The iconic Hollywood Water Tower stands 160 feet tall and holds one million gallons of water. It…read morewas constructed in 1955 and is maintained by the City of Hollywood Public works Dept. Growing up in Hollywood as a kid, this light blue and white painted tower was visible from a few areas east of Federal Hwy on Sheridan Street and is directly next to West Lake Park. The second Hollywood water tower stands at Sheridan Street and i-95. Both towers not only harness water but are artistic Hollywood landmarks. Today we were driving back from Hollywood Beach and pulled off the roadway to take a few minutes to gaze at the structure. Over the years, the painted decor at the sphere-like top has changed, but the Hollywood name is still prominently displayed as a sense of pride for the historic tower. There are no tours offered for either water tower - it would be cool though. FYI..I always wanted to climb the tower by its winding staircase.

One of only two water towers in Hollywood. Today I went to the West Lake Park to relax and saw this…read moretall water tower that was begging for a photo. Pulled off the side of Sheridan Street and captured a perfect shot of the light blue tower.

The Bank of Dania is a historic Neoclassical building built in 1923. The building has a gold brick…read moreexterior and white fluted columns along the front of the building. The building was designed by architects John Peterson and J. L. Hardgrove. Cost of construction was $35,000. After the bank moved to s new location the building sat empty until 1966 when the city purchased it. Along with several other Dania Beach pioneers, A.C. Frost founded the Bank of Dania on May 1, 1912. The first location for the bank used to be where the Pirates Inn was. It moved to 2 South Federal in 1926 where it remained until 1956. Most recently the building was an antique store. There is a sign in the window that says it will become a window treatment business. It's a shame that the city doesn't turn into a historical museum like some of the other cities have done with their historic but small town halls and courthouses. It would be the perfect place to put in a display about the history of Dania Beach.

The Hollywood Historical Society is a non profit organization, founded in 1974 for the purpose of…read morecollecting, preserving, and educating the public about the history of Hollywood, Florida. They are located in the historic Hammerstein House on Polk Street where they operate a research center that has over 20,000 pieces in it's collection. There is a small store at the research center that sells photos, postcards, and books. They also give free tours of the Hammerstein House on first Sunday of the month, October through May, from 1:00-4:00 PM. On the events page of their website you can see the dates for their lecture series as well as an upcoming lunch on January 19th at the Tropical Acres Steak House. Also on their website is a great printable tour map that gives you a self guided walking tour of historic places along the beach and in the downtown. I love what the historical society is doing to preserve the history in Hollywood. It is always fun to discover on of the plaques they have installed on a building and read about the history of the place. You can support the historical society by becoming a member, making a donation, or serving as a docent at the Hammerstein House.

My 1400th year I saved this milestone review for this organization that I have been a Lifetime…read moremember of since moving to Hollywood 19 years ago. This is a wonderful organization that's mission is preserving and protecting Hollywood's history. The headquarters is located a short walk from my home on the Southside of the golf course, on Polk street in the historic district of Hollywood Lakes. The Hammerstein House was donated to the City by the Hammerstein's who have a great love for this city as well as no children to pass the property down to. The Historic Society rents the property on a 99 year lease for $1. per year. There is free tours given of the home first Sunday of the month from October through May. The historic details are magnificent such as the Cuban tile that is original to the home as well as the grand archways. The kitchen has cabinets that reach up to the top of the ceiling and it really lent itself as a place for entertaining. The grounds have beautiful greenery and lush trees. As a past President I had my own home featured on the Annual Historic Home Tour. That year we featured the homes of Northlake which also included the Hollywood Women's Club that is located around the corner from my home across from the Hollywood Beach Resort and Country Club. I highly recommend you stopping by the home for a tour as well as learn more about the City of Hollywood's fascinating history as well as former residents that called Hollywood their home.

I love to explore the history of south Florida. There are so many grand houses and buildings from…read morethe 1920's during Florida's land boom years before hurricanes and the Great Depression robbed many of their fortunes. One such 1920s beauty is the 1924 Curci House built by Frank and Rosina Curci, a pioneer family who came to the area in 1907 with their three small children. The house is located in the city of Hallandale which has four heritage and one historic site. The family struggled when they arrived at SW 5th Avenue and West Dixie Highway but they put in work and became prosperous from farming tomatoes and fruit and later on they opened a construction business. The Curci's eventually had eleven children and Mr. Curci spoke five languages and was an accomplished musician. "Villa Providence" was the couples dream home which they built on their eleven acre property. It was constructed from concrete filled terra cotta block walls with termite impervious Dade pine floors. They added Cuban tile details can be found throughout the house and there is glass from Italy imbedded in the outside stucco finish. The house was so well built that it was able to withstand the Great Hurricane of 1926 when it served as a refuge for many in the community. The family remained in their home until the 1950's. The home is listed on the Hallandale website as being open on the first Saturday of every month between 11am and 4pm but they have shut it down to tours since the pandemic and never bothered to reopen although it appears that it can be rented for private events. There is a huge fence surrounding the property so for now you can only view the home from the street. It is such a disappointment to see it closed. Nearby Hollywood reopened their historic Hammerstein House and Hallandale should consider doing the same.

