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

Marjorie Stoneman Douglas lived in this home in Coconut Grove. It was built in 1926 by George Hyde…read moreand is designed to look like an English Cotswolds country cottage. The house looks like it is out of a fairy tale. The house is extremely small, barely 900 feet. Marjorie considered it more of a workshop than a home. It is a single story wood frame T shaped structure with a stucco, brick, and half-timbered exterior walls and a sloping roof covered in wood shingles. The interior has hardwood flooring, plaster walls, and plaster ceilings with exposed beams. The interior has one large room that used to be dominated by Marjorie Stoneman Douglas's desk. The other rooms are a little bedroom and a tiny kitchen that only held a hot plate and toaster. Furnishings in the home were very simple. The house didn't have a driveway because she never learned to drive or central air conditioning. Marjorie did much of her writing in the home including the 1947 book The Everglades: River of Grass which spawned a movement to save the Everglades from development. The state of Florida purchased the house in 1991. Marjory was allowed to live out the rest of her life in her home which she did until she passed away at the age of 108 in 1998. The house was designated a national landmark in 2015. The house sits vacant as the people in the neighborhood have fought any attempts at turning the house into a museum fearing the traffic it would bring to the area. With the shooting that took place at the high school named in Marjorie Stoneman Douglas's honor in Parkland her name has been thrust back in the spotlight and there is renewed interest in finally doing something with the house. It seems like the neighbors may finally be coming around to allowing access to the house on a limited basis. Before that can happen the state needs to repair termite damage and mold caused by an air conditioner leak. Some of the ideas for the house are to turn it into a museum to honor Marjory or to allow a writer to live there in residence. A plan that has been scraped is to move the house to Fairchild tropical Gardens where there is a statue of Marjory Stoneman Douglas sitting on a bench. I am a long time Marjory Stoneman Douglas fan. As someone who loves the Everglades I appreciate her and everything she did to save it from development. I have seen many lovely pictures of her outside her home usually with a cat. Visiting her house was a thrill. I especially loved discovering the seahorse on the outside fireplace and the hand shaped doorknocker on the front door. I truly hope the neighbors and the state can come to an agreement to allow people access to the property. Right now you can easily park in front of the house and take a peek in the windows. Marjory Stoneman Douglas created a lasting environmental legacy and her home deserves to be protected and maintained. Maybe even more so after what happened in Parkland. The house belongs to all of us and we should be able to pay our respects to her there.

I love discovering old places, and if they are abandoned even better for me! It is surely worthy of…read morea trip - lets hope they GET ON WITH RESTORING IT, and stop wasting money on just maintaining it!! (its been owned by the state since 2007 after all!!!) Here is some more information and history about this house (sourced from https://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/things-to-do/arts-history/marjory-stoneman-douglas-house.html) Almost 68 years after Marjory Stoneman Douglas' "The Everglades: River of Grass" changed the popular conception of the Everglades from worthless swamp to treasured ecosystem, the Stoneman Douglas house in Miami's leafy Coconut Grove neighborhood will be designated a national historic landmark. During his first visit to Everglades National Park in April 2015, President Barack Obama declared the protective designation for the conservationist's modest 1926 cottage at 3744 Stewart Ave. No plans have been announced yet for opening the stucco-covered, wood-frame Stoneman Douglas house to the public, although fans still can go by the historic one-story home, now surrounded by million-dollar mansions. Preservationists and environmentalists have argued for years with neighbors over the fate of the bungalow and concerns that turning it into an education center or attraction would overwhelm the area with traffic and violate residential land use codes. A plan to move the house three miles from its South Grove location to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden was scrapped in 2006. The Stoneman Douglas house and property have been owned by the State of Florida and since 2007 has been maintained by the Florida Park Service as a lasting memorial to a remarkable "woman who saved the Everglades." As a 34-year-old divorced woman living with her father, buying her own house represented independence to Douglas. In her autobiography, "Voice of the River," she wrote about her desire to have a place of her own. I didn't need much of a house, just a workshop, a place of my own. All I wanted was one big room with living quarters tacked on. I knew an architect, George Hyde, who drew up some plans. He mostly built factories, which was fortunate, because I hoped my little house would be as stout and as sparse as a factory with not much to worry about. Because she never learned to drive, the house had no driveway (or air conditioning, electric stove or dishwasher). Part Tudor Revival and part Medieval Revival in design, the house, created by well-known architect George Hyde, is noted for its hip roof, half-timbering, post-hurricane wood floors, elegant detailing, and cast bronze hardware. Starting out as a young writer working for her father at The Miami Herald in 1915 following her brief marriage, Marjory Stoneman Douglas eventually produced more than 100 short stories for popular magazines. "River of Grass," published in 1947, was her most influential work. Later in life, she became a relentless crusader for the natural preservation and restoration of the nature of South Florida. She recognized that the Everglades was a system that depended not only on the flow of water from Lake Okeechobee into the park, but also upon the Kissimmee River which feeds the lake. To add a voting constituency to her efforts, in 1970 she formed the Friends of the Everglades, and was active as the head of the organization. Dubbed the "Grande Dame of the Everglades," she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Upon her death at the age of 108 in 1998, The Independent in London stated, "In the history of the American environmental movement, there have been few more remarkable figures than Marjory Stoneman Douglas." Today, Everglades National Park, the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, protects over 1.5 million acres. It's the third-largest national park in the lower 48 states, behind Yellowstone National Park and Death Valley National Park. There are three ways to access the park by car. The main entrance in Homestead connects visitors to the Royal Palm Area and the Flamingo Area of Everglades National Park. The Shark Valley entrance is in Miami and the Gulf Coast Entrance is in Everglades City.

