Incorporated as a city in March of 1915, Miami Beach is a city with a long and varied history. Located between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the Miami Beach community has a diverse history. Dating back from when the father and son duo of Henry and Charles Lum purchased the land that constitutes present day Miami Beach to the present, the history of Miami Beach is among the most colorful in all of Florida. A brief exploration of Miami Beach serves to illustrate how the city’s fascinating past influences its colorful present.
While the land on which Miami Beach presently stands was purchased in 1870, the history of present day Miami Beach does not begin in earnest until the 1880’s when a coconut plantation was planted on the shore by two New Jersey businessmen. One of the original investors in the initial project, John Collins, would prove to be a pivotal figure in the later development of Miami Beach, as he eventually bought out the original investors and began planting a variety of crops on present day Miami Beach.
Collins, and later his family, proved to be the catalysts in developing Miami Beach into the resort we see today. Due to the work of Collins and others, the original foliage that dotted the land was cleared, crops were planted, and Brown’s Hotel, the first hotel on the beach was built and opened in 1915. This development ultimately lead to Miami Beach garnering its original charter that same year, and officially becoming a city in 1917.
From that point forward Miami Beach began to grow by leaps and bounds. By the end of World War II, Miami Beach became both a haven for immigrants and became known for being a haven for celebrities. As it stands today, Miami Beach Celebrities are a large part of the cities culture. From Desi Arnaz and Al Capone in the early days, to the likes of Sylvester Stallone and Madonna in the present day, celebrities have always been abundant and at home in Miami Beach.
A brief history of Miami Beach would be incomplete without also touching briefly on diversity. Throughout its history, Miami Beach has welcomed individuals of all creeds to its shores. Miami Beach was an early haven for both Jewish and Cuban settlers, and its renowned South Beach area would not be the international party destination it is today without the influence of the GLBT community throughout the past 40 years.
Miami Beach’s history is too lengthy and colorful to be done justice in a short article. For more information on the history of Miami Beach, as well as all the city has to offer, please be sure to visit the Miami Beach city website.
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