Above & Beyond Service - Thank You, Captain Patrick!…read more We're staying at the beautiful Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel and decided to head over to Las Olas Boulevard for dinner. On the way back, we chose to try the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi--and it ended up being one of the best decisions of our trip. It was an easy walk to the stop, followed by a gorgeous boat ride through the canals, and we were dropped off right in front of our hotel. Everything about the experience was seamless... until I realized I had left my purse on the boat. Panic set in immediately. I scrambled to find the Water Taxi phone number, fully expecting to leave a message and hope for the best. Instead, after a quick recording, I was given the option to speak to a supervisor--and to my surprise, a real person picked up. That person was Captain Patrick--and he was absolutely incredible. Calm, reassuring, and immediately proactive, he asked which boat I had been on and then called the captain directly while I was still on the phone. Within seconds, he confirmed they had found my purse. Without hesitation, he coordinated a handoff to the next water taxi heading back toward my stop. Not even 10 minutes later, the boat arrived--and my purse was safely back in my hands. I truly could not have asked for a better outcome to a situation I completely created myself. The level of care, urgency, and professionalism Captain Patrick showed was beyond anything I expected. He turned a stressful moment into a story I'll actually be grateful for. The Water Taxi is already a fun and unique way to experience Fort Lauderdale--but it's the people like Captain Patrick who make it exceptional. Highly, highly recommend!

Got a day to waste? Take the water taxi!…read more Took the taxi to get to one restaurant. Just one. Left at 11am. Didn't get back to my point of origination until 5pm. It was an OUTRAGEOUS waste of time waiting for this taxi, then that taxi, not knowing when the next taxi would appear. One taxi was pulling up to the restaurant where I had been waiting for an hour. Finally! I thought. Nope, suddenly the 'captain' changed his mind and left me standing there dumbfounded. Had to wait another hour for another boat. That's TWO hours of waiting outside after completing my meal. Gross lack of coordination between boats. Passengers were confused on which boat to jump on; it's three different routes. Boats are not marked as to which is going where. The boats move as slow as molasses, too. The good? The staff were nice and gave tour information as you crept along. Other than that, save your TIME and money and take a taxi on wheels, instead. You just want to get where you're going. Who has time to waste like that?!?

You won't find a European building this old in the Americas! Built in the 12th century in Spain,…read moreit was packed up and brought to Miami last Century. Peaceful grounds and remarkable antiquity, the Monastery offers a unique experience in Miami. 44 minutes is more than enough time for a self-guided wander across the grounds, but arrive by Noon for a guided tour (which I missed). Also, check the calendar on their website as they close for many private events.

I came to this establishment because I greatly enjoy history and wanted to have the opportunity to…read moretake photos of the architecture and perhaps a video explaining what I've learned about this beautiful place. Unfortunately, the business that runs this monastery is predatory in nature. As it happens, my ancestor, William R. Hearst, was the original proprietor of the monestary when it arrived in the United States. They insist that photos can only be taken from Wednesday to Saturday, and you must schedule an appointment with a fee of nearly $400 to take portraits or photographs. The woman at the front desk was preventing us from entering the monastery without discarding any equipment that can be used for taking photos. I will add that she was extremely rude, yelling at me and my mother when we were clearly unaware of the rule. Don't come here; it's a complete waste of time; the history is very fascinating, and the building seems to be relatively well kept, but they not only charge you for entry, but additionally charge for you to take photos. $400 mandatory. There are many other beautiful historic places around Miami to visit; I would never recommend going here. Save yourself the $410 and go to the nearby lighthouse, or early 1890s church in Miami instead. The Art Deco District is also very nice. The fact that they charge an exorbitant fee to enter the premises for taking photographs is highly reminiscent of the exact reason why Martin Luther had nailed his list to the door of the Catholic Church. God frowns upon an institution that calls itself religious and charges up the wazoo for people to share information about it. To the people running this facility: do better. Be nicer. Let people explore and interact with this treasure.

What a breathtaking 338 mile route from Key West to the Georgia border. The most significant areas…read morefor dramatic ocean views are near St Johns and Flagler but the tri-coast area of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Miami are close seconds. Most vacationers know the A1A route better as US1 which connects inland northwest and runs all the way to the Canadian border. I remember my grandparents taking this route from New Jersey south to Fort Lauderdale in the 70's. In Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale you can grab a peek of the ocean from some spots and lots of mom and pop eateries. Aside from vehicular traffic, there are many people riding bicycles and on foot enjoying the breeze and sights.

Scenic and an amazing view from the beach and the road. I love being here and will definitely…read morecontinue to visit.

