Coral Gables: The Story Behind The City Beautiful
Live webinar on the early history of the City of Coral Gables on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
In 2025, the City of Coral Gables celebrated its centennial. This Miami History webinar explores the remarkable story of how a modest citrus grove and pine forest became one of America’s most celebrated planned communities.
The presentation follows the Merrick family’s journey from Duxbury, Massachusetts, to South Florida in 1898 and traces George Merrick’s evolution from a young farmer into one of Florida’s most visionary developers. Drawing on literature, architecture, and the principles of the City Beautiful movement, Merrick created a community that continues to define elegant urban planning more than a century later.
Featuring rare historic photographs and engaging stories, this webinar examines the people, places, and events that shaped Coral Gables from its earliest days through the Florida land boom and beyond.
Webinar Details:
When: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm EDT
If you cannot attend in person, the webinar will be recorded and shared with all registrants within 72 hours of the live event.
Attendees will discover:
Why the Merrick family left Massachusetts for South Florida in 1898.
How the family’s first impressions of their “sight unseen” purchase influenced their future.
The transformation of the Merrick homestead from citrus grove to one of America’s premier planned communities.
How Solomon and Althea Merrick’s contrasting personalities helped shape George Merrick’s vision.
George Merrick’s introduction to real estate and the influences that inspired his planning philosophy.
How the City Beautiful movement became the foundation of Coral Gables’ design.
The architects, planners, and business partners who helped bring Merrick’s vision to life.
The stories behind Coral Gables’ iconic landmarks, including the Biltmore Hotel, themed villages, and other architectural treasures.
The incorporation of the City of Coral Gables and the founding of the University of Miami.
The impact of the collapse of the 1920s real estate boom on both George Merrick and his dream city.
George Merrick’s enduring legacy and why Coral Gables remains one of America’s most distinctive planned communities.
Click on the Register Now button to ensure your seat for this Miami History webinar. There is limited space for this webinar.
If you register by Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 5:00pm EDT, use the discount code EARLY (make sure it is all capitalized), to save 33% off the full price of a ticket ($5 off).
Anyone who is a paid subscriber to the Miami History Substack will get an e-mail with a discount code allowing them to save 50% off the full price of a ticket.
Register today to save your seat for this informative webinar on the history of the City Beautiful!