For more than seventy years, the Orange Bowl Stadium was one of Miami’s most revered landmarks, a place where sports, tourism, civic ambition, and community life came together. This webinar will explore the stadium’s formative years, beginning with the temporary wooden bleachers used for the earliest Orange Bowl games and continuing through the construction, expansion, and modernization of the permanent stadium between 1937 and 1958.

Conceived during the Great Depression, the Orange Bowl game was intended not only to showcase college football but also to attract winter visitors to Miami and strengthen the city’s struggling tourism economy.

The webinar will feature plenty of historic photographs and stories of Miami’s sports cathedral during its formative years. Only 50 virtual seats will be available for this event, so register early.

Webinar Details:

When: Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm EDT
Cost: $16.00
Early Registration Discount Code: orange-bowl-early

If you cannot attend in person, the webinar will be recorded and shared with all registrants within 72 hours of the live event.

If you register by Wednesday, August 5, 2026, by 5:00pm, you will save $5 off the registration fee by using the early registration discount code.

Anyone who is a paid subscriber to the Miami History Substack will get an e-mail with a discount code allowing them to save $10 off the full price of a ticket.

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The presentation will introduce the colorful promoters, government officials, engineers, and civic leaders who transformed a modest municipal stadium into one of the largest football venues in the country. Particular attention will be given to Earnie Seiler, the creative booster known as the “Mad Genius,” whose relentless promotion helped establish the Orange Bowl game, secure federal support for the stadium, and inspire decades of expansion.

Attendees will also hear about memorable early events held at the stadium, including University of Miami football games, high school rivalries, Winston Churchill’s 1946 appearance, professional football, boxing, concerts, religious services, and a spectacular 1956 baseball game featuring Satchel Paige.

Attendees Will Learn:

• How Miami’s desire to attract tourists during the Great Depression inspired the creation of a major New Year’s Day football game.

• How the Orange Bowl evolved from games played at Moore Park and a temporary wooden stadium into a permanent concrete-and-steel structure.

• How Earnie Seiler used ingenuity, personal connections, and unconventional promotional methods to build support for both the game and the stadium.

• How federal New Deal assistance helped finance the construction of Miami Municipal Stadium in 1937, initially providing seating for 23,330 spectators.

• Why the stadium was dedicated to civic leader Roddey Burdine and how President Franklin D. Roosevelt participated remotely in the 1937 dedication ceremony.

• How growing demand for Orange Bowl tickets led to repeated expansions in 1945, 1947, 1949, 1953, and 1955.

• How the Orange Bowl was home to the All-American Football League’s Miami Seahawks for one season in 1946.

• Why the stadium’s official name changed from Roddey Burdine Stadium to Orange Bowl Stadium in 1949.

• Why Earnie Seiler proposed transforming the venue into the Orange Bowl Memorial Stadium, complete with gardens and plaques honoring local war dead.

• How the 1955 enlargement increased capacity to more than 76,000 seats and made the Orange Bowl the third-largest bowl stadium in the United States.

• How the stadium became the host of so many epic high school rivalries through the years.

• The story of the 1956 “World’s Greatest Baseball Party,” when Satchel Paige led the Miami Marlins to victory during an evening of baseball, music, entertainment, and charitable fundraising.

By the conclusion of the webinar, attendees will understand how the Orange Bowl’s first two decades established its identity as Miami’s football shrine and setting the stage for becoming one of the city’s most important cultural gathering places over the course of the next 50 years.

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On July 25, 1906, the Miami Street Railway began operation. Given the availability of electric power around this time, Miami's first streetcar system, initially ran east on Twelfth Street from the railroad tracks to Avenue B, then north to Sixth Street where the depot was located. Twelfth Street is today's Flagler Street, Avenue B is East Second Avenue, and Sixth Street is today's North Fifth Street. The address scheme changed as part of the Chaille Plan in 1920 - 21.

OTD: July 26, 1896 - First Baptist Church Organized

On July 26, 1896, First Baptist Church of Miami was organized just two days just two days before the City of Miami was incorporated, making it the municipality’s oldest Baptist congregation. Its first permanent chapel was constructed in 1901 at Northeast First Avenue and Northeast Fifth Street, where the church grew alongside the young city.

In 1926, the congregation completed its present four-story sanctuary, an impressive Neoclassical building designed by the architectural firm of Dougherty and Gardner. During the economic hardships of the Great Depression, First Baptist merged with Temple Baptist Church and became known as Central Baptist Church, and then, more recently, merged with Christ Fellowship in 2007.

OTD: July 26, 1925 - Miami Daily News Dedicated New Building

On July 26, 1925, the Miami Daily News dedicated and moved into their new building at NE Sixth Street and Biscayne Blvd in downtown Miami. The building was called the Miami Daily News Tower. This building was later renamed the Freedom Tower after becoming the metaphorical ‘Ellis Island’ for Cuban refugees fleeing the communist regime of the Castro government.

Read more about the Miami Daily News / Freedom Tower by clicking on the button below.

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OTD: July 26, 1925 - Remembering William Jennings Bryan

On July 26, 1925, William Jennings Bryan, nicknamed the Great Commoner, died in Dayton, Tennessee. Bryan was a frequent visitor to South Florida during the early 1900s. In addition to running for President of the United States on the Democratic ticket as the populace candidate in three elections (1896, 1900, 1908), where he lost all three elections, he also served as Secretary of State during the Woodrow Wilson administration. Bryan’s Villa Serena residence still stands in the Brickell neighborhood as an homage to the Great Commoner’s time in Miami.

OTD: July 27, 1933 - Remembering Miami Pioneer E.A. Waddell

On July 27, 1933, Colonial EA Waddell, an early pioneer to Miami from Key West, passed away in New York City while seeking help for a lingering illness. Waddell died the day before Miami's 37th birthday. The Waddell Building on Miami Avenue carries the name of EA and his brother who had many business interests in early Miami.

Read more about E.A Waddell and his time in South Florida by clicking the button below.

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OTD: July 28, 1896 - Happy 130th Birthday to the City of Miami

On July 28, 1896, the city of Miami was born when 368 registered voters gathered to incorporate Miami. There had to be no less than 300 registered voters in order to incorporate as a city. Any fewer, Miami would have been organized as a town. Of the 368 voters, 162 of them were black workers who helped clear the land and construct many of Miami’s early structures.

Read more about the location and proceedings that led to the incorporation of the City of Miami on July 28, 1896, by clicking on the button below.

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OTD: July 28, 1985 - Miami River Cop Scandal

During the early morning of July 28, 1985, a group of corrupt City of Miami police officers raided the Mary C at the Jones Boat Yard on the Miami River and stole approximately 350 kilograms of cocaine. Three men unloading the vessel jumped into the river while fleeing and drowned. Their bodies were discovered shortly afterward, triggering a major investigation.

Four Miami officers were arrested on December 27, 1985, including three charged with first-degree murder. The investigation subsequently exposed a broader network of officers involved in stealing drugs and money, protecting traffickers, and reselling cocaine. Trials, convictions and disciplinary proceedings continued through the late 1980s.

OTD: July 29, 1956 - WSVN First Broadcast

On July 29, 1956, local Channel 7 news station WSVN started broadcasting. It was then known under the call letters WCKT. The station began operating on a man-made island alongside the 79th street causeway and shared an antenna with WIOD when it first launched.

OTD: July 30, 1936 - Burdines Purchases Hotel Biscayne

On July 30, 1936, Burdines purchased the Biscayne Hotel, which was the only thing keeping the Burdines Miami store from expanding west to Miami Avenue. It would allow the store to cover a large section of the block from Flagler Street south to SE First Street.

