Short History of The Miami Club

Prior to the formation of a chamber of commerce or board of trade, a group of pioneer businessmen formed The Miami Club in 1909 to help promote the young City of Miami.

Cover: The Miami Club in 1911

In the first decade of the last century, many of Miami’s downtown business leaders felt the need to establish an organization to promote the virtues of living and doing business in Miami. Although less than fifteen years old in 1909, Miami’s pioneer business community was optimistic that the city could experience unparalleled growth if it were just marketed properly.

While Miami established a board of trade in its first year of incorporation, many felt it wasn’t doing enough to proactively market the region. The business community optimistically believed that Miami was the best place in the country to live and do business. All of these leaders were pioneers who had seen the evolution and growth of the Magic City in its early years. It was in 1909 that these business leaders acted and formed an organization to serve as a de facto chamber of commerce.