The Barnacle Historic State Park is a state park in Miami-Dade County, Florida. It sits roughly 2.4 km (1.5 mi) ENE of Coconut Grove. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Barnacle Historic State Park is a 5-acre (2.0 ha) Florida State Park in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, Florida at 3485 Main Highway. Built in 1891, it is the oldest house in its original location in Miami-Dade County. The Barnacle was the home of Ralph Middleton Munroe, one of Coconut Grove's founders, as well as founder and Commodore of the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club. He was also a leading designer of sailing yachts. The Florida Park Service acquired the remaining 5 acres (20,000 m2) of Munroe's original 40-acre (160,000 m2) homesite from his descendants in 1973. The Barnacle Historic State Park is served by the Miami Metrorail at the Douglas Road and the Coconut Grove stations.From the Wikipedia article “The Barnacle Historic State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At The Barnacle Historic State Park the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 63° (ENE) at the June solstice and 116° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 297° (WNW) in June to 244° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 88° in summer but only 41° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:26 AM | 90° E | 7:33 PM | 270° W | 64° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:31 AM | 63° ENE | 8:16 PM | 297° WNW | 88° | 13h 45m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:10 AM | 89° E | 7:19 PM | 271° W | 65° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:04 AM | 116° ESE | 5:36 PM | 244° WSW | 41° | 10h 32m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:45 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:19 PM | 5:52 PM | 6:17 PM | 10h 42m |
| February | 6:34 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:29 AM | 5:44 PM | 6:15 PM | 6:39 PM | 11h 18m |
| March | 7:08 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:02 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:30 PM | 7:53 PM | 11h 59m |
| April | 6:35 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:30 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:44 PM | 8:08 PM | 12h 46m |
| May | 6:11 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:25 PM | 13h 24m |
| June | 6:04 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:41 PM | 8:14 PM | 8:40 PM | 13h 44m |
| July | 6:14 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:41 PM | 13h 36m |
| August | 6:31 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:27 PM | 7:58 PM | 8:22 PM | 13h 03m |
| September | 6:45 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:38 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:27 PM | 7:50 PM | 12h 19m |
| October | 6:57 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:51 AM | 6:24 PM | 6:55 PM | 7:18 PM | 11h 34m |
| November | 6:15 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:12 AM | 5:01 PM | 5:33 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 54m |
| December | 6:36 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:35 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:33 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 33m |
Local time (America/New York), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From The Barnacle Historic State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 35° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| February | 4:22 AM – 5:32 AM | 1.2 | 22° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:37 AM – 6:07 AM | 2.5 | 32° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:34 AM – 5:34 AM | 4.0 | 35° | SE → S |
| May | 11:36 PM – 5:06 AM | 5.5 | 35° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:45 PM – 4:55 AM | 7.2 | 35° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:43 PM – 3:33 AM | 5.8 | 35° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:20 PM – 1:30 AM | 4.2 | 35° | S → SW |
| September | 8:44 PM – 11:24 PM | 2.7 | 32° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:11 PM – 9:31 PM | 1.3 | 23° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -17° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 8 Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.05 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (69%). August is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 81 | 83 | 86 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 91 | 91 | 90 | 89 | 86 | 82 |
| Low °F | 37 | 43 | 48 | 58 | 67 | 76 | 78 | 79 | 73 | 57 | 53 | 41 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 4.7 | 8.1 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 8.0 | 4.2 | 2.2 | 1.7 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this state park
- Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
- Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
Suggested gear: Versatile zoom lens, Tripod, Park pass. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
Drones: Drone rules in state parks vary by state and even by park — many require a permit or ban recreational drone flights. Check the park's rules and the FAA B4UFLY app before flying.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of The Barnacle Historic State Park, closest first.
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Ghost Town
Scenic Viewpoint
Botanical Garden
Beach
Botanical GardenCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph The Barnacle Historic State Park?
What time is golden hour at The Barnacle Historic State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at The Barnacle Historic State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from The Barnacle Historic State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at The Barnacle Historic State Park?
How far is The Barnacle Historic State Park from Coconut Grove?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.