This huge fountain is located right inside a HUGE roundabout in Coral Gables…read more Who led the first European expedition to the United States? Well, the Spanish explorer and conquistador Hernando de Soto of course! At the intersection of Seville Ave, Granada Blvd, & De Soto Blvd, is the De Soto Plaza & Fountain, one of the numerous plazas, entrances, and fountains that add to the charm of Coral Gables. This traffic circle plaza has a magnificent pedestal-type fountain surrounded by colourful flowers and tall palms. The fountain, built in 1925, is considered to be of neo-baroque style which is a French architectural style of the late 19th century. There are four face carvings that contain water jets and vintage lanterns that gently light the area in the evening time.

The Desoto Plaza Fountain is named for Hernando de Soto, Spanish explorer and conquistador who led…read morethe first European expedition to the United States. Built in 1925 it the located at the intersection of Seville Ave, Granada Blvd, & De Soto Blvd and is in close proximity to the Venetian Pool. It is one of the numerous plazas, entrances, and fountains that give Coral Gables the nickname The City Beautiful. In the center of the traffic circle plaza is a magnificent pedestal fountain surrounded by marigolds. The fountain is in a neo-baroque style which is a French architectural style of the late 19th century. It was designed by Denman Fink, the uncle of Coral Gables founder George Merrick. He designed all of the original entrances to Coral Gables, the original water tower in the shape of a light house, and Coral Gables city hall. The pedestal-type fountain supports an obelisk and features four relief carvings of faces containing water jets. At night vintage lanterns light the fountain.

While visiting the Miami Circle, arguably one of the most important archaeological finds in North…read moreAmerica, I first came across this sculpture called the Pillar of History, located mid-span on the Brickell Avenue Bridge where the Miami River meets Biscayne Bay. Miami is built on land first inhabited by the Tequesta nearly 2,500 years ago. The Tequesta were an Indigenous people who inhabited southeast Florida from Boca Raton to Key West, as well as the Everglades. They lived on fish, shellfish, berries, and small game, and were well adapted to the environment of South Florida. They thrived for nearly 2,000 years until they became victims of war and disease brought by Europeans in the 1500s. The prevailing theory is that the site of the circle was used by the Tequesta and may have served as the location of a council house. Many artifacts, including shell tools, stone axe heads, and human teeth, have been found at the site. The Pillar of History, created by Cuban artist Manuel Carbonell, memorializes Miami's first people, the Tequesta. It was commissioned by the Florida Department of Transportation and marked the department's first effort to integrate public art into a bridge design. The piece was installed in 1995 during the reconstruction of the Brickell Avenue Bridge and remains one of Florida's largest bronze monuments. The base features 16 bronze bas-reliefs honoring Miami's early pioneers, including Henry Flagler, D. A. Dorsey, William Brickell, Mary Brickell, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, and Julia Tuttle. There are also 12 bronze bas-reliefs of local wildlife adorning the base of the flagpoles. The 36-foot-tall column consists of 158 figures that narrate the history of the Tequesta people. At the top of the column is a sculpture titled "Tequesta Family." It portrays a Tequesta warrior aiming an arrow toward the sky, searching for his place in eternity. Beside him is his wife, searching for a better life, while their son covers his face with his hands, aware of his people's inevitable extinction. The Brickell Avenue Bridge symbolically connects Miami's earliest inhabitants, the Tequesta, to its earliest pioneers, such as the Brickell family, for whom the area is named. As someone with an ardent passion for both art and history, the Pillar of History is one of my favorite public art sculptures in Miami. Now I look forward to seeing it every time I cross the bridge.

The histories of Cuba and Miami are deeply intertwined, and reminders of that connection can be…read morefound throughout the city, including here at Tamiami Park. While driving through the park, I couldn't miss the large Cuban Flag Memorial near the FIU stadium. Curious to learn more, I stopped for a closer look. The Memorial Cubano was created through a community effort by Cuban exiles in South Florida who wanted to commemorate those who died under the Cuban government after 1959 or while attempting to flee the island. The project began in 2002 when a group of exiles organized a symbolic cemetery to honor victims whose graves were either inaccessible or nonexistent. Thousands of white crosses were placed throughout Tamiami Park, each bearing the name of a deceased person. What began as a temporary tribute soon became an annual tradition. After years of displaying the crosses, a permanent memorial was officially inaugurated on February 22, 2014. Designed by Cuban architects Willy Borroto and Otto Borroto, the memorial features a 62 foot tall obelisk painted as the Cuban flag, a large white star-shaped plaza representing the flag's star, royal palm trees representing the national tree of Cuba, and black marble panels engraved with the names of the deceased. Memorial Cubano, Inc., the nonprofit organization that owns and maintains the memorial, keeps records of individuals whose deaths it deems are attributed to political repression, imprisonment, military actions, or attempts to escape Cuba. Annual ceremonies continue to be held here to honor those who lost their lives under Castro's regime. One particularly large gathering took place on the day of Fidel Castro's funeral. As I walked through the memorial and looked at the names and photographs, the cost of the struggle for freedom was driven home. It was a moving experience. This memorial is well worth a visit if you find yourself in Sweetwater. It is a reminder of the enduring impact Fidel Castro's regime has had on Cubans and the South Florida community.

