It may be hard to imagine what Naples looked like at the start of the 20th century but if you stand just east of the Naples pier at the corner of 12th Avenue South and Gulf Shore Boulevard and you'll get a small glimpse. This is where you'll find Palm Cottage: the oldest house in Naples. The 3500 square foot cottage was built in 1895 by newspaper publisher Walter Halderman.

One of the Naples Historical Society guides Joan Gavin says, "This house was built with no electricity, no plumbing, no heating except for the fireplace in the other room, and of course no air conditioning." She leads tours through the century old home, offering tidbits of information along the way.

You may be surprised when you see the stairs heading up to the 2nd floor. It's a unique, cantilevered staircase. The stairs go up the wall, and there is no support underneath. "It just hangs out of the wall," says Gavin. "Some people have looked at it and said, 'Oh my gosh! is that safe?' Yes it is, it is."

The house passed through four different owners in its first eight decades. Then the Naples Historical Society saved the house in 1978 to preserve the connection to the city's past. As the city grows up around Palm Cottage, something else is growing outside as well. The Norris Gardens sit in the adjacent lot.

Leigh Moxley took us on a tour of the gardens and explains how this project started. She says, "We learned that the owner of the property was going to build a house here that would essentially dwarf Palm Cottage. We didn't want that to happen."

Four years ago the society saved the lot and began developing six different gardens. The Norris Gardens opened a year ago and collectively represent the evolution of gardening in Naples. Moxley tells us, "A lot of the plants we have here in the garden are used readily throughout Naples landscaping."

Palm Cottage and the Norris Gardens sit at the heart of the Naples historic district just east of the naples pier on 12th avenue south in Naples.

You can take tours from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Donations are requested for admission by the Naples Historical Society.
Adults: $8
Kids: $5

Again, moms can get a free tour during the month of May if you bring your child along with you.