When development began on the newly created Star Island in 1919, prospective homeowners were drawn to the promise of an exclusive and tranquil retreat. The private island offered families seclusion, expansive views of Biscayne Bay and Miami Beach, and a sense of separation from the rapidly growing communities surrounding it. For Star Island’s earliest residents, that promise of privacy was largely fulfilled.

As the island developed, its grand Mediterranean Revival residences, waterfront estates and guarded entrance attracted wealthy homeowners who valued both luxury and security. That atmosphere began to change in the mid-1970s, when members of a religious sect moved into the estate at 43 Star Island Drive. Some neighbors described the group as a cult, while government officials alleged that it was using claims of religious freedom to conceal a large-scale marijuana-smuggling operation.

By 1978, the practices of the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church, including early-morning chanting and the extensive ceremonial use of marijuana, had ignited an increasingly bitter conflict involving church members, neighboring residents, Miami Beach officials and federal law-enforcement agencies. This is a two-part story of how that confrontation unfolded and how it ultimately came to an end.

Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church

The Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church was a Jamaican religious sect that emerged from the same Black nationalist movement that produced Rastafari, although the Coptic’s regarded themselves as a separate faith. Its origins were associated with Jamaican preacher Lovell “Louv” Williams, who established a religious community in the Mountain View area of Kingston during the 1940s.

After Williams’s death in 1969 and the brief leadership of George “Brother Ivy” Baker, Keith “Niah” Gordon became the church’s principal spiritual leader in 1970. Under Gordon, the movement relocated to rural compounds in Trelawny and later established its principal community, known as Coptic Heights, in St. Thomas. The Jamaican Parliament formally incorporated the church on April 2, 1976.

The church combined a literal reading of the Old and New Testaments with the teachings of Marcus Garvey, Black liberation, economic independence and the belief that people of African descent represented biblical Israel. Its incorporation act described its mission as spreading belief in the Bible, the moral laws of God, the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of humanity. The Coptic’s taught that salvation required moral living, communal cooperation and a spiritual recognition of God within humanity.

The movement’s defining practice was the use of ganja, the Jamaican term for marijuana, as a sacrament. Members believed that cannabis was a divinely created herb that promoted love, unity, wisdom and spiritual communion with God. Worship included Bible reading, chanting, singing and music influenced by Jamaican traditions such as Kumina. Cannabis use was not limited to an occasional formal ceremony; members commonly smoked throughout the day as part of their communal and religious lives.

During the 1970s, the church attracted a group of mostly white American converts who lived alongside Jamaican members and helped finance the movement’s rapid expansion. The Coptic’s acquired agricultural land, raised livestock, operated trucks and other businesses, and presented their activities as an effort to create an economically independent community that provided work and resources for impoverished Jamaicans. By the end of the 1970s, after several large drug busts, authorities began investigating the Coptic’s Star Island and Jamaican operations as a sophisticated criminal syndicate responsible for smuggling tons of marijuana into the United States.

Thomas Reilly to Brother Louv

Long before he became Brother Louv, the public face and leader of the Miami chapter of the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church, Thomas Reilly was a Catholic choirboy from Boston who dreamed of attending the United States Military Academy at West Point. When his dream never materialized, he eventually enrolled at the University of Miami in 1963. Despite his stature, which was 6’7”, he was considered a gentle giant who hated violence and conflict and loved women.

Born Thomas Francis Reilly Jr. on June 10, 1935, in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, he was the eldest of five children. His father worked for 28 years as a file clerk for the Eastern Company, a subsidiary of RCA Corporation, before retiring. Reilly grew up in the Boston area and was remembered by his parents as a respectful and obedient son. Exceptionally intelligent, he reportedly had a measured IQ of 141.

Reilly served as a choirboy for five years and played both football and basketball as a young man. Given his height, reporters later asked whether he had considered playing basketball for the University of Miami. He responded simply that basketball star Rick Barry was already on the team when he arrived. During his college years, Reilly lived much like many other students: he drank, attended parties, danced and rarely missed a Hurricanes football game. Friends recalled that he studied and discussed each play with the enthusiasm and attention to detail of a coach.

By the time Reilly arrived in Miami, he had abandoned the Catholic faith of his childhood and considered himself an atheist. He later explained that he had grown dissatisfied with the responses he received from priests when he questioned church teachings. In a December 1978 interview with Miami Herald reporter Joe Oglesby, Reilly recalled, “I would ask questions, and many times they would give answers that said to me, ‘This is a mystery, and you can’t know this.’”

While attending the University of Miami, Reilly supported himself by selling insurance for Jefferson Standard Life and later working for Moore Business Forms in Coral Gables. In 1965, he left the university without earning a degree. He remained in Miami, took a job with a data-processing company and eventually joined two partners in establishing a business of their own.

Within a few years, however, Reilly became disenchanted with corporate life and left the partnership. He said he smoked marijuana for the first time in 1969, after which he traveled to Northern California and spent time in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district. There, he encountered members of the counterculture whose stories and ideas sparked his interest in Jamaica. In January 1970, Reilly boarded a flight to the parish of St. Thomas, Jamaica, a journey he later claimed he made while under the influence of LSD.

When he arrived in Jamaica he was introduced to the Zion Coptic leaders and felt comfortable with the teachings of the Coptic religion. In the aforementioned article, Reilly shared the following:

“A friend introduced me to a congregation of (Coptic) people who answered my questions about the effects of smoking marijuana for periods of up to 40 years. They showed me the Biblical references to herbs, to make burnt offerings. They told me that God made grass for the cattle and herbs for the service of man. They said ganja is not a drug; it is not dangerous; it is a gift for those who freely choose to accept it.”

Reilly spent the next four years living at a Coptic retreat in the parish of St. Thomas, Jamaica. During that time, he fully embraced the teachings and communal practices of the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church, including its belief that ganja, or marijuana, was a sacred herb and an essential religious sacrament.

When Reilly returned to Florida with several fellow church members, the group initially settled in Fort Myers but remained there only briefly. They soon relocated to Southeast Florida and purchased a house at 6724 Southwest 12th Street in Miami. As the congregation grew and its members sought greater seclusion, they began searching for a more private setting. Their search ultimately led them to Star Island, where they purchased a waterfront mansion that became the headquarters of the church’s Miami community.

Acquisition of Star Island Mansion in 1975

After members of the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church established themselves in the Miami area, they frequently came under the scrutiny of local law-enforcement agencies. Reilly later characterized this attention as persistent harassment. In a January 1978 interview with the Miami Herald, he recalled, “Practically every place we went—we lived in modest conditions—we were raided.” He added that he did not believe the raids were part of an organized conspiracy, but rather a reaction from local residents and authorities who saw “a bunch of longhairs living together.”

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On July 17,1821, Spain officially transfers Florida to the United States in a ceremony in Pensacola. This was the second of two ceremonies with the first taking place in Saint Augustine on July 10, 1821.

OTD: July 17, 1968 - The Roney Plaza Hotel was Demolished

Designed by Schultze & Weaver and financed by N.B.T. Roney, the Roney Plaza Hotel, which opened on February 6, 1926, was razed on this day, July 17, in 1968. Above is a photograph of the Roney Plaza Hotel in 1948 (left), and the demolition of the hotel in 1968. Today, the Roney Palace Condos sit on the former footprint of the old grand hotel built by N.B.T. Roney.

OTD: July 18, 1961 - Four Slot Machines were Discovered in the Brickell Mausoleum

On July 18, 1961, four slot machines were found in the empty mausoleum that once served as the final resting place for members of the Brickell family. Investigators at the time did not know who had placed them there, but the slot machines were quickly taken into police custody.

