Miami History Podcast

The Miami History Podcast will cover topics on the people, places and events that have shaped Miami's 120+ year history as a city. The hosts are Miami historian Dr. Paul S. George and history blogger Casey Piket.

Cape Florida Lighthouse 01/13/2026

Cape Florida Lighthouse 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 battle during the Second Seminole War, sabotage in the Civil War, periods of abandonment and restoration, and the destructive force of Hurricane Andrew. Thanks to the dedication of Miami News editor Bill Baggs and the advocacy of the Dade Heritage Trust, this historic beacon has been preserved and was fittingly honored during its bicentennial celebration. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/39719790

Miami's Edgewater Neighborhood 01/02/2026

Miami's Edgewater Neighborhood 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 residential communities north of the city, one of those suburbs was called ‘Edgewater’ given its proximity to Biscayne Bay. After the annexation of North Miami in 1913, the neighborhood reference for the former northern suburbs was Edgewater encompassing from roughly north of the Venetian Causeway to the Julia Tuttle Causeway and east of Biscayne Boulevard. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/39590125

HistoryMiami Museum 11/13/2025

HistoryMiami Museum 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 its earliest acquisitions were the personal recollections of the city’s founding residents. Many of these stories were published in Tequesta magazine, authored by Merrick, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, and other notable Miami figures. The museum reached an important milestone with the dedication of its first building, a Beaux-Arts–style structure located in the Edgewater neighborhood. Despite the building’s shortcomings, it provided the museum with space to grow and to appoint its first full-time director. In the following years, the museum relocated to the Vizcaya complex alongside the Miami Science Museum, before settling in its current home at the Dade Cultural Center in 1984. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/39023105

Miami Pioneer Architect August Geiger 10/13/2025

Miami Pioneer Architect August Geiger 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 some of Miami’s most iconic landmarks, including the Dade County Courthouse, the original city hospital known as the Alamo, the Miami Beach Municipal Golf Course clubhouse, the Miami Woman’s Club, and the First Church of Christ, Scientist chapel on Biscayne Boulevard in Edgewater, and the Hindu Temple in Spring Garden. His work with the Dade County School District produced enduring educational landmarks such as Southside Elementary and Coral Way Elementary, as well as the historic Davie Schoolhouse in Broward County. Many of Geiger’s designs continue to stand as lasting testaments to his talent and influence on South Florida’s architectural identity. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/38569840

Theme Villages of Coral Gables 09/22/2025

Theme Villages of Coral Gables 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 Building Corporation, the project got off to a strong start. Construction moved ahead of schedule, and several villages were already underway within the first year. But the South Florida land boom collapsed in the fall of 1926, bringing the rapid pace of development to a halt. By the time the boom ended, homes had been completed in 7 of the 16 planned villages, leaving Coral Gables with a distinctive and varied architectural heritage. Resources: Video: “”, Hank Tester, CBS Miami. Miami History Podcast Episode: “”. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/38304605

City of Hialeah Centennial 09/10/2025

City of Hialeah Centennial 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 prairie. The two men began platting subdivisions for residential housing, as well as infrastructure and establishments of entertainment to attract buyers to the western suburbs of South Florida. A dog and horse racetrack was constructed and was later expanded by millionaire Joseph Widener to provide an institution that became synonymous with the city. The Hialeah Racetrack would become a popular attraction for dignitaries and tourists while it operated conducted thoroughbred racing from the early 1930s until 2001. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/38155695

Architect Lawrence Murray Dixon 09/03/2025

Architect Lawrence Murray Dixon 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 eventually moved to Miami in the mid-1920s. By the late 1920s, Dixon changed firms and went to work for Paist and Steward where he was the associate architect for the Federal Court House and Post Office edifice which was constructed during the early 1930s. Shortly after, he formed his own architectural firm where he established his legacy as one of the most prolific and accomplished architects of the Art Deco era on Miami Beach. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/38066360

