Washington Oaks Gardens

Part of a Spanish land grant to Bautista Don Juan Ferreira in 1815, this property was developed as a plantation by General Joseph Hernandez, an early Florida planter. George Washington, related to the first president, married Hernandez' daughter, Louisa, in 1844. Hernandez gave them this land, and they remained here until 1856, developing the plantation and starting an orange grove. Louisa died in 1859, and George left, but he returned in 1886 to live here for the rest of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Owen D. Young purchased the property in 1936 and expanded the gardens, groves, and plantings. In 1964, after Mr. Young's death, Mrs. Young gave the property to the state.

Florida · United States