Having visited Miami numerous times throughout the years, I can safely say that it is one of my…read morefavorite places. Miami has gorgeous weather, beautifully lit dowtown areas, fantastic energy & cool vibes. Miami also has trendy shops / hang-out spots. There have been so many things enjoyable to see, view, & experience in Miami. Here are some of the highlights: Miami Beach is beautiful. Sun, fun & views along the beach, & in the neighboring South Beach area are phenomenal. Pier 5 has shops, boat tours & fabulous restaurants and live music. Museums like the Institute of Contemporary Art Miami and the Haitian Heritage Museum are fantastic. Miami also has marvelous walkways, murals / artwork in various places, including Wynwood, as well as in Midtown Miami & in Miami's Design District. The Wolfsonian -FIU & The Bass Museums have had great art exhibits. Eden Roc has a gorgeous lobby area & equally lovely comfortable beds & nice bathrooms. Gabriel Miami South Beach Hotel has a lobby pool & a rooftop pool that Goodtime Hotel patrons can utilize as an alternative during Goodtime Pool Party Events. The Kimpton Epic Hotel is beautiful and has Area 31, a cool rooftop restaurant & lounge. One can go to Jungle Island to visit various animals, including flamingos, birds, etc. They also allow you the opportunity to get the admission package that includes interacting with some of the animals. Strawberry Moon is my favorite restaurant thus far & it is in the Goodtime Hotel. Strawberry Moon Pool Parties are so much fun! Strawberry has the best Chicken Schwarma & a wonderful Happy Hour Menu. Komma is a Mediterranean restaurant that also has a great Happy Hour Menu. Strawberry Moon & Komma have good staff that have provided good customer service. Bacon Bitch sells a decent breakfast & Pura Vida sells fresh-tasting healthy food items. Cecconi's Miami is in Soho Beach House and has good, fresh-tasting cuisine. Kuba Cabana has delicious Cuban Cusine, cool laid-back vibes, and good music. Kuba Cabana Staffpersons Renzo & Naomi provide wonderful customer service! There are so many familiar & new places to visit in Miami!

Miami has always been a very popular vacation spot in the world. There is so much to do and see…read more The restaurants, the shopping, the cruise ships, South Beach, Coconut Grove, Wynwood, the nightclubs, the Design District, the Miami Heat arena, Bayside Markrtplace, Little Havana, Zoo Miani, and Miami Beach. I could name many more attractions! You should visit once in your lifetime. We loved it so much that we moved here in 2006. It is like Paradise to us. Except for the horrible traffic in the morning and late afternoon! The only reason I took 1 star away.

Cant miss the flamingo pink Welcome to Miami Beach placard with four pink pillars that resemble…read morepalm trees which are naitive to Miami. Every tourist must get excited by the sight of the sign knowing they are finally here. My daughter snapped a pic of the sign so that I would not cause an accident on the Julia Tuttle Causeway. As we drove by, the sign made me instantly think of the 1997 song "Welcome to Miami" by Will Smith. Its basically located in the median surrounded by heavy traffic, and there is no place to pull over and take a selfie.

"Party in the city where the heat is on. All night, on the…read morebeach till the break of dawn. Welcome to Miami Bievenidos a Miami" Will Smith Miami Since 1997 the Welcome to Miami sign has been on the Julia Tuttle Causeway greeting all of those who arrive by vehicle to Miami Beach. At night the sign is lit up and the palm trees wear neon color changing halos that makes them look like something out of the Jetsons. In 2007 the lights were updated with LED technology by Jim Morrison, an artist and lighting designer so that their colors can be coordinated for holidays and events. I especially like seeing the sign at night. In 2019 Morrison wanted to add a large rectangular LED display board on top of the Welcome to Miami lettering. The LED sign could be programmed to welcome events like Art Basel and Pride but some people thought the idea would be tacky and not in keeping with the art deco design of the area. So far changes have been slow to come to the iconic sign. I think it is perfect the way it is.

Great place to live. You can't beat the proximity to everything there is to love about Miami.read more

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.

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 Miramar Water Tower is one of those landmarks along the Turnpike that many pass every day…read morewithout giving it much thought. Standing 125 feet tall, this tower has watched over Miramar's east side for nearly seven decades. Built around 1958 alongside the city's original East Water Treatment Plant, the water tower was an important part of Miramar's early potable water infrastructure. Over the years, it has received several facelifts and become a highly visible symbol of Miramar for its residents. The tower was emptied in 1991, and at one point the city considered dismantling it and selling the metal for scrap to eliminate maintenance costs. Residents, however, rallied to save the structure, arguing that it had become an important community landmark. Creative solutions were eventually found to give the tower a new purpose, including using it for wireless communications and housing antennas and equipment. A fresh paint job and updated look on the water tower debuted around July 21, 2025, marking seven decades since the city's founding. With "MIRAMAR" emblazoned across its sides, it is more than an old piece of infrastructure. It is a permanent public artwork and a towering symbol of the city's history and community pride.