Bradenton in Manatee County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Tabby House Ruins
De Soto National Memorial
What is Tabby?
Tabby is a mixture of oyster shells, lime, sand and water. The wet mixture was poured in successive levels about 6 inches deep. Building with tabby was a time-consuming process, each layer taking up to three days to harden. Once the wall was built, a plaster of lime, sand, and water was spread over the structure to waterproof it and provide a smooth finish.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Colonial Era • Hispanic Americans • Native Americans. A significant historical year for this entry is 1843.
Location. 27° 31.488′ N, 82° 38.515′ W. Marker is in Bradenton, Florida, in Manatee County. Marker can be reached from Desoto Memorial Highway (75th Street NW), 0.2 miles north of 24th Avenue NW when traveling north. Marker is located within the DeSoto National Memorial Park, near the north end of the DeSoto Expedition Trail, along the Manatee River beach, about 2/10 mile north of the Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8300 Desoto Memorial Highway, Bradenton FL 34209, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. De Soto Point (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hernando de Soto (approx. 0.2 miles away); La Florida's Early Peoples (approx. 0.2 miles away); De Soto Trail Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Spanish Crown (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Landing (approx. 0.2 miles away); Knight of Santiago (approx. 0.2 miles away); DeSoto Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bradenton.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. De Soto National Memorial
Also see . . .
1. Tabby. Tabby is a type of building material used in the coastal Southeast from the late 1500s to the 1850s. True tabby is made of equal parts lime, water, sand, oyster shells, and ash. The ash is a byproduct of preparing the lime, but its presence contributes to the hardening of the end product. Tabby can be poured into molds for foundations, walls, floors, roofs, columns, and other structural elements. It dries to a hard finish, is generally a grayish-white color with variations according to the materials used, and is extremely durable. It is best maintained by applying stucco to the outer surfaces as protection from water damage. (Submitted on October 24, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Tabby house ruin listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Two historic structures are currently identified in the park: the 400th anniversary monument and the Tabby House Ruins. (Submitted on October 24, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 27, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,071 times since then and 102 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 24, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.