Miami Beach:  America’s Tropical Resort

Joanne Hyppolite is Curator for Community Research at the Historical Museum of South Florida.  This year, she had the opportunity to expand her curatorial expertise by preparing the museums current exhibition, Miami Beach:  America’s Tropical Resort, on-going through January 14, 2007.

Although Joanne’s principal duties are to document and preserve traditions being practiced today by South Florida’s many cultural communities, she appreciated the chance to learn more about Miami Beach.  “I fell in love with Miami Beach along the way.”

Undoubtedly, there’s more to love than just sand and surf.  In just a short span of 100 years, Miami Beach has gone from an impenetrable mangrove forest to the bustling resort town it is today.  After speaking with Joanne about the exhibition, I came to love my city a little more as well, having a better understanding of this little stretch of land.

“Part of Miami Beach’s success,” explains Joanne “is its openness to changing trends.”  Indeed, there have been many trends since pioneering developers Henry Lum and John Collins first realized the landscape’s potential.

History of Miami Beach

America’s winter playground was “born” around the turn-of-the-twentieth century and in its early years served wealthy tourists who could afford the 30-hour train ride from Chicago or New York City.  With the advent of more affordable and available ground and air transportation, Miami Beach would shed the image of the exclusive wealthy snowbird hotspot to embrace lower and middle-income tourists by offering affordable and family friendly rates.  As engines of all kinds roared – so did the marketing engine that kept tourists not just coming, but coming back for more.

“Unlike old money enclaves like West Palm Beach, Miami Beach chose not to be so exclusive,” notes Joanne.  For example, international marketing efforts promoted Miami Beach to vacationing Cubans in the 1940s and 1950s.  Around this time, another new breed of tourist known as the secretary market – single women with disposable income – also became a target for publicity.

With a history that revolves around tourism Miami Beach has had to remain dynamic.  “One of my favorite parts of the exhibition is how marketing techniques were changed to suit different groups.” 

The exhibition provides the visual proof.  Upon entry, visitors can “check in” via a replica of a Miami Modern-style hotel before seeing over 100 artifacts on display, including vintage bathing suits, hotel silver and china, photographs, postcards, magazine clippings and even a piece of the wooden 1913 Collins Bridge.  Visitors will learn about the beach’s history and the people who made it happen – including workers and celebrities.

“The fact that it’s a little place,” Joanne observes, “and yet continues to reinvent itself is fascinating.”

As someone who has lived on Miami Beach for nearly a decade, I know first-hand how much this is true.  It’s interesting to see what we think is trendy today in light of the city’s history.

Our grandparents also went to clubs – but not the kind of velvet-rope fly-by-night establishments of today.  Can you imagine having danced to a crooning Frank Sinatra at the Eden Roc Hotel?

The old-timers also had a naughty-side.  While scantily clad may be the official wardrobe today, burlesque shows were as common as sunshine.  And bathing beauties were most definitely a thing of the past:  as societal mores relaxed on exposed flesh, bathing suit fashion shows at beachside hotels were precursors to Fashion Week.

Just like today, celebrity sightings were common – Clark Gable, Rita Hayworth, The Beatles, Cassius Clay (a.ka. Muhammed Ali) too name just four.  The buzz has been buzzing all along.

This exhibition takes place at a particularly special point in time.  “It’s amazing how much Miami residents connected to the exhibit when it first opened,” says Joanne.  “There were many ‘Do you remember this?’ stories among guests.  It had a strong nostalgia factor.”

Don’t miss the chance to bask in a little of that nostalgia while history is still fresh and evolving.  We’re all very much a part of it ourselves!
The exhibition runs until January 14, 2007.

The Museum is lcated at 101 West Flagler Street in Miami, FL. The phone number is (305)375-1492.

Related Links: • History of Miami Beach Related Categories: Miami: Local News, About the Author: Maria de los Angeles is a freelance wordsmith who loves to write about all things travel in Florida and the Caribbean. She is also the author of the award-winning blog Sex and the Beach. See more articles by Maria de los Angeles. See more articles by Maria de los Angeles Was This Post Helpful? Please Share It With Others! Tweet

Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.

Discuss the surrounding area in our hugely popular Miami forum.