Miami History Podcast

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 administra...

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...

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...

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 i...

This episode tells the story of two brothers who arrived on the shores of Biscayne Bay and the Miami River the very year the City of Miami was incorporated. John and Everest Sewell were not only early pioneers, but also among the city's first retailers. As Miami grew, both men would go on to serve multiple terms as mayor, helping shape the direction of the young community. John Sewell's enduring l...

This podcast episode recounts the story of the Olympia Theater at 174 East Flagler Street in downtown Miami as it marks the 100th anniversary of its grand opening in 1926. Built with extraordinary fanfare, the lavish and distinctive structure quickly became the crown jewel of Miami's burgeoning entertainment district. The celebrated showplace debuted at the height of the vaudeville era, when live...

This episode explores the remarkable story of the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida, one of the crown jewels of George Merrick's visionary City Beautiful. Developed through a partnership between Merrick and John McEntee Bowman of the Biltmore Corporation, the hotel opened as a symbol of Mediterranean Revival grandeur, designed to draw visitors from around the world and define South Florida l...

This podcast episode tells the story of an enduring South Florida landmark. On December 17, 2025, the Cape Florida Lighthouse marked its 200th anniversary, standing today as the oldest structure in Miami-Dade County still in its original location. Built on Key Biscayne, the lighthouse was designed to guide ships safely past the treacherous Great Florida Reef. Over two centuries, it survived a batt...

This podcast episode features the story of development of the Edgewater neighborhood in Miami, Florida. What was part of an area referred to as 'North Miami', best known as Miami's first saloon and red-light district, Edgewater evolved out of the city's first suburbs that were developed after the saloon district was cleared out in 1908. When a Miami attorney turned developer began creating residen...

This podcast episode explores the origins of the HistoryMiami Museum. Established in 1940 by George Merrick and several of Miami's early pioneers as the Historical Association of Southern Florida, the institution initially operated without a permanent home and relied on conducting talks and events at different locations around the Greater Miami area. Conceived as a collection-based museum, some of...

This podcast episode explores the life and legacy of Miami pioneer architect August Geiger. Born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, Geiger first visited Miami with his family in 1899, when the city was just three years old. Captivated by the area's potential, he returned in 1905 to begin his architectural career under the mentorship of fellow pioneer Walter DeGarmo. Geiger went on to design som...

This podcast episode explores the story of Coral Gables' theme villages, conceived at the height of the 1920s building boom. In the spring of 1925, George Merrick hired the American Building Corporation to construct 1,000 residences over ten years. The plan called for as many as 16 theme villages, each reflecting different cultural and architectural traditions. Led by Myers Cooper of the American...

This podcast episode features the history of the City of Hialeah during its centennial. What was once swamp land became a thriving municipality during the boom years of the 1920s. Owned and then developed by a Missouri cattleman and an aviation pioneer, Hialeah quickly developed when James Bright and Glenn Curtiss established an area they named 'Hialeah' which was a native American term for high p...

This podcast episode features South Florida architect Lawrence Murray Dixon. Born in Live Oak, Florida, in 1901, and a graduate of Georgia School of Technology, aka Georgia Tech, in 1919, Dixon established his reputation in South Florida as one of the most prominent architects during the 1920s through 1940s. He was hired by Schultze and Weaver's New York office after he graduated from college but...

This podcast episode features the story of the Village of Key Biscayne. What was once an important island for the Tequesta tribe more than 2000 years ago, Key Biscayne has become an important island in the Greater Miami area. It hosts Crandon Park, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, as well as years of rich history. The village was once the home of South Florida's Crandon Park Zoo. Ownership of t...

This podcast episode features South Florida institutions and places that are celebrating their 100th birthday over the course of the next year (2025 -26). The great building boom of the 1920s peaked 100 years ago in 1925, and many of Dade County's prominent cities were founded during this time. Coral Gables, Miami Springs, Opa-locka, and Hialeah are several of these municipalities that are celebra...

This podcast episode tells the story of the Wolfson Campus at Miami Dade College. Originally established as Dade Junior College in 1960, the institution held classes wherever space was available including a local high school and other borrowed buildings. A decade later, the college began planning for its first permanent facility in downtown Miami. The site for this new building was made possible b...

This podcast episode shares the story of the Deering family's impact on South Florida during the first half of the Twentieth Century. The family first arrived in South Florida in 1900 when the patriarch, William Deering, purchased a home in Coconut Grove. His sons, Charles and James, would follow him to the region and each of the Deerings would make a tremendous impact and contribute to the commun...

This podcast episode features the life and legend of aviator Eddie Rickenbacker, nicknamed the 'Aces of Aces', based on his heroics while leading the 94th Squadron during World War I. Even as a young man, Eddie had a strong sense of adventure and even was a relief driver in the first ever Indianapolis 500, which took place in 1911. A car man, pilot, entrepreneur and born leader are just some of th...

This podcast episode shares Miami's history of being an aviation hub in America. What was deemed as an ideal location for flight exhibitions and training due to the region's ideal climate and flat surface, Miami became an early test ground for aviation. The city celebrated its 15th birthday with a bi-plane show piloted by stunt pilot Howard Gill. The following decades of flight history were influe...

This podcast episode features the story of South Florida during World War I. The story begins just prior to the United States entry into World War I on April 6, 1919, and shares how South Florida and Miami were transformed as a training center during the war. South Florida began its journey as an aviation training ground preparing flyers for the war. Local residents in Dade County welcomed the sol...

This podcast episode features the story of Miami Pioneer Locke T. Highleyman and his family. Highleyman was the developer of the Point View subdivision in Brickell, Palm and Hibiscus Islands, the Meyer-Keyser building, and helped judge the selection of the name for the Wynwood neighborhood. He also held the lease to manage the Elser Pier and served as a four-term councilman for the City of Miami....

This podcast episode features the history of the Ingraham Building at 25 SE Second Avenue in downtown Miami. This building is named for Miami pioneer James Ingraham and was constructed from 1926 – 27, near and during the end of the building boom of the 1920s. James Ingraham played an important role for Henry Flagler as a vice president of the Florida East Coast (FEC) Company, and as president of t...

This podcast episode features the inception and the history of Dade County and its many different county seats. Originally slated to be named Pinckney County, the municipality was named for Major Francis Dade who lost his life in a battle with the Seminole Indians in December of 1835. The county was formed in January of 1836 and was named to honor the fallen West Point graduate. The original count...

This podcast episode features the buildings that served as the federal courthouse and post office in Miami from 1915 through the present day. The first courthouse was designed by Oscar Wenderoth in the early 1910s and opened at 100 NE First Avenue in downtown Miami. This building provided for all federal agencies including the courthouse, post office, and weather bureau from its opening until the...