About Miami Beach, Florida
Home to the largest concentration of Art Deco buildings in the world
Art Deco, short for the French Arts Décoratifs ("decorative arts"), is a prominent design style that emerged in the early 20th century, reaching its peak in the 1920s and 1930s. It is characterized by its sleek, geometric forms, bold colors, and luxurious materials. The Miami Beach Architectural District has the unique distinction of having the largest concentration of Art Deco buildings in the world.
The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau defines Miami's South Beach as home to the nation’s largest concentration of Art Deco style. The California Preservation Foundation recognizes South Beach as the first 20th century Historic District in the nation and the largest concentration of Art Deco buildings in the world. Miami Design Preservation League acknowledges Miami Beach as having the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture in the world.
South Beach, also nicknamed colloquially as SoBe, is a neighborhood in Miami Beach, Florida. It is located east of Miami between Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The area encompasses Miami Beach south of Dade Boulevard.
Affectionately known as the "Art Deco" District, the Miami Beach Architectural District embodies the design continuum of the City from its early development period in the 1910s to the construction boom following World War II. This district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 largely through the efforts of Barbara Baer Capitman, founder of the Miami Design Preservation League.
At the time it was the youngest district on the National Register as many of the buildings had not yet reached 50 years of age. Its one square mile area includes over 800 significant structures built between 1923 and 1943 . The principal architectural styles in this district are Mediterranean Revival, Art Deco, Streamline Moderne and Miami Modern or "MiMo."
South Beach started as farmland. In 1870, Henry and Charles Lum purchased 165 acres for coconut farming. Charles Lum built the first house on the beach in 1886. In 1894, the Lum brothers left the island, leaving control of the plantation to John Collins, who came to South Beach two years later to survey the land.
He used the land for farming purposes, discovering fresh water and extending his parcel from 14th Street to 67th in 1907. In 1912, Miami businessmen, the Lummus Brothers, acquired 400 acres of Collins' land in an effort to build an oceanfront city of modest single family residences.
In 1913, John Collins built the Collins Bridge, which provided the first vital land link between mainland Miami and the beaches. This made South Beach more accessible and led to its development as a resort destination. In the 1920s, South Beach experienced a boom in development, with new hotels, nightclubs, and restaurants opening up. This period is known as the "Golden Age of South Beach".
The 1930s saw a decline in tourism due to the Great Depression. However, South Beach rebounded in the 1940s and 1950s, becoming a popular destination for Hollywood stars and other celebrities. In the 1960s, South Beach became a haven for the LGBTQ community. In the 1970s, South Beach fell into decline again, as many of its hotels and businesses closed down.
However, in the 1980s, South Beach began to gentrify, with new art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants opening up. This led to a revival of South Beach, which is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States.
The area is also home to a variety of museums, including the Pérez Art Museum Miami, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Museum of Contemporary Art At North Miami. South Beach is also home to a variety of nightclubs, restaurants, and shops. It is also a popular destination for celebrities and other high-profile individuals.
*Note: Some sources claim that New Zealand has the largest concentration of art deco buildings in the world. However this is not accurate. The New Zealand Government Dept. of Conservation concedes that South Beach has the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture in the world.