Village of Key Biscayne 07/14/2025

Village of Key Biscayne 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 the island held various stakeholders beginning with the first land grants by the King of Spain in 1760, to the Davis family from 1821 – 1885, to Field and Osborne for a coconut plantation, then to James Deering and William Matheson, both of whom had great plans for the island during their stewardship. The village’s history is riddled with interesting stories, colorful characters, and disputes over land ownership. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/37406590

South Florida Centennials 07/10/2025

South Florida Centennials 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 celebrating their centennial. One of Miami’s most prominent education institutions, University of Miami, was founded in 1925. The Venetian Pool, Biltmore, Miami News / Freedom Tower, as well as many other building boom edifices that are still standing will celebrate their 100th anniversary. Join me and Joshua Ceballos from WLRN as we discuss some of the many centennial celebrations which will be highlighted as part of WLRN’s ‘History We Call Home’ series which will share stories of these places over the course of the next year. Further Reading: WLRN: “History We Call Home” - /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/37355365

Miami-Dade College Wolfson Campus 05/09/2025

Miami-Dade College Wolfson Campus 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 by Mitchell Wolfson, the campus’s namesake, who donated a block of land that once housed aging apartment buildings, the former Realty Board building, and the White Temple Church. With funding primarily secured through loans from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), construction was completed in 1973. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/36507480

The Deering Family in South Florida 03/16/2025

The Deering Family in South Florida 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 community. James Deering purchased property in the Brickell neighborhood from Mary Brickell in 1912 and built his Vizcaya Estate. Charles Deering acquired land in today’s Buena Vista and South Dade, where he constructed the ‘Deering Estate’. Prior to his death, William Deering, along with William Matheson, acquired most of Key Biscayne in 1913. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/35716625

Miami Aviation Pioneer Eddie Rickenbacker 02/09/2025

Miami Aviation Pioneer Eddie Rickenbacker 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 the terms that best describe Eddie Rickenbacker. He went out to found a car company, that was acquired by General Motors, an airline, which later merged with Pitcairn Airlines and became Eastern Airlines, one of the largest employers in South Florida during the middle decades of the Twentieth Century. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/35214010

South Florida Aviation History 01/08/2025

South Florida Aviation History 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 influenced by aviation pioneers Glenn Curtis, Juan Trippe, and Eddie Rickenbacker, just to name a few. Based in South Florida, Pan American Airlines, founded by Trippe, and Eastern Airlines, headed by Rickenbacker, made Miami one of the largest aviation centers in the world during the middle decades of the Twentieth Century. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/34773005

South Florida During World War I 10/10/2024

South Florida During World War I 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 soldiers and cadets as they prepared for war in places such as Coconut Grove, Allapattah, and Hialeah. Like so many other parts of the country, bond drives were an important part of daily life in South Florida and were pivotal in financing the war effort. After the celebration of Armistice Day on November 11, 1918, the region was stricken with a world-wide flu epidemic that had far reaching implications. Once the epidemic concluded, South Florida would return to life before the war. Given the exposure of the area to soldiers who trained in Miami and surrounding areas, the decade that followed the war, and subsequent flu epidemic, was one of the most prosperous boomtimes in Miami’s history. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/33410012

Miami Pioneer Locke T. Highleyman 08/29/2024

Miami Pioneer Locke T. Highleyman 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. While Locke did not spend his entire adult life in Miami, his contributions were extensive. Tune into this week’s podcast episode to hear more about Locke and the Highleyman family. You can download this episode on your favorite podcast platform (iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Spotify), or listen directly on the Miami-History website. Please remember to click on the subscribe button and to provide a rating and comment on any of the aforementioned platforms. Correction: Locke and Katherine Highleyman were married in 1900, not 1902 as was stated in the podcast episode. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/32799367

