Week in History: August 1 - 8

Events that occurred during the week of August 1st through the 8th in South Florida's history.

OTD: August 1, 1945 - Virginia Key Beach Dedicated

Article in the Miami Herald published on Thursday, August 2, 1945.

On August 1, 1945, Virginia Key Beach was officially dedicated and opened as a segregated beach for Black residents, following wade-in protests led by local civil rights activists. At the time, Black Miamians were barred from accessing public beaches in South Florida. Ferries transported bathers to and from the island.

With the progress of the civil rights movement in the 1960s, public beaches across the region were desegregated, granting the Black community access to all coastal areas. Virginia Key Beach was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 27, 2002, and is now managed by the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust to preserve its legacy.

Woman standing in front of the Virginia Beach ‘Colored Only’ sign. Courtesy of Florida State Archives.

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OTD: August 3, 1956 - Elvis Performs at the Olympia Theater

Elvis Presley performing at the Olympia Theater on August 3, 1956.

On August 3, 1956, Elvis Presley conducted seven concerts at the Olympia Theater in downtown Miami over the course of two days beginning on Friday, August 3rd, through Saturday, August 4th, 1956.

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OTD: August 3, 1977 - City of Miami Buys Dr. James Jackson’s Surgical Office

Dr. Jackson’s surgical office and residence in 1977. The office was leased to Dade Heritage Trust who maintains a visitor center at this location today. Courtesy of Dade Heritage Trust.

On August 3, 1977, the city of Miami purchased Dr. James Jackson's surgerical office, which was built in 1905 and moved to the Brickell neighborhood in 1916. Dade Heritage Trust helped get the building historically designated and has leased and occupied the structure as their office since 1977.

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OTD: August 4, 1937 - Roddy Burdine Stadium Named

Roddy Burdine Stadium, aka the Orange Bowl, in 1937. Courtesy of HistoryMiami Museum.

On August 4, 1937, the stadium that would later be called the Orange Bowl was named Roddy Burdine Stadium in honor of Miami's Merchant Prince and president of Burdines Department Store. Roddy died suddenly at the age of 49 on February 15, 1936.

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OTD: August 5, 1968 - Republican National Convention Began on Miami Beach

The floor of the Republican National Convention on the first day of the convention at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

On August 5, 1968, the Republican National Convention began at the Convention Center on Miami Beach.

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Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book