The 1913 Shippey House was the home of Broward County's second judge, Frederick Beeker Shippey. Fed…read moreShippey served as county judge from 1920 to 1933 when an illness forced him to resign. As a member of the Elks Lodge, he was recognized for his work with disabled children. Also of note was that he married the celebrities of the time including presiding over the wedding of Tarzan actor and swimming champion, Johnny Weissmuller. The home was slated for demolition in 2008 but was saved and moved at a cost of $200,000 from its original location in Sailboat Bend on Southwest Seventh Avenue to the Riverwalk, home of Ft. Lauderdale's historic buildings. After 5 years of renovation a ribbon cutting ceremony was held in 2016. The building now houses Cycle party Tours, a recreational equipment and tour business. They finished restoring the landscaping and interior of the house. The rent kayaks,bikes, and segways as well as offer tours of Ft. Lauderdale. Next to the Shippey House is a public parking lot that allows people to park and access the river front.

Per the marker, this tree was the "site of meetings that led to the creation of the Seminole Tribe…read moreof Florida's Constitution and Bylaws." Thus the tribe was recognized by the United States federal government as an entity. The site was place on the National Historic Registry in 2012. We knew that the site was location at the intersection of 441 and Stirling Rd. We just weren't sure which corner. It took us 3 tries to find it. We discovered the location, finally, by driving through the parking lot of the old (original) casino on the southwest corner of the intersection. A black metal fence surrounds it. A seal of the Seminole Tribe is on the fence entrance gate. There are some small benches beneath the tree for seating. The marker is not far from the tree, but is almost buried beneath foliage and ground cover. The tree, itself, is majestic. It seems magical when you pause for a moment to stand beneath it. Considering the plethora of cars, the traffic, the noise, etc. on busy 441, it stands as a breath of fresh air and greenery amongst all the concrete. It is a stark contrast between it and the guitar shaped Seminole Hard Rock Casino building.

The Council Oak Tree is a historic Live Oak tree located on the Seminole reservation in Hollywood…read moreon the intersection of State Rd 7 and Stirling Road. It is next to the old casino and is surrounded by a black fence. There are benches and a historic sign. It was a bit comical trying to locate it. I should have just listened to my friend. The Council Oak Tree is important to the Seminole people because during the 1950's a group of Seminoles met under the tree to discuss the tribes future. They were the children of the generation of Seminole's that were forced to hide in the Everglades in the mid 1880's. It is believed that the Council Oak Tree was standing in 1828 when the Seminoles first settled in the area and it was known as Big City Island. In 1957 a meeting between Florida Seminole Indians Bill Osceola, Billy Osceola, Betty Mae Jumper and Laura Mae Osceola met with Sioux Indian Reginald "Rex" Quinn, from the Tribal government branch of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He was sent to help them set up their own government. With his assistance they were able to set up their constitution and by laws which prevented the U.S. government from abolishing the tribe. The meeting under the Council Oak Tree was instrumental on setting the tribe on their current path of government where there is a governing body called the Tribal Council, pursuant to the Constitution and bylaws, and a Board of Directors pursuant to a corporate charter. From a smoke shop in the 1970's the tribe has grown their business to a Hard Rock empire with more than 500 million dollars a year in gambling profits from their casinos. The documents that purchased the hotel and casino were signed under the Council Tree. The Council Oak tree was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 4, 2012. The tree is so important to the Seminole Tribe that it serves as one of their logos. They also named two of their restaurants, one in Hollywood and one in Tampa after the tree.

Hollywood Florida has done a great job of preserving their historic buildings. A lot of people know…read moreabout their downtown art walks but did you know you can also do a self guided historic building walk? The Hollywood Historical Society has placed plaques on several buildings of historical note in the downtown area. On the Hollywood Historical Society's website is a printable map of the Historic Landmark Plaque Tour. The group also operates tours of the historic Hammerstein House open on the last Sunday of the month during the winter and spring from 1 to 4 PM and different historic tours. Check their website for details. As a fan of architecture I love to check out the different historic buildings when I am in Hollywood and this building has quite a storied past. City of Hollywood founder Joseph Young opened this building in July 1924 as the headquarters of the Hollywood Publishing Company, which published the Reporter and the Hollywood News. He used the papers to spread the word of his new city. Less than a year later he donated the building to the city at which time it became Hollywood's first City Hall, Police Station, jail, city meeting hall and the courthouse until 1928. From the late 1970s into the 90s, it was the restaurant and music venue known as World Famous Hemmingway's. In the following years the building has been bars, restaurants, heavy metal clubs, and possibly a bondage dungeon. It was The Continental, the Monster Rock Cafe, Club X, and in 2000 a gay bar called Mankind. In 1997 the building was declared a historical site by the City of Hollywood. Today, the building houses a Peruvian restaurant called Runa's, and an adjacent bar, called the Tavern which still contain the marble floors, high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, Tiffany stained glass, and mahogany bar from the buildings hey day.