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Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm

Rossetter House Museum

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United States
Melbourne, FL
Rossetter House Museum

Brevard County Historical Home Museum, Gardens and event venue.

1320 Highland Ave. Melbourne, FL 32935
(17)

09/02/2024

Interested in Florida literature? We have room in our book club, Ella's Literary Circle! Our next meeting is on August 3rd at 10:30 virtually through Zoom. We will be discussing Sunshine Paradise, A History of Florida Tourism by Tracy J. Revels. Please contact us with your name and email address as space is limited by calling 321 254 9855 or emailing [email protected] for more information!

08/30/2024

On this day in Rossetter History, in 1949 the matriarch of the Rossetter family died. Ella Maud Rogero Rossetter was 76 when she passed in Eau Gallie. She was of Minorcan descent and loved to socialize. Upon moving to Eau Gallie with her family in 1908, she quickly went about finding a traveling Catholic priest to say mass and continue her religious beliefs. This later grew into Ascension Catholic Church, which can still be found in Melbourne today. Her daughters Carrie and Ella placed this grotto near the home in her memory

08/28/2024

Our Fall Diamond Painting in the Parlour event includes hors d'oeuvres and wine to create the ultimate relaxed environment in our beautiful historic Roesch Parlour, and of course your diamond painting to take home! Tickets are $20 for a complete supplies kit included. We will be painting on September 28th from 12 PM to 3 PM.
Limited space available, so call 321 254 9855 or email [email protected] to book your spot!
Come pick up a new hobby while enjoying a fall mood!
We will be offering this festive fall pumpkin!

08/26/2024

Don’t you just love how unique our local ecology is? Other people did too, especially as tourists and locals alike used to love to hunt and fish while Florida was being developed. Carrie and Ella can be seen here around the fire on a hunting trip, but look at how much growth there was around them! This picture was likely taken in the late 1920s or early 1930s in the area of West Melbourne, and it demonstrates just how much plant life people had to navigate around that allows for such a wonderful ecosystem.

08/24/2024

We just love our neighbors Take a Plant Leave a Plant Stand! As we work on the garden, come stop by and see what might be there. Remember to bring a plant to swap for something new!

08/22/2024

One of our staff's favorite photos from our collection is this one, with Carrie standing in front of her Standard Oil delivery truck in front of what was Patrick Air Force Base. This was one of her largest clients, and she had to exclusive oil contract with them for over thirty years.

08/20/2024

If you’ve ever walked in our garden, you likely noticed the large unique tree on the south lawn. It is a Monkey Puzzle tree, or Chilean Pine, named because the native monkeys of Chile could not climb it due to the spikey branches. Being an evergreen, this tree has limbs that feel like an elongated pinecone. It also takes two years for pinecones to develop, like the one shown here, and they grow to a massive size. This one is about the size of a pineapple, but much heavier. No one is certain how or when this tree was planted, but based on its size likely happened under John Houston. Interested in seeing it for yourself? Our gardens are open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM with no appointment needed.

08/18/2024

The Rossetter House as you see it today was completed in 1908, which makes it over 110 years old. The front part that you see here is actually the newer of the two original structures, built in the late 1890s. It was barged over Elbow Creek from modern Ballard Park after Mr. James Rossetter purchased only the building, excluding land, from Mr. Aspinwall who was a northern industrialist that liked to winter here in Brevard. This is why it became known as the Aspinwall wing. Rossetter had it taken apart by his ship builders and put back together on the property he purchased from Mr. William Roesch and where we can see it today. Over a hundred years of history sure leaves a lot of room for great pictures like this one! Interested in seeing it yourself? We offer tours at 10 AM, 12 PM, and 2 PM Wednesday through Saturday. Call 321 254 9855 for more information

08/11/2024

On this day in 1900, Ella Rossetter was born! She was a well-known businesswoman in the area. While her sister Carrie is known for running the Standard Oil distributorship, Ella had her own insurance office which she started and ran. She is also credited with starting the first library in Eau Gallie, as she loved books and wanted to be able to share them with people. This little lending library was also run from her insurance office. She loved to garden, and today we base our gardens after many of her original plans and layouts. Ella died in in 1993 at the age of 92.