OTD: July 19, 1928 - The 79th Street Causeway is Dedicated

On July 19, 1928, the 79th Street Causeway was dedicated. Following a brief ribbon cutting ceremony which included Hugh Peters, the chairman of the Dade County commission, T.A. Winfield, president of the NE Miami Improvement Association, J. Newton Lummus Jr., mayor of Miami Beach, Everest G. Sewell, mayor of Miami, and J.P. Grethen, mayor of Hialeah, a procession 508 automobiles transported more than 1,500 people marking the official opening of the causeway connecting Miami with Miami Beach.

OTD: July 20, 1911 - Parade Down Flagler Street to Celebrate City Milestone

On July 20, 1911, the City of Miami begins a multi-day celebration to celebrate its milestone 15th year since incorporation. On this day, in addition to a variety of events, there was a parade of decorated cars traveling down Twelfth Street, today's Flagler Street, that concluded at Royal Palm Park.

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OTD: July 20, 1912 - Construction began on John Sewell’s Halissee Hall

On July 20, 1912, construction began for John Sewell's Halissee Hall. It still stands today as part of the Jackson Medical Complex in Miami.

OTD: July 20, 1974 - Wynwood Park renamed Roberto Clemente Park

On July 20, 1974, Wynwood Park was renamed Roberto Clemente Park in honor of the all-star Puerto Rican baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates who died in a plane crash bringing aid to victims of an earthquake in Managua, Nicaraqua.

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OTD: July 21, 1911 - Miami Celebrates 15th Birthday with Air Show

On July 21, 1911, as part of the celebration of Miami's 15th birthday, the first aeroplane flight in Miami was flown over the golf grounds associated with the Royal Palm Hotel. The flight was piloted by aviation pioneer, Howard Gill.

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OTD: July 22, 1912 - Work Begins on Collin’s Bridge

On July 22, 1912, work began on the Collins bridge to connect Miami to the future Miami Beach. Collins secured a loan from the Bank of Bay Biscayne to begin work on what would become one of the, if not the, longest wooden bridges constructed. However, he underestimated the cost to build the bridge and ran out of money before its completion. Carl Fisher provided the necessary capital to complete the bridge in exchange for land on the future Miami Beach. The bridge was completed and officially opened on June 12, 1913.

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OTD: July 23, 1836 - Cape Florida Lighthouse Attacked

On July 23, 1836, the Cape Florida Lighthouse was attacked and set a flame by Seminole Indians. It was restored and now is the oldest standing structure in South Florida.

OTD: July 24, 1964 - Florida Turnpike Completed

On July 24, 1964, the final northern section of the Sunshine State Parkway, from the Orlando area to Interstate 75 near Wildwood, opened to traffic. This completed the original Turnpike mainline from the Miami area to Wildwood.

Florida’s Turnpike originally opened as the Sunshine State Parkway on January 25, 1957. The first 110-mile section connected the Golden Glades area north of Miami with Fort Pierce, giving motorists a faster alternative to the older coastal highways.

The project grew out of the state’s rapid postwar population and tourism boom. Florida created the Turnpike Authority in 1953, financed construction through a $74 million bond issue, and began work in July 1955. The highway gradually extended north through Orlando to Wildwood during the 1960s. In April 1968, the Sunshine State Parkway was officially renamed Florida’s Turnpike.

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Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book

Get your signed copy of the Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book by ordering online on the Miami History Blog website. The book shares a pictorial history of the Brickell neighborhood from 1870 through the 1980s. Read more about the contents of this book and purchase your copy by clicking on the button below. Scroll to the bottom of the page to purchase your signed copy online.

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The Twenty First Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on December 5, 1933. It reversed the Eighteenth Amendment and, once again, legalized the sale and distribution of alcohol. People all over the United States hoisted their favorite alcoholic beverage to celebrate the milestone.

While the change in law allowed for the unfettered production and distribution of alcohol anywhere in the United States, beer enthusiasts in Miami were without a local brewer. They needed to wait for brewers from other parts of the country to ship beer into the local market. The owners of City Ice and Fuel Company took notice and capitalized on the opportunity.

Wagner Brewing Company

By the early 1930s, the City Ice and Fuel Company of Miami was confronting a significant change in consumer habits. As electric refrigerators gradually replaced traditional iceboxes, demand for household ice began to decline. The repeal of Prohibition offered the company an opportunity to diversify its operations and enter a promising new industry.

Soon after ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment, company executives purchased enough material from a nearby brickyard to construct a brewery at 637 NW Thirteenth Street in Miami in the heart of the Overtown neighborhood and across the street from Booker T. Washington High School.

The resulting structure was an imposing two-story brick building. Brick was commonly used in brewery construction because its insulation properties helped keep the interior cool while also providing the strength needed to support heavy brewing equipment. Completed in June 1934, the new brewery opened just as Miami entered the hot summer months, when demand for cold beer was especially high.

The executives of the City Ice and Fuel Company were not newcomers to the brewing industry. The company also owned a beer business in Granite, Illinois, where the “Wagner” trade name originated. Drawing on that experience, the company named its new Miami operation the Wagner Brewing Company.

Among the first beers produced at the Miami brewery were brands such as Wagner, Pride of Florida, and Daily Double. When production began in 1934, the brewery was wholly owned by the City Ice and Fuel Company and promoted its products with the fitting slogan, “Perfect for Hot Miami.”

American Brewing Company

Within a few years of opening its Miami brewery, the Wagner Brewing Company expanded its interests beyond South Florida. The company acquired the Pilsener Brewing Company of Cleveland and also purchased a substantial interest in the American Brewing Company of New Orleans.

By 1938, national advertising had made Miami consumers increasingly conscious of beer brands and their reputations. Many local drinkers regarded beer shipped from St. Louis and other northern brewing centers as superior to products made in Miami. Some advertising campaigns even promoted the notion that South Florida’s water was unsuitable for brewing quality beer.

As Wagner Brewing began to lose market share, company leaders recognized that they needed to overcome the perception that their beer was inferior. They turned to the American Brewing Company for guidance in strengthening their marketing and brand identity. Founded in New Orleans in 1890, American Brewing had built a successful business around its most popular product, Regal Beer. According to company lore, the name “Regal” was created by spelling “lager” backward.

Wagner Brewing ultimately introduced a new product line and adopted a new corporate identity. The Miami operation became the American Brewing Company of Miami and began producing Regal Beer. By 1939, Regal Beer and Regal Ale were the only products brewed at the Miami plant.

You Can’t Drink Freight

The company’s new management made it a priority to challenge the belief that Miami’s water was unsuitable for brewing quality beer. Samples of local water were tested alongside those from prominent brewing centers across the country. The results indicated that Miami’s water compared favorably and, in some cases, was considered superior to the water used by several well-known breweries.

The American Brewing Company promoted these findings through a new advertising campaign designed to build confidence in its locally produced beer. The company also emphasized the cost advantage of brewing in Miami rather than shipping beer from distant markets. One memorable slogan declared, “You Can’t Drink Freight,” reminding consumers that Regal Beer cost less because its price did not include the expense of long-distance transportation.

During World War II, shortages and rationing affected industries throughout the country. Limited supplies of sugar and grain, combined with transportation restrictions, reduced the availability of beers shipped into South Florida. These conditions benefited the local brewery, helping Regal Beer develop a loyal following during the 1940s.

Sold to Anheuser-Busch

On February 6, 1958, the American Brewing Company agreed to sell its Miami brewery to Anheuser-Busch. The purchaser was primarily interested in the plant’s production capacity and intended to discontinue Regal Beer. Anheuser-Busch planned to devote the facility entirely to brewing Budweiser for distribution throughout the Miami market.

