November 2010

In September 1944, Miami's first five black police officers were sworn in and given the responsibility of patrolling the Central Negro District, which included today's Overtown and parts of Liberty City. As the separate police force grew, this modern building was constructed as headquarters for the patrols and as a municipal court where black defendants were tried before an African-American judge. The police precinct and courthouse operated in this building until July 1963, when the black officers were integrated into the Miami Police Department. This building is currently awaiting rehabilitation.

Built at the height of the Land Boom in 1925, these Mediterranean Revival style apartment buildings are impressive reminders of Biscayne Boulevard's heyday. The Davenport and Rich Development Company originally planned four buildings around a central fountain at the intersection of Biscayne Boulevard and NE 33rd Street; one of the Beverly Terrace buildings was demolished, and the fourth building was never constructed.

19th-century oil tycoon and transportation pioneer Henry Flagler's era-defining Florida East Coast Railroad finds a proper tribute in the Beaches Museum and History Center. Visitors to the Center will encounter a number of century-old railroad buildings constructed during Flager's reign, a swell as a steam locomotive dating from 1911. The historic Pablo Beach post office is likewise open for exploration. Inside the Museum are a number of traveling exhibits, the "Shore Stories" permanent exhibit, and an archives reading room.

Comprised of four distinct subdivisions, Bayside mirrors the diversity and taste of its early, fashionable residents. Houses in the neighborhood represent an eclectic mix of architectural styles including Mediterranean Revival, Art Deco, and Streamline Moderne. (from website.)

The distinctive vernacular architecture that prevailed in Miami at the end of the 19th century is wonderfully preserved in Commodore Ralph Munroe's former home.

The former home of local pioneer Commodore Ralph Munroe, the Barnacle is an outstanding example of the vernacular architecture constructed in Miami-Dade County during the late nineteenth century. Named for the distinctive shape of its roof, the Barnacle is surrounded by a tropical hardwood hammock forest and overlooks Biscayne Bay. Built as a one-story house, the second story was added by lifting the entire first floor and inserting a new floor below. The Barnacle is administered by the State of Florida and is open to the public for guided tours. This building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

The Baker Block Museum specializes in local history. It has exhibits on a range of topics, from pioneer homelife to local military patriots, as well as a robust collection of historical documents and a reference library. It also maintains a thorough collection of genealogical records.

The best place to experience local history is at the Catalina Island museum, with a number of exhibits and tours that teach visitors about a number of important parts of Catalina's past, including how the island was founded and the many ships that have navigated the local waters.

Famed ornithologist John James Audubon spent much productive time during his 1832 visit to the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas in this house. He left the Keys with 18 new drawings for his "Birds of America" folio, and he found inspiration for many of these in the garden's abundant life. Visitors can wander its verdant pathways, explore the collection of 19th century European antiques in the house, and inspect the collection of 28 first edition Audubon works.

Besides functioning as an archaeological research facility, the Archaeology Institute at the University of West Florida offers a large exhibit space open to the public. The collection on display there dates from the pre-historic to the Victorian, and includes such treasures as a cannon from the 1698 Spanish settlement at Presidio Santa Maria de Galve.

The Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site in Milton bears witness to America's 19th century industrial rise and offers a glimpse into how the nation dealt with its large-scale energy needs before the advent of oil. Visitors will stroll through the former site of a sizeable textile operation, including a cotton mill and a lumber mill. Today, the location plays host to a Visitor Center, Museum, and an elevated boardwalk through the archaeological remains of the mills.