08/04/2024

On this day Charles Rossetter was born. He was the youngest of the five Rossetter children and helped his oldest sister Carrie manage filling stations for Standard Oil. He was also the only child of Ella Rogero and James to be born in the Rossetter family home here in Eau Gallie. He lived his life here in Eau Gallie and was close to both sisters until his death in 1993.

08/03/2024

We will be closed for tours today for our book club, Ella's Literary Circle. Please call 321 254 9855 or email site-manager@rossetterhousemuseum for more information

08/01/2024

Here we have the cigar humidor used by James Rossetter. It currently sits in the Gentleman's Parlor, where James did much of his business. He also enjoyed relaxing in his parlor, as women were only allowed in by invitation, which likely gave him a quiet minute to enjoy his ci**rs. We just love the pattern on this humidor and hope you do too!

07/30/2024

Ella Rossetter was a big fan of cooking and baking, and even received an honorary culinary degree from the Florida Institute of Technology. She also collected recipes such as this one for stuffed flounder from 1958. Try it for yourself and let us know what you think!

07/28/2024

Did you know that Ella Rossetter is credited with starting the first library in Eau Gallie? She had a small lending library that was run from her insurance office. Ella may have been known as a prominent local business woman with her insurance agency, but she was also an avid reader and loved literature and wanted to share that love. While most of the books were given to the local Eau Gallie library when it was completed, we have a small selection here currently on display in the gentleman’s parlor. Check out our video on the gentleman’s parlor for more info!
Interested in learning more? Call 321 254 9855 to book a tour and learn all about Ella and her sister Carrie! Tours are Wednesday through Saturday at 10 AM, 12 PM, and 2 PM.

07/26/2024

We are ready for summer with our fun lemon décor! Come visit the house for a tour and see it for yourself, while hearing about local history! Tours are available Wednesday through Saturday at 10 AM, 12 PM, and 2 PM. Call 321 254 9855 for more information on booking a tour.

07/24/2024

Did you know that Carrie Rossetter loved to collect matchbooks from various businesses? Here we have a few from her collection, ranging from places like Tampa to Vero Beach. She loved keeping these along with her pen collection, also from various businesses!

07/19/2024

On this day in Rossetter history, Appleton Rossetter was born in 1907. He was the second of the three boys and fourth child of Ella and James Rossetter. He went to Eau Gallie High School and later joined the Navy during WWII. He married Mona and had five children together. A lifelong Eau Gallie resident, he went to college at the University of Florida and obtained a law degree before returning to Melbourne to practice law. He later became a prominent judge and was an active member of the community. Here we have his campaign ad from that time to remember him. Happy Birthday Appleton Rossetter!

07/18/2024

Interested in Florida literature? We have room in our book club, Ella's Literary Circle! Our next meeting is on August 3rd at 10:30 virtually through Zoom. We will be discussing Buying Disney's World: The STory of How Florida Swampland Became Walt Disney World buy Aaron H. Goldberg. Please contact us with your name and email address as space is limited by calling 321 254 9855 or emailing [email protected] for more information!

07/12/2024

We will be closed July 17 - 20, with normal hours resuming July 24th. If you have any questions, please call 321 254 9855 or email [email protected]. We apologize for any inconvenience

07/08/2024

On this day in Rossetter history, William Roesch was born. While not a Rossetter himself, he did rent a cabin from John Houston that he eventually purchased and added to, which creates the east wing of the house we know today. Roesch came from Wisconsin in the 1870's as a young ambitious man. He married Ada Houston, John Houston’s daughter, and eventually went on to have six children with her. Sadly only one survived to adulthood. He was the first postmaster of Eau Gallie and started the first newspaper in the area. Roesch helped to build up Eau Gallie after its founding, and eventually sold his property and home to James Rossetter helping to build the house we know and love today!

