Did you know… Miami was officially incorporated in 1896 and blacks were a crucial part of this event. An informal Miami Metropolis census captured around incorporation time, noted that 182 of the 438 registered male voters in town were black. On July 28, 162 of the aforementioned 182 voted to incorporate the city. The first […]
Stiltsville Survives Hurricane Irma
Perched at the edge of sea grass flats where the turquoise waters of Biscayne Bay meet the dark and choppy Atlantic Ocean, the cluster of wooden shacks has no protection from killer storms. But when Irma’s clouds cleared in early September, Stiltsville emerged relatively intact, to the relief of the volunteers dedicated to maintaining this […]
60 Years Ago: Snow in Miami #TBT
On January 19, 1977, it snowed in Miami. Forecaster Ray Biedinger looked at the screen of his trusty weather radar in the wee hours of Jan. 19, 1977, and knew what he had to do. The bitter cold front barreling south across the state during his midnight shift at the old National Weather Service office, […]
Miami History Classes with Dr. George
Since moving to downtown Miami from Kendall, I have really enjoyed learning about the history of the City of Miami – and there is no better way to do that than the tours and classes given by Dr. Paul George. Though recently retired from Miami Dade College, Dr. George continues sharing his passion for Miami […]
What’s Up With the Dade Commonwealth Bank Building?
The Dade Commonwealth Bank Building – at 139 NE 1 Street in the downtown Miami historic district – was originally built in 1925 as a 17-story structure called the Meyer-Kiser Bank Building. It was the tallest building in this young City of Miami until it was severely damaged in the 1926 hurricane. Instead of rebuilding completely, owners […]
Historic City of Miami Cemetery on Halloween (video)
This historic cemetery is the oldest in the City of Miami. Created in 1887, it is the final resting place of some of Miami’s most prominent families; including Julia Tuttle, the Burdine mausoleum, Peacock, Sewell and Jackson. It is also “one of the few cemeteries where the owners of the plot actually hold a deed […]