While the mansion survived, Gamble couldn't recover from the plantation's crop losses and falling sugar prices. In 1856, he sold the estate to two men from Louisiana for $190,000 and returned to Tallahassee. In 1872 the land and mansion were purchased by Major George Patten through a forced sale for only $3,000.
By the 1920's, the vacant mansion was in a state of ruin, so the land was subdivided and sold. In 1925, the Judah P. Benjamin Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy purchased 16 acres of the property that included the Gamble Mansion and Patten House and deeded it to the State of Florida as a historic site. Today it serves as a memorial to Judah P. Benjamin.
The Mansion
It took slaves and local craftsmen six years to complete the Gamble mansion. Construction materials for the mansion were red brick and tabby brick — a combination of shells, sand and oyster-shell lime. The two-foot-thick walls and tall columns were made with the tabby and are the only original material left in the mansion. The wood floors and woodwork were replaced when the State of Florida refurbished the mansion.The mansion was lavish in its day. The north section (in the back) was built first and was separated from the main house by a breezeway, or "dogtrot" as it was then called. The kitchen was located in the original section and because of its vicinity to the kitchen, the breezeway was a favorite hangout for dogs. In fact, during the tour of the mansion, you'll learn what the cooks would use to shoo away the dogs and how a favorite southern food earned its name. That food? Hush puppies.
There is no "Gone With the Wind" stairway inside this mansion. Stairs leading to the second story are located on each side of the mansion with a wide upper and lower veranda around both sides and the front. Inside there are two bedrooms and a day room upstairs and a sitting room and dining room downstairs.
None of Major Gamble's furniture on display at the mansion today. When he sold the property in 1856, he packed his entire household and had it shipped back to Tallahassee. Just days after being placed in storage there, Gamble's furniture was lost in a fire. The furniture you see on the tour of the mansion today are representative of the style of a successful mid-19th century plantation.
Judah P. Benjamin
Judah P. Benjamin, American Jew, lawyer, plantation owner, U.S. Senator and Confederate Cabinet member was also a man with a price on his head and Union soldiers on his heels. It is believed that Benjamin, posing as a "Mr. Howard," used the Gamble Mansion for a few days in May, 1865 during his escape from this country to England. In England, he built a second career as a leading member of the English bar.
The Patten House
To avoid the high cost of maintaining the aging and decaying Mansion, the son of Major George Patten, Dudley A. Patten, built a more "modern" house in the 1890s. Eventually, the land was subdivided and sold.Today the house is furnished and operated by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, which opens it three times a year for tours, in February, March and November.
Exploring the Gamble Plantation
The grounds, picnic area and a small museum at Gamble Plantation Historic State Park are open each day from 8:00 a.m. until sunset. Parking and admission to these areas are free. The mansion is open for tours Thursday through Monday at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. and 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. Tour fees are $5.00 per adult, $3.00 for children (ages 6-12) and children five and under are admitted free.There is also a small museum located on the grounds of Gamble Plantation Historic State Park that has a few interesting exhibits and artifacts marking the Seminole Wars and the era when Gamble Plantation was in its heyday.
A lovely oak-shaded picnic area is available for public use. In addition, a spacious covered pavilion is also available. The park grounds, picnic areas and gazebo are available for private weddings, receptions, picnics and other social events. Call 941-723-4536 for reservations.
Special events are held throughout the year — open houses, reenactments, demonstrations and period crafts. The Patten House is only open for tours three times a year — in February, March and November. Call the number above to inquire about the dates for these special programs.
Directions
The Gamble Plantation Historic State Park is located one mile west of I-75 on Hwy 301 (Exit 224) in Ellenton (north of Bradenton/Sarasota). Look for the landmark white picket fence and turn right into the main park entrance. Parking is located to the left after you pass the mansion.
