Very cool if you like history! I think the guides know more than the original owners, lol, and Caroline was especially engaging and full of sotries to explain any detail we asked about.Its free, very well kept, and a great representation of how people lived in the day. It has adorable pineapple plants to take pics of, and we gave a small donation to support the up keep.Only downside is its a standing tour, and a little warm so wear something cool, and plan to go for ice cream after!

The Hallstrom House was built by Axel Hallstrom for his wife Emilia. After immigrating from Sweden to Minneapolis and making money with the railroad his wife Emily fell ill with tuberculosis. The doctor recommended a warm climate so the family headed to Florida in 1904. Emily died a few years later in 1908 when they began construction on the house Axel designed on a 40 acre pineapple plantation. Axel was left a single parent with a four year old daughter named Ruth. Axel went on to be a successful pineapple and citrus farmer. He made a fortune when he was the president of the St. Lucie bank. He loved to take Ruth on trips to Europe and he filled his home with treasures they found making his home the envy of everyone in Indian River County. The house was completed in 1918 and both Axel and Ruth lived in it until their deaths. In later years Ruth cared for her father and an aunt and never married. When she passed away in 1999 she left the house to the Indian River Historical Society where she was a charter member.An interesting fact about this house is that it may be the only Florida house to have a basement. The house was built on the Atlantic Ridge which is a hill which allowed for a basement to be dug underneath the house. The bricks that cover the exterior of the house are from Georgia. Other features of the house are a wide front porch with ceramic pineapples which Axel grew on his property. Upstairs is a widows peak overlooking Dixie Hwy which for many years was the only road in town. Inside the home are five paintings of Florida scenes done by Alfred Hair of the Florida Highwaymen.Today you can pay the Hallstrom House a visit and see how wealthy Floridians lived at the turn of the century. The house is open weekdays 1 to 4 and on the last Saturday of the month. Admission is a suggested donation of $5.

Not another place like this! So glad we stopped, our docet was very informative and personable. So much history and fascinating artifacts, clothing, furnishings, artwork in 1 home.

Well worth the trip for a private tour. One of the best preserved houses from the early 1900s I have ever visited. You feel like the original owners just left this am. The tour guide was knowledgeable and continued our tour 15 minutes past closing to answer questions.

A hidden gem. Our guide (curator) Al was lent his southern charm to an absolute treasure trove of Southern Florida Living. The Hallstroms left a perfect time castle to enjoy. The only thing that could have been better was to meet these truly intersting people.

This place was very interesting. A lot of history. Nice big house/museum and the guide was very informative. Worth going to check out.

Nice little museum with a nice car show and we learned how to turn a pineapple into a duck..

The Hallstrom House is an historic house that belonged to the Hallstrom family and was left to the Indian River County Historical Society. It was built in 1918 and is an interesting place to visit. There are many original period furnishings and several Highway Men paintings. The Historical Society guides use it to give you both a history of the county and the Hallstrom family. Its worth a visit if you like historical homes. The tour isnt long and the house is very peaceful and inviting. Several events are held there during the year with a Santa Lucia ceremony in December to honor the Swedish customs of the Hallstrom family.

Really informative. Lots of old neat things

The pictures of the restaurant and bar with pool tables is Inaccurate this is not associated with the museum.there. It’s a restaurant south on US1 “Pineapple joes”

Wonderful home and the tour guide was amazing.

Pin pineapple apple pen

Yes