Week in History: December 23 - 28

Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah!! Events that occurred during the week of December 23rd through the 28th in South Florida's history.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah

Florida Power and Light’s holiday display in the Ingraham building in 1941. The store faced SE Second Avenue. Courtesy of Miami-Dade Public Library, Romer Collection.

Happy holidays to all subscribers. I am grateful you allow me to occupy space in your e-mail inbox and that you take the time to read the content published on the Miami History Substack. Thank you and I wish happiness and prosperity to each of you during this holiday season and into and throughout 2026.

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Santa Claus enjoying a nice afternoon on Biscayne Bay after a long night of delivering presents in the 1970s. Courtesy of the City of Miami Department of Tourism.

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OTD: December 23, 1955 - Eden Roc Hotel Celebrates Grand Opening

Rendering of Eden Roc Hotel (left), and portrait of Harry Belafonte (right).

On Friday, December 23, 1955, the Eden Roc Hotel celebrated its grand opening with Harry Belafonte as a featured act to help open the iconic Miami Beach hotel.

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OTD: December 27, 1915 - County Gets Approval to Construct Causeway from Downtown Miami to Miami Beach

Aerial of downtown Miami including views of the Collins bridge (left), and the County Causeway (right), in 1920.

On December 27, 1915, Dade County received approval from the Federal government to construct a causeway from Miami to Miami Beach. What was named the County Causeway when it opened in 1920, was renamed to MacArthur Causeway in 1942.

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OTD: December 28, 1835 - Major Francis Dade Attacked in Bushnell, Florida

Dade Battlefield Museum in Bushnell, Florida.

On December 28, 1835, Major Francis Dade began a mission of leading 110 soldiers from Fort Brooke (present day Tampa), on a resupply mission to Fort King (present day Ocala). Prior to reaching Fort King, Dade and his men were attacked by 180 Seminole Indians in present day Bushnell, Florida. This event represented the beginning of the Second Seminole War and led to the naming of our county in honor of Major Dade.