museum.
The first building we’ll stop at is the Barton House, built by Barton himself. When he first arrived in this area, it was largely uninhabited — just a vast expanse of land with an abandoned farm. After purchasing the land, he began construction, and within about three years, the basic structure was complete — though he never really stopped building.
As a lover of the arts, Barton spent a great deal of money on them. He collected several paintings from around the world, and his gallery is still considered one of the best in town. One particularly notable item is the 18th-century Chinese wallpaper, rumored to have cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Barton continued to add features to his home every year, right up until the night he passed away — in fact, he collapsed while building a new bird room and never recovered.
His dining room is another highlight, beautifully decorated with antiques — from the tables and stools to the mats. The chairs were bought from Japanese merchants who lived in the area at the time.
His house is elevated, sitting several feet above the surrounding land, offering sweeping views of lush green vegetation that stretch for miles.
Out back, there’s a garden that Barton planted and maintained himself. He personally watered the plants and refused to use fertilizers, believing they disrupted the natural growth cycle. Among the plants are rare trees that have survived for decades. Under one of these trees — his favorite spot — he used to sing and pray, according to local history.
Recently, the government introduced flamingos into the area, as the environment supports their well-being. They’ve added beauty and vibrance to the scenery.
Although many exotic animals live in the garden now, the swans remain the most popular. They’re everywhere, and Barton believed they were a gift from heaven. In his time, it was strictly forbidden to harm any of them.
Now, let’s explore more of what this site has to offer.
Away from the backyard, you’ll find a gallery on the right side of the road a few feet from the entrance. It hosts a history exhibition every week.
Halfway down the path, east of the toilets, is a woodland area — beautiful and serene. Barton had it planted simply because he loved the view.
If you continue walking, you’ll reach a large gift shop beside the toilet. It houses a collection of handicrafts — not originals by Barton, but imitations of his artistic works.
That’s enough talking about Barton for now. Let’s head out and experience these amazing places for ourselves — I’m sure you’ll enjoy what you see.
