Bradenton in Manatee County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Braden Castle

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, March 6, 2019

1. Braden Castle Marker

Inscription. Dr. Joseph Addison Braden, graduate physician, native of Virginia, came from Tallahassee to Manatee River in 1843 and acquired about 1100 acres of land; built a sugar mill about 2½ miles south of Manatee. With materials at hand he constructed, mostly with slave labor, his “Castle”, a large 2½-story building—four large rooms, spacious halls and four large chimneys, eight fireplaces. Walls were made of “taby” composed of lime, sand, crushed oyster and clam shells and water: this material molded into large bricks. The wood used was obtained from the property—oak, hickory, and pine. Windows and doors came from Mobile. When Union soldiers destroyed his sugar mill and his slaves were freed he abandoned the property. It was Feb. 25, 1856 that a party of seven Indians came to the Castle and fired on it, but Dr. Braden returned the fire with Major Gamble’s new repeating rifle, wounding one Indian. They fled to their boat. Ultimately they were all captured. In 1866 Gen. James G. Cooper obtained the Braden property and lived in the Castle until his death. He built the cupola from which

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an excellent view was obtained. The Castle was destroyed by a woods fire in the summer of 1903, only the walls were left standing. It was sold to the Camping Tourists of America in 1924 by Gen. Cooper’s grandson, J.J. Pelot.

IMPORTANT DATES
1845 Building began; 1851 Building completed; 1856 Attacked by seven Indians; 1864 Building abandoned; 1866 Building purchased by Gen.Cooper; 1880 Building again abandoned; 1903 Burned by woods fire; 1924 Sold to Camping Tourists of America

Erected by Braden Castle Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1843.

Location. 27° 30.004′ N, 82° 31.812′ W. Marker is in Bradenton, Florida, in Manatee County. It is at the intersection of Braden Castle Drive and Plaza Street East, on the right when traveling west on Braden Castle Drive. Marker is located inside of Braden Castle Park community. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bradenton FL 34208, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast

and on Tampa

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, March 6, 2019

2. Braden Castle Marker

Bay.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Braden Castle Ruins (here, next to this marker); Long Pier (within shouting distance of this marker); Long Pier Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Fire Alarms (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Edmund Lee Family Pioneer Cemetery (approx. 0.9 miles away); Edmund Lee Family Graveyard and the Lonesome Grave/William R. Whitaker House (approx. 0.9 miles away); Manatee Academy (approx. 0.9 miles away); First Manatee Courthouse / Manatee Methodist Church (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bradenton.

Braden Castle Castle as it appears now image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, March 6, 2019

3. Braden Castle Castle as it appears now

Braden Castle ruins image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Floridamemory.com

4. Braden Castle ruins

Entrance to Braden Castle Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

5. Entrance to Braden Castle Park

Credits. This page was last revised on March 24, 2019. It was originally submitted on March 17, 2019, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,101 times since then and 70 times this year. Last updated on March 18, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 17, 2019, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.