Federal authorities, however, challenged the acquisition on antitrust grounds. They argued that the transaction would give Anheuser-Busch excessive control over beer production and distribution in South Florida and significantly reduce competition in the local market.

After losing the antitrust case, the company was unable to proceed with the purchase as originally planned. Rather than close the Miami brewery, Anheuser-Busch arranged for the plant to be sold to another owner.

National Brewing Company

The National Brewing Company emerged as the only bidder for the Miami brewery, leaving Anheuser-Busch with little choice but to accept its offer for the property.

National quickly began operating the brewery at full capacity. In addition to continuing production of Regal Beer, the company used the facility to brew several of its own products under various labels, including Colt 45 malt liquor.

Although the Miami facility produced several brands, it continued to be commonly known as the Regal Brewery. The plant remained in operation until 1974, when National Brewing decided to transfer production of Regal Beer and Colt 45 to its brewery in Baltimore.

The closure eliminated 107 local jobs. During its final years, the Miami brewery produced approximately 350,000 barrels of beer annually. By comparison, National’s newer and more efficient Baltimore facility was capable of producing nearly two million barrels each year. From the company’s perspective, closing the aging Miami plant and consolidating production in Baltimore was a practical business decision.

For many Miamians who grew up during the 1960s and 1970s, the brewery’s lasting legacy was not only Regal Beer itself, but also the glowing Regal neon sign and the distinctive, pungent aroma that drifted from the plant near the southwest side of the Interstate 95 and State Road 836 interchange, just outside downtown Miami.

Resources:

• Miami News: "Miami's Very Own, Ice Cold Lager Reeb", Agnes Ash on June 20, 1964.

• Miami News: "Regal Brewery Closed in Miami", Miami News on January 13, 1975.

On July 9, 1912, the Lummus brothers filed the first plat to develop land on Miami Beach. The brothers founded the Ocean Beach Realty Company which was the entity that filed that first plat on the future Miami Beach. The Town of Miami beach was incorporated on March 26, 1915, and James N. Lummus was elected the town’s first mayor (1915 - 1918). Two years later, on May 1, 1917, the town reincorporated as the City of Miami Beach.

OTD: July 10, 1896 - Call for Assembly to Incorporate Miami

On July 10, 1896, the Miami Metropolis published a notice on page two of their weekly edition to call all eligible parties to an assembly scheduled for July 28 to select officers and organize a municipal government. This was the beginning of the process to incorporate of the City of Miami. The notice informed readers that the vote would take place at "the room over the 'The Lobby' which is situated on Avenue D.

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OTD: July 10, 1972 - Democratic National Convention Began on Miami Beach

On July 10, 1972, the Democratic National Convention began at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Miami Beach. The convention took place over four days where George McGovern became the nominee for the party.

OTD: July 11, 1979 - Shooting at the Dadeland Mall

On July 11, 1979, a mid-day shooting at Crown Liquors in the Dadeland Mall between Colombian drug traffickers sent shockwaves throughout the nation. This event has been largely remembered as the beginning of the Cocaine Cowboy era in Miami, a time period that was dubbed ‘Paradise Lost’ on the cover of Time Magazine a couple years after this incident.

OTD: July 11, 1991 - Remembering WTVJ Legend Ralph Renick

Remembering television pioneer Ralph Renick on the anniversary of his death. Renick was the face of WTVJ from 1949 until he left the station in 1985.

OTD: July 12, 1921 - City of Miami Held a Special Election to Re-charter

On July 12, 1921, Miami voters went to the polls in a special election held to adopt a new city charter. The charter reshaped Miami’s government, replacing the previous system of a powerful mayor and 13-member city council with a mayor of limited authority and a five-member city commission.

The election produced Miami’s first city commission, quickly nicknamed the “Bankers’ Commission” because all five commissioners were banking executives. The vote marked a major turning point in Miami’s municipal history, ending the form of government that had guided the city since its incorporation in 1896.

OTD: July 13, 1927 - Illegal Contraband Seized

On July 13, 1927, a Miami Daily News headline reported that a combination of federal, city, and county law enforcement officials disposed of $250,000 of seized alcohol that had been stored by prohibition agents in and around Miami.

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OTD: July 15, 1997 - Gianni Versace was Murdered Outside his Home by Serial Killer

On July 15, 1997, Gianni Versace was shot to death outside his Miami Beach home by serial killer Andrew Cunanan.

OTD: July 15, 1939 - Miami Beach Founder Carl Fisher Passed Away

On July 15, 1939, Carl G. Fisher, one of the prominent founders of Miami Beach, was rushed to Saint Francis Hospital on Allison Island with a gastric hemorrhage. He passed away in the hospital at 4:52pm.

Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book

Get your signed copy of the Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book by ordering online on the Miami History Blog website. The book shares a pictorial history of the Brickell neighborhood from 1870 through the 1980s. Read more about the contents of this book and purchase your copy by clicking on the button below. Scroll to the bottom of the page to purchase your signed copy online.

Purchase Signed Copy

In 1976, as the United States celebrated its Bicentennial, South Florida marked the nation’s 200th birthday with an ambitious civic celebration. During the planning for the festivities, Miami earned a distinction achieved by only three other American cities, a remarkable honor whose story is revealed in this episode.

Planning for the Bicentennial began nearly a decade earlier during the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson and continued through the Nixon years as communities across the country prepared for the historic anniversary. Although downtown Miami was facing economic decline by the mid-1970s, city leaders used the Bicentennial as an opportunity to reimagine its urban core. Their efforts transformed the former Port of Miami location and downtown waterfront into a signature public green space that continues to be enjoyed by residents and visitors today, serving as one of the celebration’s most enduring legacies.

Tune into this week’s podcast episode to hear more about Miami’s celebration of the country’s bicentennial. You can download this episode on your favorite podcast platform (iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Spotify) or listen directly on the Miami-History website. Please remember to click on the subscribe button and to provide a rating and comment on any of the platforms where this podcast episode is available.

On July 1, 1926, the Watson Hotel officially opened at 146 Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami. Although the inn opened as the Watson, it is best remembered as the Miami Colonial Hotel which carried the brand name from 1930 to 1989. It still stands today, with a modified facade, as the YVE Hotel.

Click on the link below to read the full history of the Watson / Miami Colonial Hotel.

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OTD: July 2, 1906 - Formation of Combs Funeral Home

On July 2, 1906, Walter Combs purchased the "undertaking parlor" from W.F. Miller which led to the formation of Combs Funeral Home. The business was started by Edwin Nelson in 1896 and was not only the first funeral business in Miami, but the first undertaking service of its kind in Dade County.

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OTD: July 2, 1928 - Remember Joseph P. Greaves

On July 2, 1928, Joseph P. Greaves, the prominent manager of the Royal Palm Hotel for more than 22 years, died suddenly at his home in Brooklyn, New York. Greaves was the face of the Royal Palm Hotel during his years as general manager and had established friendships with many of the prominent visitors to the hotel during his tenure. The loss of Greaves was one of several reasons the Florida East Coast company decided to shutter the Royal Palm Hotel for good prior to the winter season of 1928.

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Featured Photograph - Dade County Furniture Company

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OTD: July 4, 1975 - Bicentennial Park Dedicated

On July 4, 1976, Bicentennial Park was dedicated. The creation and dedication of the park was one of Miami's signature projects during the country's bicentennial celebration in 1976. The park was later renamed to honor Miami's first Hispanic mayor, Maurice Ferre, in January of 2019.

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OTD: July 5, 1907 - Fort Dallas Bank Closed

On July 5, 1907, the Fort Dallas Bank was closed by a special national bank examiner made temporary receiver, Joseph K McDonald, due to inadequate cash reserves. This event led to a series of events that were referred to as the 'Panic of 1907'. The insolvency of the Fort Dallas Bank was partially caused by the cost overruns, and subsequent extension of credit by the bank for the construction of the Halcyon Hall Hotel on Twelfth (later renamed Flagler), Street.

