Donnelly House

Donnelly House is located in Mount Dora, Florida, one of many historic homes dotted across the state. The house is especially appealing to local visitors given that it was once the home of the town's first ever mayor.

The house is just minutes from the downtown area, easy to get to on foot on a nice day. It was built in the late 19th century by the mayor of the day, John Phillip Donnelly, an Irish American whose passion for local politics was renowned. It is one of the numerous houses that have been restored within the area's golden type triangle of historical buildings.

The house was once used by the free masons, known in those days as the Mount Dora Lodge. It was not until the 1970s that the house was put on the national historic register as an important place to be protected.

Today, visitors can meander around the house, seeing its antique furnishings and fine paintings. Varied artefacts from the Donnelly family, little treasures of daily life, are scattered throughout the Donnelly House with small information sheets providing information about their importance. With the assistance of a tour guide, visitors learn more about the family's history and the events that made this house so famous.