Gamble Plantation Historic State Park — Attraction in Palmetto

The historical facts of the Gamble Plantation in regards to what life may have looked like for the family that occupied the mansion was yes, interesting. But the tour lacked what the daily life of a slave was like that was forced to do the dangerous and brutal work of picking and processing sugarcane within those 3,500 acres. No mention of the horrid living conditions, inadequate food and physical suffering that also took place on this site. No mention of how they built a complex canal system that allowed the land to be drained and suitable for farming. It was the slaves that physically built that beautiful mansion, they should be given credit. What was mentioned was that the slaves are "memorialized" with their names on a list in the nearby museum, and that this place not only has a historical significance , but also has an ugly history. At least it was acknowledged. He also gave us information on the 3 classes of slaves, one sentence. He also mentioned that the slaves were Gambles "most valuable asset". Many ways to interpret that. I went to the museum to see that memorial that he mentioned and what I saw was simply a bill of sale between Gamble and the subsequent owners, after Gamble went broke after sugar prices plummeted. Only first names, no surnames, even though they are known and available. UDC and the State of Florida, that is not a memorial, that is a bill of sale for the sale of humans. After the tour, he did invite me to engage in conversation to ask me what I thought of his tour and what was my purpose in coming there today. I was surprised and eager to give him my feedback. To his credit, he listened. I told him there should be more of a narrative about slave life there. A description of the horrid living and labor conditions. I pointed out if there are confederate memorials on site, there should also be a physical memorial for the enslaved Africans. There are so many other meaningful and productive ways to respectfully honor them, other than burning down the plantation. I gave him a few ideas.... Equal time should be given for the other half of the story that happened here. I would think in 2023, there would be more public support for this. I hope I gave him something to...

Complete disappointment! I would have given it 0 stars if I was able. Don't waste your time at this "State Park"... This house was not maintained at all. It's literally falling apart. The state should be ashamed that they've let this historic home get into this shape. The paint is peeling, mold and mildew abounds,. The dust alone... shameful. No pieces of furniture belong to the time period. i understand all original furniture and belongings were taken back to Louisiana. However, you're doing a huge disservice to your own history by filling the house with 1980's furniture. The stairs leading upstairs are unstable and several people opted to not try the dilapidated staircase and departed the tour. The people working at the house have history there through ancestors, AFTER the Civil War. Do not waste your time. Do not waste your money. This old house is decrepit and should have been torn down long ago. At this point, the tax dollars used are being wasted. This isn't preserving history. All stories being told have NOTHING to do with the house during the Civil War and ZERO Confederate soldiers lived there before or during the Civil War. But, for some reason, they fly many Confederate flags. All remnants of history have been stripped down and sold off, original windows included. Whoever is keeping this on their list of "Historical Homes" should have it bulldozed. It may appear beautiful from the street, but trust me when I say, it's not healthy to...

The 1840 Gamble family plantation of over three thousand acres both north and south of the Manatee river was built to grow sugar cane originally then timber as well. This structure is the oldest in Manatee county. Originally from Richmond Virginia, the family had first settled in Tallahassee Florida with a successful sugar cane plantation there. The hardships were many in Manatee though, including a fire of the original sugar mill and changes in the market for sugar. The new mill was built to last with tabby concrete and clay bricks and became the most modern of its kind in all the southeast. The plantation owner's father was an engineer in Virginia and the son may have used those skills to build a canal to drain water from the fields. Visit this site for yourself and try to envision the massive effort required by all, both owner and slave, to live and thrive in...