OTD: July 5, 1896 - Salem Graham Takes Over Hotel Miami

On July 5, 1896, Salem Graham became the proprietor of the Hotel Miami, taking over title and development from the Tuttle family. Salem Graham opened the first land based hostelry in 1896 in a building leased from William Brickell on the south side of the Miami River but soon realized that there was a greater need for hotel accommodations on the opposite side of the river.

It was Julia Tuttle’s hope that she would open the first land-based hotel on the north side of the river. However, the costs and time to construct the inn exceeded her means and patience. Graham completed the construction of Hotel Miami and opened it on January 22, 1897, six days following the grand opening of Henry Flagler’s Royal Palm Hotel.

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OTD: July 8, 1988 - Miami Arena is Dedicated

On Friday, July 8, 1988, the Miami Arena, located in the Overtown neighborhood of downtown Miami, celebrated its official opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The next day, on Saturday, July 9th, the Miami Heat hosted an open house and provided tours of the stadium in anticipation for their inaugural season.

The venue was designed by Lloyd Jones Filpot Associates for a cost of $52.5 million. It was originally designed to host the Miami Heat and Miami Hurricanes basketball team, but later became the home stadium for the Florida Panthers, Miami Hooters, and Miami Matadors.

It also was a prominent venue for concerts. The first event at the arena was a concert by Julio Iglesias on Wednesday, July 13, 1988. Affectionally referred to as the ‘Pink Elephant’, the arena had a short life in downtown Miami and only stood for 20 years. It was demolished in the fall of 2008.

Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book

Get your signed copy of the Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book by ordering online on the Miami History Blog website. The book shares a pictorial history of the Brickell neighborhood from 1870 through the 1980s. Read more about the contents of this book and purchase your copy by clicking on the button below. Scroll to the bottom of the page to purchase your signed copy online.

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The cover photograph depicts the Oxford Hotel in the Ullendorf Building on February 24, 1946. The hotel occupied the building’s second floor and began welcoming guests in the fall of 1917. The ground floor was leased to a variety of commercial tenants over the years, including restaurants, bakeries, and other retail businesses.

The two-story Ullendorf Building was constructed in 1915 on the west side of Avenue D. In 1921, Avenue D was renamed Miami Avenue as part of the Chaille addressing system, which standardized street names and addresses throughout the city. As a result, the Oxford Hotel’s address changed from 1004 Avenue D to 140 North Miami Avenue.

The west side of the avenue became known as the Ullendorf Block because nearly all of the lots were owned by Miami pioneer Phillip Ullendorff. Arriving in Miami in 1896, Ullendorff established himself as both a butcher and a successful real estate investor. He later co-founded the Nichols-Ullendorff Realty Company and served as a director of the South Okeechobee Farms Company of Miami, playing an important role in the city’s early commercial and real estate development.

The Oxford Hotel occupied the second floor of the Ullendorf Building until March 1952, when the Southern Bell Telephone Company leased the space and converted it into offices. Although the hotel disappeared more than seven decades ago, the historic Ullendorf Building remains standing on North Miami Avenue, serving as one of the few surviving commercial buildings from Miami’s early downtown.

On June 25, 1918, Miami reached a major milestone with the opening of Miami City Hospital, the city’s first municipal hospital. The new facility was the result of years of determination by civic leaders and residents who recognized the need for a public healthcare institution to serve the growing community.

The hospital’s original building earned the nickname “The Alamo” because its Spanish Mission-style façade resembled the famed Alamo Mission in San Antonio, Texas. In 1924, following the death of Miami’s pioneering physician, Dr. James M. Jackson, the hospital was renamed Jackson Memorial Hospital in his honor.

OTD: June 25, 1924 - Property for Nolan Mansion Acquired

On June 25, 1924, George Nolan, president of Miami National Bank in downtown Miami, purchased property from E.J. Witham for $5000 and built his colonial-style mansion at 1548 Brickell Avenue. This residence still stands today and has been used as a law office, an art studio, shared office space, and a real estate sales showroom since its historic designation in 1997.

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OTD: June 27, 1896 - Miami City of Miami Applies for Charter

On June 27, 1896, the Ocala Evening Star publishes an article entitled "Magic City of Miami Applies for Charter", using both the city's not yet official name of 'Miami' along with its nickname to announce the intention of a small outpost along Biscayne Bay to incorporate as a city. Click on the button below to read more about how Miami got its nickname - 'The Magic City’.

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OTD: June 27, 1899 - Pan American Airlines Founder Juan Trippe was Born

On June 27, 1899, Juan Trippe, who was the founder of Pan American Airlines, was born in Sea Bright, New Jersey.

OTD: June 27, 1928 - Miami Beach Council Pledges to Oust Al Capone

On June 27, 1928, the headline in the Miami News read "Miami Beach Council Pledges Aid in Ousting Capone" stating clearly that the municipality was making it known that Al Capone was not welcome to live on Palm Island or anywhere else in the city of Miami Beach. Click on the button below to read more about Capone’s time in South Florida.

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OTD: June 30, 1930 - Trustee for Al Capone Acquires Island in Deerfield Beach

On June 30, 1930, Vincent Giblin, acting as trustee for Al Capone, purchased what would later be referred to as "Capone Island" in Deerfield Beach. It is now known as Deerfield Island Park.

Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book

Get your signed copy of the Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book by ordering online on the Miami History Blog website. The book shares a pictorial history of the Brickell neighborhood from 1870 through the 1980s. Read more about the contents of this book and purchase your copy by clicking on the button below. Scroll to the bottom of the page to purchase your signed copy online.

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This podcast episode explores South Florida’s embrace of automobile transportation, beginning with the opening of the Dixie Highway in 1915. The discussion traces the evolution of the region’s road network from early state highways to the creation of the federal Interstate Highway System, a transformative public works initiative whose impact has shaped South Florida since construction began in the late 1950s.

The story is not solely one of progress and mobility. From the use of eminent domain to clear established neighborhoods to proposals that would have routed Interstate 95 through some of Miami’s most treasured green spaces, the highway system came with significant social costs. While the network enabled unprecedented economic growth, regional connectivity, and suburban expansion, many communities bore the burden of its construction. Nowhere was that impact more profound than in Overtown, where large portions of Miami’s historic Black community were displaced to make way for the transportation infrastructure that South Floridians rely upon today.

Tune into this week’s podcast episode to hear more about the impact of the interstate highway system on Miami. You can download this episode on your favorite podcast platform (iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Spotify) or listen directly on the Miami-History website. Please remember to click on the subscribe button and to provide a rating and comment on any of the platforms where this podcast episode is available.

The Florida Panthers captured their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship on June 17, 2025, defeating the Edmonton Oilers four games to two in a rematch of the previous year’s Stanley Cup Final. The victory secured the franchise’s second NHL title and further cemented South Florida’s growing legacy in professional hockey.

Florida clinched the championship with a commanding 5–1 victory in Game 6 at Amerant Bank Arena. With the win, the Panthers became just the 10th franchise in NHL history to claim back-to-back Stanley Cup titles. Forward Sam Reinhart earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, becoming the first player in franchise history to receive the honor.

OTD: June 18, 1947 - Orange Bowl Expansion

On June 18, 1947, the official groundbreaking for an expansion of the Orange Bowl took place. The groundbreaking ceremonies, which began at 11am, were officiated by Miami Mayor Perrine Palmer and featured Hollywood actress Esther Williams. This renovation expanded the seating capacity of the stadium by 24,548 seats by adding a second level of seats to the stadium.

