The House
Where Every Room Tells a Story
Three city lots. Six fireplaces. One hundred and thirty-six years of history.
The Swann-Kelly House rises from three city lots in the heart of Fernandina Beach's historic district—a rare footprint in a downtown where land has always been precious. Built in 1889, this two-and-a-half story Queen Anne Victorian stands as one of the finest frame vernacular homes on Amelia Island, its shingled turret and wrap-around porch a familiar landmark along South 7th Street.
A Grand Welcome
Step through the front door and the house declares itself. The magnificent entry hall features an inlaid ceiling of rich woodwork, and a mahogany staircase that climbs past a gallery of stained glass windows. Original heart pine floors run throughout—warm underfoot, glowing in the afternoon light.
The craftsmanship continues in every direction: wood and plaster moldings frame the rooms, pocket doors slide open between parlors, and six fireplaces anchor the home—three fitted for gas, one still burning wood, each with its own ornamental surround.
Kitchen & Grounds
The gourmet kitchen blends modern capability with period character, its vaulted wood ceiling echoing the craftsmanship found throughout the house. French doors open onto an outdoor brick patio with its own fireplace—a gathering spot beneath live oaks draped in Spanish moss.
The property includes an on-site carriage house, recently remodeled with one bedroom and one bath—a self-contained retreat that mirrors the charm of the main home. All of it sits on approximately a third of an acre, a rare expanse for downtown Fernandina Beach.
The Porch & Grounds
The fully restored wrap-around porch is the kind of place where neighbors stop to talk and afternoons disappear. A new metal roof crowns the house, and the brick walkway leads from the street through gardens that have been tended for more than a century.
The Swann-Kelly House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Fernandina Beach Historic District, first designated in 1973—one of more than fifty blocks of downtown Fernandina Beach that carry this distinction.
Inside the Swann-Kelly House
