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.

Had the opportunity to finally visit the Freedom Tower and was amazed by the architecture and…read morecurrent exhibitions. I came for one of the recent MoAD panels discussing Purvis Young and his work. Looking forward to coming back and spending more time with the exhibitions to really appreciate the work, history, and intention of the space.

If you have ever been to downtown Miami, the Freedom Tower looms large as an iconic landmark. But…read moredo you know its history? Come along with me as we check it out. Admission is normally $18 for adults, but on the first weekend of each month, Bank of America account holders can visit for free through the Museums on Us program. You can also park for free in the Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus Garage, located just a block from the tower. The story of the Freedom Tower begins with James Middleton Cox, a former Ohio congressman, governor, and presidential candidate who came to Miami in 1923. He built the tower in 1925 to house his newly purchased newspaper, The Miami Daily News and Metropolis, which later became The Miami News. With 17 floors, the tower became Miami's first skyscraper. It was designed by the prestigious New York architectural firm Schultze and Weaver, which also designed the Waldorf Astoria New York, The Breakers, and the Hotel Sevilla-Biltmore. The Miami News Tower was modeled after the Giralda bell tower of the Cathedral of Seville in Spain. It was designed in the Mediterranean Revival style, which was popular during Florida's land boom years of the 1920's. In 1957, Miami News moved out of the tower. From 1962 to 1974, it was the home of the Cuban Refugee Center, which opened following the Cuban Revolution. Enacted during President John F. Kennedy's administration, the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 authorized aid for the large number of Cubans fleeing the island in search of political asylum. The U.S. government leased the building to process, document, and provide medical and dental care for the influx of Cuban exiles. During this period, the building became known as "El Refugio" ("The Refuge"), or the Freedom Tower. Nicknamed the "Ellis Island of the South," the Freedom Tower became a symbol of hope and freedom for those seeking democracy. After the refugee center closed, the tower was sold, fell into neglect, and was nearly demolished. Community leaders stepped in to save it, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. In 1997, the tower was purchased by Jorge Mas Canosa, founder and leader of the Cuban American National Foundation. He passed away only two months after purchasing the building, but his family continued with his restoration plans. In 2004, they sold the tower to another Cuban American family, the Pedro Martin family. In 2005, the building was donated to Miami Dade College, the largest Hispanic-serving institution of higher education in the United States. The tower was designated a National Historic Landmark on October 6, 2008. In July 2025, the Freedom Tower celebrated its 100th anniversary. As part of the centennial celebration, the tower underwent significant renovations, including several new exhibits. These include Libertad, a permanent exhibition on the first and second floors that tells the story of how Miami was shaped by immigration through digital installations, personal testimonials, and historic artifacts. Another exhibit, El Refugio in Context, examines the Freedom Tower's role as a Cuban Refugee Center during the 1960s. One room has been recreated to look as it did when the tower served as a Cuban processing center. Another exhibit, Unidad: The World's Game, was created by the FIFA Museum and showcases how soccer, or fútbol, inspires and connects billions of people around the world. Visitors can explore historic artifacts, interactive stations, and immersive installations. I expect this exhibit to be especially popular when the FIFA World Cup comes to Miami in June. The tournament is the most prestigious competition in international soccer, bringing together the world's best men's national teams every four years to compete for the sport's highest honor. I also enjoyed viewing Languages of Migration in the Kislak Center. This exhibition explores global migration through rare maps, colonial-era artifacts, and contemporary art. The Freedom Tower is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. I very much enjoyed my visit and highly recommend adding this historic landmark to any itinerary that includes downtown Miami. The exhibits bring Miami's rich history to life. Freedom is not free, and the tower stands as a powerful reminder of that through the stories and memories of those who have left their mark on this important cultural landmark.

Another iconic building in Downtown Miami. Definitely worthy of a visit. If you do go, hit the…read morebutton to the top in the elevator, to see sweeping views. The public are allowed to go there. Once you are up there, you can see this area of Miami from a different wow factor insight. Check out my pictures for a taster.. The Miami Tower is a 47-story, landmark office skyscraper in Miami, Florida, United States. It is located in central Downtown. It is currently the 16th tallest building in Miami and Florida. Add to your "must see" list for Down town Miami.

Newly renovated "Sky Lounge" is awesome! The gym is nicer than some gyms you have to pay for. Staff…read moreis nice and the building is clean.

You might need to trespass to go see this old home. But should try to find the trustees of this…read morebuilding. The info can be found on the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser website. Need to type in the address.

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.