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OTD: June 20, 2006 - Miami Heat Win First NBA Championship

On June 20, 2006, the Miami Heat beat the Dallas Mavericks in game 6 to win their first NBA Championship. After losing the first two games in Dallas, the Miami Heat were down by 13-points with slightly more than 6 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of game 3, Dwyane Wade took the team on his shoulders and led the Heat to victory. He ended the game with 42-points and 13 rebounds. After this improbable comeback, the Heat went on to win the next three games, culminating with the victory on the road in game 6 to clinch the championship. Dwyane Wade finished averaging 34.7 points in the series and was named the finals MVP.

OTD: June 20, 2013 - Miami Heat Win Third NBA Championship

On June 20, 2013, the Miami Heat beat the San Antonio Spurs in game 7 to win their third NBA Championship. The series may best be remembered for Ray Allen's three-point shot with 6.7 seconds to play which forced overtime in game 6. The Heat won that game 103 - 100 to force a game 7, which was won on this day in 2013. Lebron James earned his second finals MVP.

OTD: June 21, 1916 - Mary Burlingame Wins Bid for Island in Biscayne Bay

On June 21, 1916, the Florida Internal Improvement Fund (IIF), accepted the bid of Margaret Burlingame to purchase what became Burlingame Island. Mary Brickell filed a lawsuit in July 1916 to block the sale of the land mass. Ultimately, the Florida Supreme Court ruled in favor of the legality of the transaction leaving the island in the possession of the Burlingame family.

The Claughton family purchased the land mass in November 1943 leading to the 44-acre isle being renamed for the family in 1966. The third photo is of the island in 1940, a few years before it was purchased by Ed Claughton, Sr. The island is known today as Brickell Key on Claughton Island.

Click on the Read More button to read the detailed history of Brickell Key on Claughton Island.

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OTD: June 21, 2012 - Miami Heat Win Second NBA Championship

On June 21, 2012, the Miami Heat beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in game 5 to win their second NBA Championship. After dropping the first game on the road in Oklahoma City, the Miami Heat stormed back and won the next four games to clinch their second NBA crown. Lebron James won his first championship ring, averaged 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists and was named the finals MVP.

OTD: June 24, 1898 - Camp Miami During Spanish American War

On June 24, 1898, the first of seven thousand soldiers arrived in the two-year old City of Miami to form what was known as Camp Miami. This camp was organized to train soldiers for deployment to Cuba to fight in the Spanish American War. However, the war ended before any of the soldiers who were trained at Camp Miami were deployed into action.

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OTD: June 24, 1954 - Edward Claughton Buys Urmey Hotel

On June 24, 1954, Edward Claughton purchased the Urmey Hotel at 32 SE Second Avenue in downtown Miami from the estate of the founder of the hotel, William N. Urmey, for $850,000.

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OTD: June 24, 2024 - Florida Panthers Wins First Stanley Cup

On June 24, 2024, the Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. After racing out to a 3 - 0 series lead, the Oilers showed grit and resilience by winning the next three games. The Panthers got back to their style of hockey and closed out the series on their home ice in Game 7. Although the Conn Smythe award for the best player during the playoffs went to Connor McDaniel of Edmonton, the Panthers won the prize that the Florida hockey club had been pursuing since becoming an NHL franchise in 1993.

This episode explores the remarkable story of Miami pioneers Isidor and Ida Cohen, whose lives and contributions helped shape the city’s early history. Isidor Cohen arrived on the banks of the Miami River in February 1896, months before Miami was incorporated, determined to become one of the first merchants in the fledgling community. His journey to South Florida was not without challenges, but he successfully established a store in a building leased from the Brickell family on the south side of the river before relocating to the emerging business district on the north bank.

Following his marriage to Ida in September 1904, the couple became influential figures in both the business and civic life of the young city. Over the ensuing decades, they played important roles in Miami’s growth, contributing to its commercial development while helping build many of the community institutions that would leave a lasting impact on the region. As one of Miami’s earliest settlers and merchants, Isidor Cohen occupies a prominent place in the city’s history, and together the Cohens are widely regarded as the “first family” of Jewish Miami.

Tune into this week’s podcast episode to hear more about Isidor and Ida Cohen. You can download this episode on your favorite podcast platform (iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Spotify) or listen directly on the Miami-History website. Please remember to click on the subscribe button and to provide a rating and comment on any of the platforms where this podcast episode is available.

On June 10, 1858, Fort Dallas, once located at the mouth of the Miami River, is abandoned by the US army. The Fort Dallas officer's quarters was stationed about where the downtown Miami Hyatt is located today.

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OTD: June 10, 1902 - First National Bank of Miami Chartered

On June 10, 1902, the First National Bank was chartered. The institution was founded by Edward C. Romfh along with several investors who were early Miami pioneers.

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OTD: June 11, 1924 - Groundbreaking for Miami Daily News Tower

On the morning of June 11, 1924, workman began clearing pine trees that covered the lot at NE Sixth Street and North Bay Shore Drive in downtown Miami to make room for what would become the Miami News Tower. It was completed in the summer of 1925. This building is known today as Freedom Tower.

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OTD: June 11, 1971 - Versailles Restaurant Opened

On June 11, 1971, Versailles Restaurant opened for business on SW 8th Street in Miami by Felipe Valls, who was a Cuban refugee from Santiago, Cuba. The establishment has developed a loyal patronage with South Floridians and tourists seeking Cuban cuisine.

OTD: June 12, 1913 - Collins Bridge Opened

On June 12, 1913, the Collins Bridge opened, marking a pivotal moment in the development of South Florida. Stretching 2.5 miles across Biscayne Bay, it was considered the longest wooden bridge in the world and provided the first direct connection between Miami and the barrier island that would soon become Miami Beach.

The bridge was the vision of farmer and developer John S. Collins, who sought a reliable link to his agricultural holdings on the barrier island. When construction costs exceeded the Collins family’s financial resources, entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher stepped in with the capital needed to complete the project.

In exchange, Fisher received valuable land holdings that would become the foundation of his ambitious plans to transform Miami Beach into “America’s Winter Playground.”

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OTD: June 14, 1917 - Groundbreaking for Johnson Apartments

On June 14, 1917, the ground breaking for the Johnson Apartments took place. The Miami Metropolis reported that the Johnson Hotel Apartments would become the largest apartment building in Miami upon its completion. The complex officially opened on December 28th of the same year.

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OTD: June 14, 1930 - Al Capone Arrested in Miami for Perjury

On June 14, 1930, Dade County Circuit Court Judge Paul Barns granted Vincent Giblin's dismissal motion on the "padlock" suit against Al Capone. The motion ruled that the state had not proven that Capone's Palm Island mansion represented a "nuisance" to the community. On the same day, Capone was charged with perjury by Dade County Solicitor George E. McCaskill for statements made during a law suit hearing that Capone filed for harassment and false imprisonment against several Miami officials.

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OTD: June 14, 1993 - Florida Panthers Unveil Uniform

On June 14, 1993, the Florida Panthers unveil their uniforms for their inaugural season of 1993 - 94.

OTD: June 15, 1895 - Coconut Grove Library Formed

On June 15, 1895, the Coconut Grove Library was formed as the "Pine Needle Club". It was not until 1901 when Kirk Munroe constructed a building on land donated by Ralph Munroe that the library had an official home. The facility officially opened on March 6, 1901.

