Went to a show here a few months ago and it's a pretty nice place for an outing. I has the feel of small-time hippie tree-hugger music show on a patio... which is pretty much what it was, when I think about it. Several musicians played nice music, there was good food at a couple of kiosks on the back, and a beer and wine vendor. Everything was in support of... so be honest, I'm not sure but it was about birds. I will be coming back to more shows here. It's a very nice way to spend an evening. read more

The non profit Tropical Audubon Society (TAS) has its origins as the Coconut Grove Audubon Society (CGAS), founded April 16, 1915, as Dade County's first Audubon organization. CGAS members met in homes and worked to advocated for bird and wildlife protection, protection of birds hunted for their plumes with the hiring of game wardens, ornithological education for school children and the public, and they also collaborated in the movement to establish Everglades National Park. WWII led to the CGAS becoming inactive in 1942. Led by Charles Brookfield, then employed by National Audubon Society, a new chapter of the National Audubon Society was established in 1947. The Tropical Audubon Society (TAS) has been on the frontlines of conservation and environmental protection issues in South Florida. The mission of the Tropical Audubon Society is to "conserve and restore South Florida ecosystems, focusing on birds, wildlife, and their habitats. The Tropical Audubon Society has been headquartered at the 1932 Doc Thomas House since 1976. It has been designated a Miami-Dade County Historic Site, a Florida Heritage Site, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Arden Hayes Thomas, Jr. was a pharmacist from Indiana who moved to South Miami in 1925, and opened the O. K. Drug Store just months before the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926. His business grew to managing two stores on Sunset Drive and Thomas invested in a 2.5 acres of property on the south side of Sunset Drive in the subdivision of High Pines. He commissioned Robert Fitch Smith, one of the first six graduates of the University of Miami architecture program, to create a home that would look like part of the piney landscape. He created a rustic house in the Florida wood-frame vernacular style of architecture that exemplified the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement. Created out of cypress, oak, pine mahogany, and local limestone, the home has detailed woodwork, a limestone fireplace, and built in features. Fitch went on to a storied career as an architect, taught at the University of Miami, and served on the first City of Miami Planning Board. In the 1950's Doc Thomas retired and traveled the world. A life long conservationist and bachelor, Doc Thomas decided to leave his home and the surrounding 2 acres of woodlands to the TAS. He deeded the property to them in December of 1974 and he passed away exactly one year later. Since 1976 the house has functioned as the home of Tropical Audubon Society while the surrounding acreage now serves as the Steinberg Nature Center. I discovered this delightful nature oasis and historic home in the middle of South Miami while eating lunch in the area. The gate is open so you can walk around what feels like a a secret garden. On Saturday, January 7, 1-2pm or 3-4pm the Tropical Audubon Society will host a public tour of the historic Doc Thomas House headquarters which has recently undergone structural repair and restoration. The tour is free although donations are welcome and lasts for 1 hour guided by a Tropical Audubon docent. The tour focuses on Arden Hayes "Doc" Thomas and Robert Fitch Smith and explores the near-native Steinberg Nature Center campus. The Steinberg Nature Center contains Pine Rockland, a globally endangered ecosystem. It is only located in south Miami, the Keys, and parts of the Bahamas. Pine Rockland once covered 180,000 acres or 12 percent of Miami but by the time Miami turned 100 in 1996, less than 2 percent remained. Today only fragments of the Pineland remain. It is a critical refuge for endangered plants and animals, some not found anywhere else in the world. Come out and learn about this important ecosystem and the pioneers who lived here and built South Miami. read more

