General Information about Miami Beach
Located in USA, Miami Beach is filled with wonderful landscapes, warm beaches, and eye-catching sites.
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. It was incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on natural and man-made barrier islands between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter of which separates the Beach from Miami. The neighborhood of South Beach, comprising the southernmost 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2) of Miami Beach, along with downtown Miami and the Port of Miami, collectively form the commercial center of South Florida. As of the 2010 census, Miami Beach had a total population of 87,779. It has been one of America's pre-eminent beach resorts since the early 20th century.
In 1979, Miami Beach's Art Deco Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Art Deco District is the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world and comprises hundreds of hotels, apartments and other structures erected between 1923 and 1943. Mediterranean, Streamline Moderne and Art Deco are all represented in the District. The Historic District is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the East, Lenox Court on the West, 6th Street on the South and Dade Boulevard along the Collins Canal to the North. The movement to preserve the Art Deco District's architectural heritage was led by former interior designer Barbara Capitman, who now has a street in the District named in her honor.
Fun facts
Miami Beach is one of the hottest vacation spots in USA, but there is much more to this sub-tropical paradise than sunshine and relaxing beaches:
- Miami was named for the Mayaimis, a Native American tribe who lived in the area until the late 17th century. The Mayaimis took their name from Lake Okeechobee, which was called ‘Mayaimis’ or “big water.”
- Miami Beach is a very diverse place. It is estimated that there are at least 150 ethnicities as well as over 60 different languages spoken there. When visiting Miami Beach it doesn’t matter what race you are or what language you speak, you will probably find someone who is the same race and speaks the same language as you. There are many different cultural venues to visit in the area as well.
- There are more than 800 buildings that feature Art Deco Architecture in Miami Beach. This makes it the largest collection of this type of architecture in the entire world. The historic districts of Espanola Way, Collins/Washington Avenues, Flamingo Park and Museum make up the National Register Art Deco District.
- Miami has more than 800 parks and is the only city in the United States that is bordered by two separate National Parks – Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park. Both parks offer a wide array of activities for visitors to partake in including wildlife watching and canoeing.
- Miami contains the largest cruise ship port in the entire world. Many cruise ships go in and out of this port on a daily basis.
- For those who visit Miami Beach, lost treasure awaits. Pirates such as Blackbeard and Gasparilla supposedly left many treasures behind in the nearby ocean. A lot of gold and silver have been found both on and off the land by those who have visited Miami Beach.
- Miami Beach was a mangrove swamp before its development started in the 1920s.
- The only Everglades eco-system in the world is in Miami.
- Miami Beach is one of the few man-made islands in the United States. It was once a desolate coconut grove plantation. Years back, most people would have never guessed that it would now be the popular tourist destination that it is today.
- The Vizcaya Museum calls Miami Beach home. It has an exquisite orchid collection and has artwork displays that are over 2,000 year old. More than 170,000 visitors come to the Vizcaya Museum each year.
- Miami Beach has a cosmopolitan side too it. There are many restaurants that are rated world class as well as booming modeling and recording industries. Many individuals have made a name for themselves in there. Actresses Cristy Joy and Robin Sherwood were both born in Miami Beach.
- The inventor of suntan lotion was from Miami Beach. He was a pharmacist named Benjamin Green and came up with the useful concoction in 1944. Now visitors of Miami Beach can safely protect themselves from the sun thanks to Benjamin Green’s invention.
- In 2008, Miami was ranked #1 Cleanest City in America by Forbes Magazine.
- Miami Beach was dubbed the Sun and Fun Capital by Jackie Gleason when he broadcast his show here in the 1960s. Today Miami Beach is known as America’s Riviera and the Latin Hollywood.
- In 2008, South Beach was rated #1 Beach in America by the Travel Chanel.
- Miami was a popular place for pirates to visit and bury their treasure. Famous pirates such as Gasparilla, Blackbeard and Lafitte were regular visitors and caches of gold, silver, and treasure have been uncovered on and off land in the Miami area.
- Miami is the only major city in the US to be founded by a woman (Julia Tuttle, dubbed the “Mother of Miami”). Tuttle convinced Standard Oil co-founder Henry Flagler to extend his railroad from central Florida to Miami, build a luxury hotel, and lay out a new town. She did so by sending him perfect Miami orange blossoms during a crop freeze north of Miami. The railroad arrived in 1896. The City of Miami was incorporated on July 28 that same year.
Major Attractions
South Beach. With nicknames like the "American Riviera" and the "Art Deco Playground," many people flock to South Beach.
Ocean Drive. One of the most famous boulevards in the city, the country, or maybe even the world, Ocean Drive is characterized by its distinct art deco buildings, its constant streams of crowds and its glittering hotel and club fronts in the nighttime.
Lummus Park. The grassy stretch between Ocean Drive and the beach features plenty of palm trees and a winding paved pathway that attracts runners, bikers and rollerbladers. It is also the home of the South Beach Triathlon. Spending some time here will put you within walking distance of Ocean Drive's many restaurants and bars and allow you to experience the Art Deco District, in addition to the sun and sand.
Lincoln Road Mall. Located on Lincoln Road, between Alton Road and Washington Avenue, the Lincoln Road Mall is a mile-long, pedestrian shopping area. Originally designed in the 1950s, the Lincoln Road Mall received a makeover in 1997 that lead to a resurgence in popularity. In 2011, the Lincoln Road Mall was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to several stores and restaurants, the area hosts a farmers market on Sundays, morning yoga classes throughout the year and outdoor concerts.
Ancient Spanish Monastery. Set in North Miami Beach, this monastery has a storied past. Officially known as the Monastery of St. Bernard de Clairvaux, construction on the structure began in A.D. 1133 in northern Spain and was completed eight years later. Today, it's an active congregation that welcomes churchgoers and also acts as an attraction highlighting the monastery's beautiful architecture and its surrounding gardens.
Art Deco Tour. Miami Beach is known for its art deco architecture, as evident in the gorgeous hotels, storefronts, restaurants and buildings that line South Beach. Art deco architecture is the design style of the 1920s and '30s that's characterized by bold colors and geometric shapes.
South Pointe Park and Pier. Located at the southernmost tip of Miami Beach, South Pointe is a 17-acre park that features walking paths, grassy knolls and sweeping views of the ocean. The 450-foot-long pier now offers stations for cutting bait and washing fish, recycling bins for fishing line and more seating for additional vantage points of the ocean.
The Bass. The Bass boasts a quality collection of domestic and international art, spanning from the Renaissance to the modern period. The museum has also earned a solid reputation from visitors and locals alike for its temporary exhibits.
Miami Children's Museum. The Miami Children's Museum is located on a little island between downtown Miami and South Beach, directly across the MacArthur Causeway from Jungle Island.
Holocaust Memorial. Located near the corner of Dade Boulevard and Meridian Avenue, the Holocaust Memorial in South Beach is a moving tribute to the victims and survivors of the Holocaust. The site features a series of statues, architectural pieces, a garden of meditation and a memorial wall.