OTD: June 30, 1930 - Remembering Coconut Grove Pioneer Kirk Munroe

Remembering prominent Coconut Grove pioneer, Kirk Munroe, who passed away on June 16, 1930. Munroe was a world renowned writer of adventure novels for boys and one of the founding members of the Bay Biscayne Yacht Club which was established in 1887. He and his wife, Mary Barr Munroe, who was also a writer and early South Florida environmentalist, moved to The Grove in 1886 and lived at a property they called the ‘Scrububs’ off of Main Highway. The couple formed the Coconut Grove Library, which was referred to as the Pine Needle Club when it began in 1895. The Kirk Munroe Tennis Club in Coconut Grove is named for him. He was 79 years-old when he passed.

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Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book

Get your signed copy of the Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book by ordering online on the Miami History Blog website. The book shares a pictorial history of the Brickell neighborhood from 1870 through the 1980s. Read more about the contents of this book and purchase your copy by clicking on the button below. Scroll to the bottom of the page to purchase your signed copy online.

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On June 2, 1926, the first mass for Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church on Miami Beach in their first permanent home was held in a refurbished polo stable provided by Carl Fisher. Following the 1926 Hurricane, which destroyed the parish’s temporary home, led Father John O’Leary to raise money to build the church and rectory seen in the photograph at 3716 Garden Avenue in Miami Beach.

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OTD: June 3, 1886 - Coral Gables Founder George Merrick was Born

On June 3, 1886, George Edgar Merrick was born. Merrick was the founder and father of both the city of Coral Gables and the University of Miami. Click on the button below to listen to Merrick’s story of the founding of the City of Coral Gables.

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OTD: June 4, 1943 - Florida Governor Spessard Holland Signs Married Women’s Emancipation Bill

On June 4, 1943, Governor Spessard Holland signed into law the 'Married Women's Emancipation Bill' which provided rights to married women to sign contracts, sue or be sued, and hold power of attorney. Prior to this law, married women had to defer to their husbands pertaining to contractual matters and property ownership. One of the key activists that helped get this signed into law was Sheila Murrell, an attorney who lived at 1500 Brickell Avenue with her husband in a lavish residence nicknamed Petit Douy. She is seen in the photograph on the right between her husband and another gentleman taken at the Surf Club in the 1950s.

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OTD: June 6, 1897 - Church of the Holy Name Celebrates First Mass

On June 6, 1897, the Church of the Holy Name, Miami's first catholic church, celebrated its first Mass. The church was later renamed Gesu Catholic Church and is located at 118 NE Second Street in downtown Miami.

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OTD: June 6, 2001 - Dr. James Jackson’s Former Residence was Demolished

On June 6, 2001, despite an effort by the Dade Heritage Trust to preserve the historic home, Dr. James Jackson's former residence was demolished. The home was moved to the Brickell neighborhood in 1916, but was in a state of disrepair by the turn of the 21st Century, prompting the property to be redeveloped into the Solaris at Brickell Bay condominium shortly after the demolition of Jackson’s former residence.

OTD: June 8, 1911 - Glenn Curtiss Issued Pilot License #1

On June 8, 1911, aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss was issued pilot license #1 from the Aero Club of America. Because the licenses were issued in alphabetical order, Wilbur Wright received license #5 at the same time. Curtiss trained pilots in South Florida during WWI, and was a founder of the cities of Miami Springs, Opa-locka and Hialeah.

Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book

Get your signed copy of the Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book by ordering online on the Miami History Blog website. The book shares a pictorial history of the Brickell neighborhood from 1870 through the 1980s. Read more about the contents of this book and purchase your copy by clicking on the button below. Scroll to the bottom of the page to purchase your signed copy online.

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When Young F. Gray arrived in Miami in 1896, his specialized skills were immediately put to work. A trained dynamite expert from Texas, Gray had been hired by the Florida East Coast Railway to help clear obstacles as the railroad pushed south into the remote frontier of South Florida. After labor crews struggled to cut through dense scrub palmetto and tenacious coastal thicket within the new city limits, pioneer builder John Sewell relied on Gray and other blasting specialists to dynamite the most stubborn terrain and prepare the land for Miami’s early development.

Although the 26-year-old Gray had no previous law enforcement experience, that did not prevent him from seeking public office during Miami’s incorporation proceedings on July 28, 1896. Running against S.S. Puckett for the position of city marshal, Gray won decisively by a vote of 247 to 97. His victory secured his place in history as the first lawman of the newly incorporated City of Miami.

The Early Years

In addition to the city clerk, the marshal was only one of two municipal employees to receive a salary during Miami’s earliest days. Because the position carried such broad authority, including serving as the city’s tax collector, Young F. Gray earned $50 per month along with a percentage of the taxes he collected on behalf of the city.

Gray’s responsibilities extended far beyond preserving law and order. In addition to policing the fledgling community and collecting taxes, the marshal also acted as building inspector, sanitary inspector, street cleaner, and superintendent of sidewalks and roads. For the first two years as lawman, Gray essentially operated as a one-man municipal department tasked with overseeing many of the basic functions necessary to keep the young City of Miami operating.

The ordinance establishing the powers of the marshal also placed important limits and oversight on the position. The mayor held the authority to suspend the marshal for incompetence or malfeasance, while the city council’s Committee on Police and Charities was empowered to supervise many of his day-to-day duties. Even in its infancy, Miami’s municipal government sought to create checks and balances over its first law enforcement officer.

By October 1896, the city council had adopted thirty-five ordinances carrying fines or jail sentences for violators. Some of the regulations reflected the practical concerns, and occasional peculiarities, of life in the frontier town. Among the prohibited acts were “bathing in any public place in a state of nudity” and operating vehicles on Miami’s streets without “a bell, gong or whistle” to warn pedestrians and other drivers at crossings.

More serious offenses requiring detention posed a challenge during Miami’s first year because the fledgling city did not have a jail until December 1896. That winter, municipal officials added a jail above the city council chamber in a makeshift municipal building. The city would not construct its first city hall or police station until 1910. Prior to its completion, writers for the Metropolis would frequently complain that Marshal Young F. Gray was unable to properly arrest “nude bathers, sanitary violators, and other lawbreakers” because there was nowhere to confine them. Once the facility opened, Gray added yet another responsibility to his growing list of duties by serving as the city’s first jailer.

During his first two terms as Miami’s lawman, Gray developed a reputation for enforcing the law with rigor and enthusiasm. He regularly patrolled the young city by bicycle and, according to historian Helen Muir in her book Miami U.S.A., would race toward disturbances “brandishing his pistol” while shouting, “Stop in the name of law!” The image of Gray speeding through the dusty streets on a bicycle reflected both the improvisational nature of policing in early Miami and the larger-than-life character of the city’s first marshal.

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On May 25, 1912, several prominent Miami pioneers formed the Ocean Beach Realty Company for the purpose of buying and selling real estate on the island that would become Miami Beach. Some of the people listed as principals of the company included Joseph A. McDonald, James E. Lummus, John N. Lummus, Avery Smith and Dan Hardie, to name a few.

OTD: May 28, 1899 - Miami’s First Lawman Fired

On May 28, 1899, Marshal Young F. Gray, Miami’s first lawman, was suspended from office by Mayor John B. Reilly. In his last year on duty, Gray had been remiss in fulfilling his duties and had a reputation for drinking on the job. He later resigned from his position as marshal and tax collector and was replaced by his assistant John Girtman.

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OTD: May 31, 1941 - Memorial Day Remembrance

Above is a composite of a Miami Herald headline on Memorial Day in 1941. The article was published on May 31st, more than six months prior to the United States entry into World War II. The headline provided a reminder of the war that raged overseas with an ominous appreciation for the slumber of peacetime for America during the Memorial Day holiday of 1941. After the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Memorial Day would take on a more contemporary observance as those back home remembered the men and women who lost their lives during the great war.

