What is Palm Cottage?
Palm Cottage is a historic house museum at 137 12th Avenue South in Old Naples. Naples Historical Society owns and operates it as its educational headquarters. Built in 1895, it is identified by the society as Naples’ oldest house; it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
This is a place to get to know the city’s history, rather than a listing to tour as a buyer. Its porch, roofline and garden setting offer a very different picture of Naples from today’s high-rise condos and new-home communities.
The details that make it interesting
Early Naples resident Walter N. Haldeman built the two-story home. One distinctive material is tabby mortar—a handmade mixture that includes sand, shells and water. Inside, the approximately 3,500-square-foot museum displays historic furnishings, artwork and tools.
On a visit, look beyond the objects individually. Notice how the rooms connect, how the porch relates to the house and what the materials suggest about building in an earlier era. A docent can put those details into context; self-guided material is offered when a docent is unavailable.
There is more than the house
The Norris Gardens: the society acquired the adjoining half-acre property in 2004 to preserve the cottage’s setting. The garden is part of its approach to telling Naples’ history through the landscape.
Smith Exhibit Hall: this neighboring museum adds historic photographs, displays and recorded local stories. The society announced its opening in February 2025. It gives you another way to understand the people and changes behind the place you see today.
Think of the visit as three parts: the house, the garden and the exhibit hall. That is a more useful plan than arriving with time for only a quick look at the front porch.
Plan your visit
Check the seasonal schedule first. On Oct. 12, the official tour page displayed a house closure from July 14 through November 14. House admission and historic-district walking tours are separate bookings; a walking tour does not include the cottage interior.
Use the official reservation page for available dates, ticket prices and visit arrangements. Indoor photography is prohibited; ask the society about access needs before reserving.
Check tours & reservations ↗The photographs show the actual cottage in 2010–2013, not its current condition. The society’s website is the source for today’s visit arrangements.