safford house museum

This 2 story home with wrap around porches on first and second floors is a hidden treasure with a story about development in Tarpon Springs. Appropriate furnishings especially the lace curtains on windows and doors re-made in Scotland. Only open on wednesday and friday from 1-3. Dedicated docents complete with period attire.

Built in 1883 this house is completely restored at what must have been great expense. All the details of hard and soft furnishings are impressive. The guide was knowledgable and informative. Well worth a visit if you are at all interested in local history.

only open specific days/times. we went on a Wed. and Bruce was the BEST docent! gave a great, fact filled tour. home has been moved from corner on bayou and just a neat history of the family and their arrival in the 1800's. beautiful home, so much wood, has been very nicely restored. over 200 year old piano a lovely sight. No original furniture but all donated by locals and is to the period. lovely.

Try to spend an hour or so visiting this home. It is a wonderful piece of Florida's history. The guides are very knowledgeable and usually you get a personal tour. You can make it quick or take as long as you want since the guides seem to love to talk about the house and family. For $3.00 a person, it was well worth it. It is only open on Wed and Fri from 11am to 3pm so plan accordingly.

Really incredible history here. Anson Safford was a visionary, & a huge advocate for woman's rights. He was a governor of Arizona before he came to Tarpon Springs, & together w/his friends & business associates, put Tarpon Springs on the map. This house is fascinating, & its story is captivating too. Loved our docent, & his stories were captivating too. We had an absolute blast. The Safford House is only open on Wednesdays & Fridays, but you can make an appointment to see it at another time if you call 727-937-1130 to schedule a private showing. Definitely worth the $3!

Really enjoyed the tour. For $3 you hear the history of the house and family, as well as their impact on the local community and economy. The house was restored from its falling-down condition, and the work is impeccable. Then local residents banded together and donated period furnishings, dating back to 1880's and 1890's. This is worth the stop.

We took the guided tour of Safford House and found it to be very interesting. The gentleman who gave the tour was very good, warm and interested in the subject. He put the house and it's occupants into context very well. Like so many "Historic" places it had been changed, modified, redone, abandoned and finally returned to the condition it was in at the time of the principal owner. The tour gives you a good over view of this and then takes you around the house. All in all, a well spent hour.

The Florida climate was harsh on wood buildings and furnishings before the days of climate control and treated lumber. The City of Tarpon Springs is lucky to have this fine example of Florida architecture and we were lucky to come upon it. Admission is free, but we gave a donation as our guide was entertaining and it was well worth it. The story of the house and its owner, Anson Safford and his wife, Soledad Bonillas (a native of Mexico), speak to the American experience. Mr. Safford's sister, the first female physician to practice medicine in Florida, lived with the family and was the only doctor in Tarpon Springs for many years. A tip on finding the entrance: the road is directly across from the big white Unitarian Universalist Church. The house has a ramp to the first level and a wonderful wrap around porch with rockers for those that cannot navigate the stairs to the upper level of the house (no elevator).