OTD: May 31, 1983 - Historical Designation of Petit Douy in Brickell

On May 31, 1983, the Miami City Commission voted in favor of providing local historic designation protection to Petit Douy located at 1500 Brickell Avenue. It was one of the first structures in the city to be given this designation.

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Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book

Get your signed copy of the Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book by ordering online on the Miami History Blog website. The book shares a pictorial history of the Brickell neighborhood from 1870 through the 1980s. Read more about the contents of this book and purchase your copy by clicking on the button below. Scroll to the bottom of the page to purchase your signed copy online.

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On May 17, 1980, five Dade County policemen were acquitted of beating a black man, Arthur McDuffie, to death, sparking a three-day riot in Liberty City leaving 18 dead and $100 million in property damage. McDuffie was a marine veteran who was eluding police by motorcycle when he was stopped and beaten to death by the arresting officers. The controversial acquittal was a surprise to many observing the trial and sparked outrage throughout the black communities in Dade County.

OTD: May 18, 1870 - Miami’s First Mayor was Born

On May 18, 1870, John B. Reilly, the first Mayor of Miami, was born in New Haven, Connecticut. Reilly served four one-year terms as the mayor from 1896 to 1900. He was son-in-law to Joseph A. McDonald, the man who Henry Flagler put in charge to oversee the development of the City of Miami in 1896.

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OTD: May 18, 1968 - Miami Pop Festival at Gulfstream Park

On May 18, 1968, the two-day Miami Pop Festival began at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Florida. The festival attracted an estimate 25,000 people to the event. The headline act was The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Although the second day of the event was rained out, it did inspire Hendrix to write the song “Rainy Day, Dream Away.” The promotors of the concert were Richard O’Barry and Michael Lang who would go on to organize Woodstock in 1969. There would be a second concert at Gulfstream Park in December 1968, called the “Miami Pop and Underground Festival,” which was organized by a different set of promotors and unrelated to the first.

OTD: May 19, 1946 - First Presbyterian Church Leases Downtown Parcel

On May 19, 1946, the First Presbyterian Church leased the northern parcel of their downtown property to the Roper Corporation for a term of 99-years and an annual amount of $46,600. This is the parcel that the downtown church edifice was located.

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OTD: May 20, 1843 - William English Buys Land in South Florida

On May 20, 1843, William English purchased land from his Uncle Richard Fitzpatrick, which included 2,660 acres, over four square miles, on the north and south side of the Miami River, along with another 640 acres, one square mile, along the New River in today's downtown Fort Lauderdale, $16,000. This land included the acreage used for Fort Dallas from 1838 until 1842 (north side of the Miami River), and much of today's downtown Miami and Brickell neighborhood.

OTD: May 20, 1913 - Remembering Pioneer Founder Henry Flagler

Remembering Miami founding pioneer Henry M. Flagler on the anniversary of his passing on May 20, 1913, at his Whitehall residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Flagler became one of the richest men in America as part of Standard Oil during the peak of the Gilded Era of the mid to late 1800s. After retiring to Florida, Flagler invested in the development of the east coast of Florida from Saint Augustine through the Florida Keys. As part of that initiative, Flagler was incentivized by fellow Miami founding pioneers Julia Tuttle, as well as William and Mary Brickell, to extend his railway and invest in the development of the City of Miami in the mid-1890s.

Click on the button below to listen to the Miami History Podcast episode about Henry Flagler’s role in developing South Florida.

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OTD: May 21, 1878 - Pioneer Aviator Glenn Curtiss was Born

On May 21, 1878, Glenn Curtiss, motorcycle and aviation pioneer, who was issued pilot license #1 in the United States, and founder of Miami Springs, Hialeah, Opalocka in South Florida, was born in Hammondsport, New York.

OTD: May 21, 1917 - Miami Beach Incorporates as a City

On May 21, 1917, a little over two years after becoming a town and with a population of several hundred, the town of Miami Beach became the City of Miami Beach.

OTD: May 22, 1825 - Founding Pioneer William Brickell was Born

Miami Pioneer William Brickell was born on May 22, 1825, in Steubenville, Ohio. Brickell moved his family to the banks of the Miami River in 1871 after acquiring the acreage on the southside of the river to where Vizcaya is located today. Upon arriving, William opened a trading post at Brickell Point at the mouth of the Miami River. The Brickell neighborhood is named for this family.

Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book

Get your signed copy of the Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book by ordering online on the Miami History Blog website. The book shares a pictorial history of the Brickell neighborhood from 1870 through the 1980s. Read more about the contents of this book and purchase your copy by clicking on the button below. Scroll to the bottom of the page to purchase your signed copy online.

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This podcast episode explores the history of the Opa-locka, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of its incorporation on May 14, 1926. Founded by aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss, the distinctive North Miami-Dade community was envisioned around an “Arabian Nights” theme. Opa-locka became renowned for its remarkable collection of Moorish Revival architecture, the largest concentration of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, featuring onion domes, minarets, courtyards, and whimsical street names inspired by tales such as Ali Baba and Aladdin.

The city also developed into an important aviation hub through the growth of Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport, which at one time ranked among the busiest commercial airports in the United States. In 1982, Opa-locka established a Historic Environment Preservation Board to help protect its architectural heritage, and many of the city’s signature buildings from its formative years have since been carefully restored and preserved, ensuring that its unique character continues into its second century.

Tune into this week’s podcast episode to hear more about the City of Opa-Locka. You can download this episode on your favorite podcast platform (iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Spotify) or listen directly on the Miami-History website. Please remember to click on the subscribe button and to provide a rating and comment on any of the platforms where this podcast episode is available.

On May 10, 1865, federal troops marched into the Florida capital of Tallahassee, formally ending Confederate control of the state government and symbolizing the collapse of the Confederacy in Florida. The occupation came nearly a month after General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox and only days after Confederate forces throughout the South began laying down their arms. Tallahassee was the only Confederate Capitol, east of the Mississippi, that had not been captured by the end of the Civil War, which officially ended on April 9, 1865.

OTD: May 10, 1961 - The Playboy Club in Miami Opens

On May 10, 1961, the Playboy Club opened at 7701 Biscayne Boulevard in Miami. The club operated at this location for more than twenty years before it closed in 1983. It briefly moved to the Miami Airport Inn but closed permanently in 1985. It’s former location is now an Advanced Auto Parts store.

OTD: May 14, 1979 - Art Deco District Placed on National Register

On May 14, 1979, the Art Deco District on Miami Beach was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Being listed on the National Register of Historic Places for a historic district means official recognition of its historical and architectural significance. The biggest advantage to this distinction is that it provides a public record of the district's importance and can open doors to preservation incentives and federal grants.

OTD: May 14, 1998 - Remembering Marjory Stoneman Douglas

On May 14, 1998, Marjory Stoneman Douglas died at the age of 108. Marjory was a journalist, writer, feminist and environmentalist that spent most of her adult life in Miami. She was a staunch defender of the everglades by opposing drainage in the interest of land development.

OTD: May 15, 1896 - The Miami Metropolis Published First Issue

The Miami Metropolis, forerunner of the Miami News, published it's first issue on May 15, 1896. It was the first newspaper in Miami and the first issue was published two months prior to the incorporation of the city.

OTD: May 16, 1918 - Downtown YMCA Dedicated

On May 16, 1918, the YMCA in downtown Miami was formally dedicated at 40 NE Third Avenue, aka Short Street.

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Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book

Get your signed copy of the Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book by ordering online on the Miami History Blog website. The book shares a pictorial history of the Brickell neighborhood from 1870 through the 1980s. Read more about the contents of this book and purchase your copy by clicking on the button below. Scroll to the bottom of the page to purchase your signed copy online.

Get Your Signed Copy