Coral Gables is known for it's numerous plazas, entrances, and fountains from 1920's. That's why I…read morefind it so interesting to see what current works of art are being added. Anything new needs to harmonize with the beautiful features that George Merrick added in when he created the city. In 2014 the city approved two sculptures to be installed at the traffic circles along Segovia Street. They were designed by New York-based artist and sculptor Alice Aycock. The two installations are the first public art pieces to be added since George Merrick was alive. The sculptures are inspired by the passion flower and are constructed of more than 4,000 pieces of metal. The two sculptures are different. The sculpture on Biltmore is larger and has two flower designs. The Coral Way sculpture is designed to mimic a flower flowing in the breeze. More than 180 submissions were judged before a panel selected Aycock's design. The flowers have received mixed reviews from the community. Many feel that the modern art is not in keeping with the look of the city. A group of residents tried to have the sculptured removed but did not muster enough signatures for the ballot. Some of the complaints are that the sculptures are not Mediterranean and that accidents have increased at the traffic circles since the sculptures were installed. Others complain bitterly that they are not even able to choose a paint color for their house yet the city has moved away from the Mediterranean look of the city without consulting them. The city has decided to keep the sculptures despite the protest of some people who do not care for the look of modern art in their 1920's Mediterranean Revival city.

Interesting new metal art located near the golf course and situated on two roundabouts. There are…read moretwo pieces one on each roundabout - They are passions flowers. Other people here have told the history about them so I will leave it at that. However what I did read about on the net and thought was amusing - was some local residents were not very happy with them, thinking they did not represent Coral Gables mediterranean image, so they started a petition to get them remove. They did get over a thousand signatures but no where near enough to make an impact and get them removed. Looks like they are here to stay. I was not too keen when I first saw them and had a little chuckle to myself as the largest one is situated in front of a plastic surgery office (HE HE)...(apt? - you decide). However after walking around and actually really looking at them, the location, the area, they started to grow on me!...Let me know what you think - when you go for a look!

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.'

Exhibition 'On The Ban Wagon' curates a memorable experience, powered by The Black Archives and…read moreMUCE on banned books. Featuring "Walker's Appeal", a significant historical document written by David Walker in 1829. It's a powerful abolitionist pamphlet advocating for the end of slavery in the United States. Its bold message and call for justice made it controversial at the time and led to efforts to suppress it. Exhibiting Artists | Azizi DeSouza, Godwin Ferrier, Inna Malostovker, Lump, Nate Dee, Nica Sweet, Oscar Esteban Martinez, Tierra Armstrong...Showcase art pieces weaved in the concept of authors and books that have been banned. Depicting a message from the authors books or the authors personal story, the gallery glorifies the ancestral voices of African American history on book bans that certainly spark curiosity. They often challenge norms and push boundaries. It's a great way to explore the impact of censorship on literature and society.

Here is some info about this old style house in Overtown…read more Built for his bride in 1915 by the area's first black millionaire, real estate magnate D.A. Dorsey, the Dorsey House boasted electricity throughout. Now it is a rental property owned by the Black Archives.

It was another day of white knuckle driving to and from Miami for the South Beach Food and Wine…read morefestival. A fatal accident on the Turnpike added an hour to my trip down to South Beach and the way back was jammed too. Waze routed me out of South Beach via the MacArthur Causeway so while stuck in traffic I decided to learn how a bridge in Miami came to be named after a WWII General. The General Douglas MacArthur Causeway is a 3.5-mile, six-lane bridge connecting Downtown Miami to South Beach across Biscayne Bay. It opened in 1920 serving as a link between mainland Miami and Miami Beach. it was renamed in 1942 as a tribute to General MacArthur's leadership during the early, critical stages of World War II. The causeway went through expansions in the 1960's, 1970's, and 1990's during which the original low-level drawbridge was replaced with a higher span to accommodate modern traffic. The MacArthur Causeway passes Watson Island, Palm Island, and Star Island. The best part of traveling it are the panoramic views of the Miami skyline, especially at sunset. If you are going to be stuck in Miami traffic this causeway at least has a great view.

This brilliant piece of engineering was amazingly built as far back as 1920. Nearly a hundred years…read moreold and expanded and upgraded several times since then, this causeway joins the southern end of Miami Beach to the mainland of Miami. The latest updates were completed in the mid-1990's. Today, this six-land road carries State Road 836 and State Road A1A over the Biscayne Bay. And it's the perfect place to catch some cruise ships or the beautiful Miami skyline. Or make a detour to look at Star Island and Palm Island. Love. It. [Review 10273 overall, 36 of 2019.]