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I came here to check out the home and the Audubon society but I later found out that its open for a tour the first Saturday of the month, however, you can look through the window and see the home and walk around the property About the history: Historic Doc Thomas House Since becoming Tropical Audubon Society's headquarters in 1976, the Doc Thomas House has been designated a Miami-Dade County Historic Site and a Florida Heritage Site as well as being listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The house's comprehensive historical recognition is due to the community significance of the original owner, its current owner, and its architect along with the house's distinctive architectural characteristics and appearance. Arden Hayes "Doc" Thomas Arden Hayes Thomas, Jr., a pharmacist who moved from Indiana to the Larkins/South Miami area in 1925, opened his O. K. Drug Store on the ground floor of a brand new two-story apartment building on the north (Coral Gables) side of Sunset Drive in June, just months before the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926. He later opened the O. K. Feed Store on the west side of the same building and became known throughout the community as "Doc" Thomas, a sign of both respect and affection. For approximately 10-15 years, Thomas operated the two stores at this Sunset Drive location before moving them to a one-story building facing South Dixie Highway (U.S. 1), just east of Red Road. Born in 1887 in Fortville, Indiana, Thomas had earned his B.A. degree in 1909 from Indiana University with a major in English. His apprenticeship in pharmacy and the name he chose for his businesses followed family tradition: his father was a druggist who co-owned the O. K. Drug Store in Fortville. Although Thomas closed the drug store in the mid-1950s, the O. K. Feed Store continued operations and is presently located in the Homestead area. While managing his two stores on Sunset Drive, Thomas invested in a significant tract of wooded property (almost 2.5 acres) on the south side of Sunset Drive in the subdivision of High Pines. By 1931 he was ready to build a residence on the property for himself and his mother, Margaret, and commissioned Robert Fitch Smith, one of the first six graduates of the University of Miami architecture program, to design a home that would blend into the natural, "piney woods" landscape. Smith had been a vocational education teacher at Miami High School during the 1920s. In, his first residential commission, Smith used this previous experience with the decorative and manual arts, along with his more recent architectural education, to create a sophisticated version of Florida wood-frame vernacular architecture. Although rustic in appearance, the house exemplifies the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement in its detailed woodwork patterns, striking limestone-faced fireplace, numerous built-in features, and use of native building materials (i.e., cypress, oak, pine, mahogany, and two types of local limestone). Completed in 1932, the house has garnered much attention over the years: first, for its distinctive architecture and ornamentation; later, for its historical value. Smith went on to a distinguished and prolific career as a South Florida architect, was an instructor in the University of Miami's initial architecture department, and served on the first City of Miami Planning Board. As Doc Thomas aged and then retired from full-time management of his stores in 1956, he traveled extensively throughout the world. Eventually, he also made a decision that would have long-term, far-reaching consequences for the Tropical Audubon Society (TAS). Thomas was a lifelong nature lover with a particular interest in birds and had participated in birding trips with the Florida Audubon Society. As a bachelor with no children, Thomas decided to act on his conservationist beliefs and deeded most of his High Pines property (about 2.2 acres), including the house, to the local, Dade County-based Tropical Audubon Society, to ensure the property's preservation and educational use to benefit both TAS and the general public. He and TAS representatives executed the life estate deed on December 30-31, 1974. Exactly one year later, on December 31, 1975, Doc Thomas passed away. Since 1976 the house has functioned as the home of Tropical Audubon Society while the surrounding acreage now serves as the Steinberg Nature Center. read more

Among other things, the TAS features lecturers and learning series on a myriad of environmental subjects. As we walked on to the property through the back gate live rock and roll music was playing. Later we discovered the band was called Lucid Room. Definitely a great introduction! Tonight's visit to TAS was to watch a documentary called the Unseen Everglades, which is a one hour presentation examining the history of this complex family of ecosystems and the spirited fight to restore, preserve and protect its unique habitats. This fast moving documentary gives viewers a better understanding of the size, scale and importance the Everglades serve to our entire planet. It is the first of a series of documentaries which promise to become deeper and broader in the subjects covering the Everglades. TAS has a great lodge and garden and is open to the public. I really enjoy the events here and look forward to coming back. read more

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My husband and I were out for a ride and I noticed an open gate and the historical sign. I made my husband park so I could explore. I was lucky to be here on the first, first Saturday of the month tours of the Doc Thomas House. I love the history here. Growing up in this area this house is like going back to my childhood home. The little wood home with built-in shelves, open beamed ceilings, and no ac. Doc Thomas left his home to the Audubon society. They are offering free tours the first Saturday of the month at 1pm and 3pm. Entry fee is a donation to the Audubon society. I was a little surprised that this home originally had 2 bathrooms. I can't imagine that was very common in 1932. But then again a lot of things in this home were not common. It's a nice tour o and the house does have ac today. Not sure when it was added. read more

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I came here with my boyfriend for a community service forum and to watch a documentary called the unseen Everglades. There is an old house located here where they had a screen to watch an outdoor movie called "The Unseen Everglades". They had a band playing and a food truck and several tables and chairs set up for the event. We walked around the property and there was a lot of shrubbery and natural Florida plant. It's a small little oasis in the middle of the busy Sunset place area. We had a discussion with several people on environmental issues in the tiki house in the back. Their garden is open to the public during the weekdays. read more

Tropical Audubon Society - At an event - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Miami, Florida