James W. Rossetter House, Melbourne

About James W. Rossetter House

The Historic Rossetter House Museum in Melbourne offers guided tours of three historic properties that document Florida's pioneer era. Visitors begin at the 1901 Roesch House, then proceed to the 1908 James Wadsworth Rossetter House, the surrounding gardens, a garage, and the 1865 Houston Family Memorial Cemetery. Tours run approximately ninety minutes and cover the history of the Eau Gallie area and the families who shaped it, including James Rossetter, a leading merchant in the fishing industry and Standard Oil agent, and his daughter Carrie, who later preserved the family legacy. The tour explores how the Rossetter and Roesch families contributed to their community—James as a businessman, William Roesch as postmaster, newspaper publisher, and mayor. Visitors who prefer not to walk to the cemetery may skip that portion. Tours operate Wednesday through Saturday at three scheduled times throughout the day, with advance notice required for reservations.