07/06/2024

On this day in Rossetter history, John Carroll Houston was born in 1813. While obviously not a Rossetter, he did start the homestead that the Rossetter house is on today. He came to Brevard in the 1850s with his ten slaves, ten children, and wife. He wanted to start a plantation but was unable to grow things and eventually settled on cattle. During the Civil Ware he was a blockade runner for the Confederacy and afterwards rented his cabins and services as a hunting and fishing guide. Being the first white pioneer and settler in the area, he helped create the community and build up what we know today as Eau Gallie. He is buried in the Houston family cemetery, which can be found by the Rossetter House and is a part of our tours. Tours are Wednesday through Saturday at 10 AM, 12 PM, and 2 PM, please call 321 254 9855 for reservations See less

06/30/2024

On this day in Rossetter history, Appleton Rossetter died at the age of 82 in 1990. Born in 1907 he was the second of the three boys and fourth child of Ella and James Rossetter. He went to Eau Gallie High School and later joined the Navy during WWII. He married Mona and had five children together. A lifelong Eau Gallie resident, he went to college and obtained a law degree then came back to Brevard to practice law. He later became a prominent judge and was an active member of the community. Well loved and respected, he loved this area and his descendants can still found here today.

06/29/2024

We will be closed for tours today as we have our Second Summer Diamond Painting in the Parlour Event! Please call 321 254 9855 or email [email protected] for more information

06/27/2024

Only a few spots left!

Our Second Summer Diamond Painting in the Parlour event includes hors d'oeuvres and wine to create the ultimate relaxed environment in our beautiful historic Roesch Parlour, and of course your diamond painting to take home! Tickets are $20 for a complete supplies kit included. We will be painting on June 29th from 12 PM to 3 PM.
Limited space available, so call 321 254 9855 or email [email protected] to book your spot!
Come pick up a new hobby while getting ready for summer!
We will be offering this cute beachy turtle OR this patriotic butterfly! Your choice!

06/26/2024

Here we have the marvelous chocolate set currently on display in the Ladies Parlor! Ella Rogero Rossetter loved anything oriental, and had this set imported for her own use. The pattern is unique, and while there are no markings like European china may have, it is signed on the bottom. Taller cups and serving pots like this were generally used for things like hot chocolate rather than tea, as tea was served in more traditional round pots and cups. This set is beautifully colored and even more stunning in person.

Came visit to see for yourself! Call 321 254 9855 to book a tour, available Wednesday through Saturday at 10 AM, 12 PM, and 2PM

06/24/2024

Our Second Summer Diamond Painting in the Parlour event includes hors d'oeuvres and wine to create the ultimate relaxed environment in our beautiful historic Roesch Parlour, and of course your diamond painting to take home! Tickets are $20 for a complete supplies kit included. We will be painting on June 29th from 12 PM to 3 PM.
Limited space available, so call 321 254 9855 or email [email protected] to book your spot!
Come pick up a new hobby while getting ready for summer!
We will be offering this cute beachy turtle OR this patriotic butterfly! Your choice!

06/24/2024

On this day in Rossetter History, Archie Phillips was born in 1927. He was the beloved gardener of the Rossetter sisters, Carrie and Ella, and was the only hired help they employed. He would often be seen in the garden with Ella, and also drove them to and from social events in the area. Having started working for the sisters in the 1960s, he became close to the family and would even take their nephew fishing. Archie also worked for the City of Melbourne. He took great care of the garden and particularly loved the staghorn fern. We still use his fertilizer recipe today!

Address

1320 Highland Avenue
Melbourne, FL
32935

Opening Hours

Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm

Website

http://www.rossetterhousemuseum.org/

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Videos

Want a look inside Carrie Rossetter's bedroom? Here we have a video showing all of the interesting artifacts she used!

Here we have a video on Ella's Bedroom! Watch how she liked her purses and nautical themes!

Have you ever noticed the Gentlemen's Parlor? Here we have a video that discusses some of the interesting found in the room James Rosssetter used as his work area!