the tour. The price was fairly reasonable for $10-12. However, the gift shop had some of the steeper prices I'd seen. My only complaint about the tour was that our tour guide didn't have the most resonant voice. As such, spending the first half in an outdoor setting, I would have liked her to have a hand-held speaker. The tour guides on South Beach have these and they make a world of difference!

I attended a wedding this past weekend at the Stranahan House and was a member of the wedding party. This was my first time attending a wedding at this venue and I was blown away! I had an amazing time and enjoyed my overall experience. Not only was the wedding gorgeous, the staff was so friendly and helpful/accommodating to the bridal party. I would recommend anyone looking for a unique wedding venue to try the Stranahan house.

If you like to learn about history, then this is the place for you. The guides are volunteers and are very nice and knowledgeable. You can catch the free water taxi on the Riverwalk and there are lots of good restaurants within walking distance. Not sure if children would enjoy it though.

The house and its history is amazing. The tour guide was just okay.

This is a pretty, little, old house, and I'm glad it's still standing amid the newer constructions surrounding it. The tour was actually offensive though. Our tour guide bragged about how her family used to keep alligators and monkeys as house pets until they died prematurely. She then suggested that alcoholism is a sign of weakness. It was strange at best, and not the educational experience I had hoped.

I had my Spring 2013 wedding here and it was perfection! Donna and John really outdid themselves with working with me to make my dream wedding happen. We had cocktail hour around the house and then had a tent erected in the nearby square for the dinner and dancing portion. It was my dream come true.

This was a great and informative tour, the docents were both really kind and had a wealth of knowledge. It wasn't that busy when I went but I hope that was just a fluke, if not I hope it gains in popularity. The price was on average for a tour and I really enjoyed it. Such an interesting history and it's amazing the house has endured throughout the years and many storms and hurricanes.

I love this place. If you enjoy hearing about early day life and the pioneers of south Florida then this is the place for you. The staff is very nice and did a great job depicting life in Ft Lauderdale around the turn of the Century.

We got married here this past weekend. Our experience was great from beginning to end. The staff was more than accommodating and the location can't be beat in terms of appearance and convenience.

Being a tourist in my own city discovered this gem. Amazing history of Fort Lauderdale and its founders. Joined the 2pm tour and it was just us and Pam the guide who spoke with passion and enthusiasm along with knowledge. Then John the caretaker told great family stories. This is a treasure for us and I want to learn more about the amazing Ivy Stranahan so will be back for more. Thank you for keeping this alive for us and the future generations you are educating weekly

Interesting history of Fort Lauderdale and the owners of the house. The guide was very knowledgeable and nice. A fun and different thing to do while visiting. Very recommended if you like history and culture!

My family and found this tour online, and drove one hour to see it, after calling about the "ghosthunter" tour by a man named John. When I called, it was about another ghosthunting tour in the city, but John said that people had problems with that tour, and it was a hoax, basically. So he sold me on his tour. We tried to order tickets from the website, but thank goodness, the zip code wouldn't take. I cant imagine how many people get taken when they pay online. Because he said once you print your reservation, no refunds. Anyway, we drove there, got there at exactly 8:45, and no one was there. Keep in mind it was supposed to be "John" guiding the tour, according to him and the site, which is who I spoke with over the phone the day before. I asked the waiters, the taxi driver who was sitting in the car awhile, no one saw or knew anything about a tour. I called John and he answered the phone, and I guess he forgot he had told me he is the tour guide, and told me they left 10 mins ago. This was after I had asked people, about 4 minutes past the scheduled time. He was short and extremely rude, and said "Oh, well.". I asked where we could meet the tour, and pay there,. He said he had no way to contact them. ?? Sounds fishy to me, just wanted to warn everyone don't pay online before you go and have a backup plan. This is cleary fraudulent. The advertisement on the tour page sounds legit, but be wary. I still walked and took pics of the old house, and got some good pics, actually. So saved my money anyway.

We totally enjoyed our tour. I'm sorry I can't remember our docents name but she gave an excellent detailed tour. I enjoyed her focus on Stranahan's wife, their marriage, forward ways of thinking for women and the Stranahan's care for the indian people. I hope to take my family back someday soon to go on the tour.