The history of Cuba is deeply intertwined with that of Miami. With the recent indictment of Raúl…read moreCastro, Fidel Castro's brother, for his alleged role in the 1996 shootdown of two civilian aircraft operated by Brothers to the Rescue and the murder of four Americans it seems like an appropriate time to revisit another pivotal chapter in Cuban and Miami history: the Bay of Pigs invasion. In April 1961, Miami served as a central hub for U.S. intelligence and anti Castro operations. More than 1,500 Cuban exiles, known as Brigade 2506, were recruited, trained, and equipped in Miami for a mission to liberate Cuba from communist rule. The invasion took place at the height of the Cold War. However, President John F. Kennedy ultimately declined to provide the level of U.S. military support many believed had been promised, fearing escalation of hostilities with the Soviet Union. The operation ended in failure, resulting in more than 100 deaths and the capture of approximately 1,200 members of the brigade. In the years that followed, many Cuban Americans, feeling abandoned by the Democratic administration, shifted their political allegiance toward the Republican Party. In 2009, the Bay of Pigs Air Memorial at Miami Executive Airport was designed and constructed. It is maintained by the Cuban Pilots Association. The memorial honors the Cuban and American aviators who lost their lives during the April 1961 invasion. The memorial design resembles a waving Cuban flag, with blue and white stripes painted across the ground and a tall stone monument rising from the location of the flag's star. A centerpiece of the memorial is a retired Douglas B-26 Invader, the light attack bomber flown by many of the aviators during the operation. The Invader was originally developed during World War II carrying the B-26 designation. Miami is home to several other Bay of Pigs memorials, including monuments in Little Havana, Bay of Pigs Memorial Park, and the Bay of Pigs Museum. However, this is the only site where visitors can see an actual aircraft associated with the invasion. If you find yourself near Miami Executive Airport, the Bay of Pigs Air Memorial is well worth a stop.

The Bay of Pigs Air Memorial is a truly special place and an important piece of history that…read moredeserves to be remembered\. The memorial does an incredible job of honoring the Cuban and American pilots who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Bay of Pigs invasion\. Standing among the names, photographs, and aircraft makes the history feel real and personal rather than something you simply read about in a book\. It is a place that represents courage, sacrifice, and the determination to never forget those who gave their lives\. The care and dedication that went into preserving this history is evident throughout the memorial\. I highly recommend visiting the Bay of Pigs Air Memorial, especially for anyone interested in Cuban history, military history, aviation, or the stories of the men who fought and sacrificed so much\. **A beautiful tribute to those who served, and a place where their memory will continue to live on.

Bayfront Park in downtown Miami is more than just your typical park. It is also a culturally…read moreimportant outdoor museum, with art and monuments that add beauty and historical perspective. One of my favorite statues in the park, next to the children's playground, is that of Julia Tuttle (January 22, 1849 - September 14, 1898), who is known as the Mother of Miami. She was the only woman to have founded a major American city. This statue of her was dedicated on July 28, 2010, on Miami's 114th birthday. Julia Tuttle relocated from Cleveland to Fort Dallas, now known as Miami, in 1891. She arrived as a widow with two children to claim land that had been left to her by her parents as an inheritance. She purchased 640 acres on the north side of the Miami River for her home. Where others saw only swampland and a few orange groves, Julia saw the potential to turn the land into a city, but she knew that a railroad would be necessary for development. Julia Tuttle convinced railroad magnate and industrialist Henry Flagler to extend his railroad to Miami by offering him half of her land, 320 acres on the north bank of the Miami River. This, combined with an additional 100 acres for a hotel and railroad terminal, sealed the deal. Legend has it that Julia sent Henry a bouquet of orange blossoms during the severe winter freeze of 1894-1895 to show that Miami was frost free. While the flowers make for a great story, it was really her business acumen that brought the railroad to South Florida. On April 22, 1896, the Florida East Coast Railway train service came to the area. A few months later, on July 28, male residents voted to incorporate a new city: Miami. Ironically, it was a vote that Julia, as a woman, was not allowed to participate in. Julia was instrumental in establishing early infrastructure, including setting up the town's first laundry, bakery, and dairy. She passed away in 1898 at the young age of 49 from meningitis. She is buried in the City of Miami Cemetery. The project to commemorate Julia Tuttle began in 1996 through the efforts of the Miami Commission on the Status of Women. It took 14 years, along with joint efforts from the Miami-Dade County Commission for Women, to raise the necessary funds. Artists Eugene Daub and Rob Firmin were chosen to create the 10-foot-tall bronze statue. Julia is depicted looking toward the horizon and the future while holding a basket of oranges in one hand and an orange blossom in the other. Her skirt is adorned with symbols of Miami's history, including images of local flora and fauna, the train that connected Miami to Florida, Tuttle shaking Flagler's hand, and the Native Americans and African Americans who were among the area's first settlers. This is a sculpture that requires you to stop for a few minutes and truly look at it to appreciate its full impact. Julia Tuttle was both a savvy businesswoman and a landowner, which was quite a remarkable achievement for a woman of her era. Her vision and foresight left a legacy in Miami that can still be felt today.

