Monument Island was created as a perfectly round man made island. Through the years erosion…read moreespecially by Hurricane Wilma has resulted in a more oblong shape. A 110-foot obelisk surrounded by figures that was created as a memorial to Henry Flagler who died in 1913 is at the center of the island. Flagler was the most influential man in Florida's history because he brought the railroad which enabled Florida to be developed. The island is an uninhabited and is accessible only by boat. Surrounding the island are the homes on Star Island, Palm Island, and the Venetian Islands where the rich and famous live behind their locked gates. The east side of the island has rocks and the west side is a beach. The monument to Flagler was sculpted by H.P. Peterson and paid for by real estate developer Carl Fisher. Fisher built a street car connection to Flagler's railroad so he could develop the area he named Miami Beach. The monument has four figures sitting in the four cardinal directions. Each one represents a different part of Miami Beach. Due North is a man in a Roman toga who represents industry. He holds a scroll, a building, and a train in to represent Flagler's railroad. The east female figure representing education holds out one hand in welcome while the other one holds book. The southern figure of a sailor representing pioneer has one hand shielding his face from the sun while the other one holds a shovel. To the west is a female figure holding a cornucopia and a purse representing prosperity. The island has been victim to vandalizing and disrepair from the harsh elements. Parts of the island are covered in trash. In 2011 a porn film was even made on the island. Some of the figures on the monument have areas that are falling apart. It is sad to see such a historical monument neglected in such a way. One hope that Miami Beach would honor both Henry Flagler and Carl Fisher by taking care of the island. I only viewed the island from a bridge. If you don't own a mega yacht like the islands celebrity neighbors Ricky Martin and Gloria Estefan you can rent a kayak from Maurice Gibb park. From there it is about a 15 minute paddle out.

I lived in Miami my whole life and always heard stories about the mysterious "monument island"…read more Urban legend has it that on Sundays this place turns into a scene straight out of a reggaeton video! However on a Wednesday afternoon, on the verge of a storm this place looked more like the island in lost - surrounded by multi-million dollar homes. Sure enough some knuckleheads showed up in jetskis to crash the party. I joked they were pirates - and sure enough one of them was interested in some "booty". He sat down on a cooler and his girlfriend sat down in his lap, grinding it out....stay classy Miami. Did I mention the pirates showed up on a TOWED jetski? Yes, one of them didn't work so they strapped it up to the one that did and towed it back out............................WHAT?! Regardless this is a cool spot to come if you have jetskis and just hang out. Granted midday on a weekday is HIGHLY advised as it gets super crazy on the weekends. Also, watch out for the jelly fish. One of my co-workers found one near the shore and scooped it up with a paddle...the thing was the size of a large Papa John's Pizza. We didn't venture into the middle as it began pouring (then REALLY looked like the island on lost) but I hear it's cool to check out. I might be back.... THE ISLAND ISN'T DONE WITH ME!

Next to the parking lot across from Bayside Marketplace and Bayfront Park sits the bust of Rubén…read moreDarío. I was always curious about it as I passed by over the years, so I set out to learn more about it. I discovered that this bust was installed to honor the man considered the "Prince of Spanish literature." The bust was dedicated in 1961, 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. Rubén Darío (1867-1916) was an influential Nicaraguan poet, journalist, and diplomat. He began publishing poems when he was only 14 years old. He is best known as a leader of the Spanish American literary movement known as Modernismo, which reached its height at the end of the 19th century. Darío's first major literary work was Azul ("Blue"), a collection of short stories, descriptive sketches, and verse. In 1886, he left Nicaragua and traveled the world. In 1893, he was appointed Colombian consul in Buenos Aires. While working as a correspondent for the Buenos Aires newspaper La Nación in Europe in 1898, he became concerned about the future of Spanish America after the collapse of Spain's empire in the New World. In response, he wrote what is considered his masterpiece, Cantos de vida y esperanza (1905; "Songs of Life and Hope"). In 1914, on the brink of World War I, Darío left for New York, where he contracted pneumonia. He passed away shortly after returning home to Nicaragua. Today, Darío is considered by many to be one of the greatest poets to have written in Spanish. In addition to honoring Rubén Darío, this monument also recognizes the broader Nicaraguan community in South Florida. On September 15, 1992, Miami-Dade County Parks dedicated a park in Darío's honor. As you enter the park, you can see a large statue of Rubén Darío that was added in 1993.

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 to brush up on my Latin American history, I present the bust of General José Gervasio…read moreArtigas. This is one of a number of Latin American monuments from the 1960s that were moved to the exterior of Bayfront Park when it was redesigned by artist and landscape architect Isamu Noguchi in the 1980s. José Gervasio Artigas (1764-1850) was a soldier and statesman famous for leading the independence movement in Uruguay. Artigas was born in Montevideo, then part of the Spanish Empire. He worked as a rancher and cavalryman before joining local militias. In 1811, inspired by broader independence movements in South America, he led a revolt against Spanish colonial authorities. His victory at the Battle of Las Piedras became a major symbol of resistance. This bust can be found near the Freedom Tower. It honors Artigas's role as a leader of the gauchos in the fight against Spanish domination. He is a national hero known as the "Father of Uruguayan Independence."

Bayfront Park in downtown Miami is an outdoor museum, with art and monuments that add beauty and…read morehistorical perspective. While exploring the park, I discovered a monument to longtime Democratic Claude D. Pepper. I was already familiar with him from my travels through Fort Pierce, where he helped establish the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum. There is also a park behind the museum named in his honor: Pepper Park. Claude D. Pepper (September 8, 1900 - May 30, 1989) represented Florida in the Senate from 1936 to 1951. His connection to Miami was that he represented the Miami area in the United States House of Representatives from 1963 until his death in 1989, just four days after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George H. W. Bush. He is remembered for championing the elderly, health care reform, and civil rights. This statue represents Claude D. Pepper's legacy of public service. Stop by to pay your respects to a man known as "Mr. Senior Citizen." He strengthened Social Security, expanded Medicare, abolished mandatory retirement, and fought for health research.

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.

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.

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.