Come see what Julia Tuttle looked like. We all have a lot to thank her for. who is she though?…read moreJulia DeForest Sturtevant Tuttle, A landowner who was key to the development of Miami, Julia Tuttle was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She married in 1871, bore two children, and visited Miami for the first time in 1875. After her husband's death in 1891, she moved there permanently. Tuttle bought a square mile of land at the mouth of the Miami River, more than half of which she donated to induce others to settle there. She convinced rail executive Henry Flagler to extend train service from Palm Beach to Miami by sending him orange blossoms during the great freeze of 1894-95 after the orchards further north had frozen. Known as 'the Mother of Miami,' Julia Tuttle died there at age 50, two years after the railroad arrived. 'It is the dream of my life,' she had written, 'to see this wilderness turned into a prosperous country.'

The history of South Beach dates back to 1910 when carl Fisher began to transform the community…read moreinto a world class resort destination. In the 1920's during Florida's land boom years, many hotels and mansions were built. The 1930's and 40's were the height of the art deco design movement and many of the hotels were built in this style. By the 1970's South Beach was run down by neglect and salt water damage. Things were so bad that the movie Scarface used to South Beach to stand in for a drug infested ghetto neighborhood. At this point in the history if South Beach in steps Barbara Baer Capitman (1920-1990) and a group of activists to save the day. Capitman founded the Miami Design Preservation League in 1976 which started a movement to place one square mile of South Beach on the National Register of Historic Places. Their efforts enabled many of the historic Art Deco buildings to be saved. In the late 1980's South Beach had a resurgence. Models and the fashion industry moved in. An area that once had people thinking twice about driving through became home to the wealthy. Today it is walking friendly and generally low crime. You can find this bronze bust of a 19 year old Barbara Baer Capitman in Lummus Park. The bust was created from a sculpture of Capitman made by her mother, artist Myrtle Bachrach Baer in 1939. Now Barbra forever looks on all that she saved that makes South Beach the iconic landmark it is today. Stop by and say hello to her as you head down world famous Ocean Drive.

This is a lovely tribute and memorial set right along the beach strip of South Beach. As you walk…read morealong Ocean Drive and admire all the fantastic original Art Deco architecture, it's worth taking a moment to stop here and thank the woman who single-handedly was responsible for leading the effort to preserve this historic district against the developers wrecking ball back in the 1970s. This is from a cast made by her own mother in 1940 and then dedicated in 1976 by the city. It's one of the few spots along Ocean Drive where you can mix a few minutes of history with world class Mojito's from the bars on the other side of the street

Next to the parking lot across from Bayside Marketplace and Bayfront Park sits the bust of Juan…read morePablo Duarte. I was always curious about it when I passed by through the years so I set out to learn more about it. I discovered that this bust was installed to honor the founding father of the Dominican Republic. The statue was installed in the 1970's, around the same time as other monuments to Latin American leaders in Bayfront Park. They were moved to the outskirts of the park in the 1980's when artist and landscape architect Isamu Noguchi was hired to redesign Bayfront Park Juan Pablo Duarte (January 26, 1813 - July 15, 1876) was a Dominican military leader, writer, activist, and nationalist politician. He joined forces with military general Ramón Matías Mella and Francisco del Rosario Sánchez. The trio organized and promoted the Trinitario movement, which eventually led to the Dominican revolt and independence from Haitian rule in 1844. Duarte paid a heavy price for his patriotism: he lost his wealth and was forced into exile, living in Venezuela until his death. Today, Duarte's birth is commemorated by Dominicans every January 26. In addition to honoring Juan Pablo Duarte, this monument also recognizes the broader Dominican-American community in South Florida. Flowers are laid here to honor Duarte for his role in gaining independence from Haiti. There is also a park named in his honor in Allapattah, known for its large Dominican population.

Continuing our history of Latin American leaders in downtown Miami, we come to Simón Bolívar…read more(1783-1830). Simón Bolívar was one of the most important leaders of Latin America's independence movements against Spanish colonial rule. Often called "El Libertador" ("The Liberator"), he played a central role in freeing Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Panama from Spanish rule in the early 19th century. Following 16 years of war, the Republic of Bolivia was established on August 6, 1825, and named in his honor. You will find this eight-foot bronze statue honoring Simón Bolívar near the Torch of Friendship. The statue was a gift to the City of Miami from the government of Venezuela in 1979. Today he stands surrounded by a collection of Latin American flags.