Historic Ingraham Building in Downtown Miami 06/28/2024

Historic Ingraham Building in Downtown 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 the Model Land Company, the organization responsible for marketing and selling land acquired by the FEC. Ingraham was an icon in early Miami. When he died unexpectedly on October 25, 1924, the city and the FEC organization were shocked and left to fill a big void in leadership. When the Model Land Company announced that they would construct their corporate office building at the western edge of the former Royal Palm Park, the corner of SE Second Avenue and SE First Street, they naturally named it for their former leader. Despite several setbacks during construction, the building finally celebrated its grand opening on May 1, 1927. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/31931657

History Dade County Seats 03/26/2024

History Dade County Seats 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 county seat was placed in Indian Key and was there from 1836 until 1844. It was moved to the banks of the Miami River, then referred to as Biscayne Bay Country, when William English used his influence to initiate a special election in 1844 to change the county seat. By 1888, the northern part of the county, which included what is now Palm Beach and Broward County, became more densely populated and triggered another special election to move the county seat to Juno. A decade later, in 1899, a third special election was initiated to move the county seat back to the new City of Miami, founded in 1896, which had become the largest city in the county by that time. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/30546258

Federal Buildings in Downtown Miami 11/28/2023

Federal Buildings in Downtown Miami 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 peak of the Great Depression in 1933. When the city’s federal business outgrew the original building, a new federal courthouse and post office building was constructed beginning in 1932 on the site of Miami’s first school building known as the Miami Central Grammar School which opened on that site in the early 1900s. This edifice was designed by the architectural firm of Paist and Steward and opened two blocks north of the first building at 300 NE First Avenue in 1933. The second federal building was in use as a federal building from its opening until it was replaced in 2008 by today’s Wilkie D Ferguson Jr. building at 400 North Miami Avenue. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/28823408

History of Port of Miami 07/18/2023

History of Port of Miami This podcast episode discusses the early history of the Port of Miami. From the first channel dredged by Henry Flagler in 1897 to the move of the port to the Dodge Islands, the overriding theme throughout the history of this most important institution was “Watch the Port of Miami”. What began with the start of steamship service from Royal Palm Docks to transport tourists from Miami to Key West, grew into one of the largest port operations in the nation by the 1930s. When the port moved from the mouth of the Miami River to today’s Maurice Ferre Park (aka Bicentennial Park), it was not well received by many of Miami’s civic leaders. The fear was that the beauty of the shoreline along the bay would be overtaken by the industrial operations of the port. From the onset, city leaders had a plan to move the port from the shoreline to somewhere else. Finally, beginning in the late-1950s, the Metro Dade County government partnered with the City of Miami to bulkhead and connect the chain of Dodge Islands to create one of the busiest ports in the world. Tune into this week’s podcast episode to hear more about the Port of Miami. You can access this episode on your favorite podcast platform (iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Spotify), or listen directly on the Miami-History website. Please remember to click on the subscribe button and to provide a rating and comment on any of the aforementioned platforms. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/27503319

Statesman Tourists in Miami (1920 - 1946) 02/26/2023

Statesman Tourists in Miami (1920 - 1946) This podcast episode features the stories of presidents and world leaders who visited Miami from 1920 – 1946. By the start of the second decade of the Twentieth Century, newly elected presidents began traveling to Miami as part of their pre-inauguration vacation to relax, fish and prepare for their presidential term. This was the case for Warren G. Harding in 1921, Herbert Hoover in 1929, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1933. In addition, as Miami grew over the course of the first few decades of the last century, visiting the metropolitan area became politically advantageous for sitting presidents. In January of 1928, Calvin Coolidge made a brief stop in Miami for a parade through downtown to allow local residents to see their president while he was enroute to Havana, Cuba, for a Pan-American conference. However, it was not just American presidents who enjoyed visiting the Magic City. In the winter of 1946, coming off a loss for his bid for reelection as Prime Minister of England, Winston Churchill spent January and February in Miami for rest and relaxation. While his trip may be most be remembered for the commencement ceremony at Roddy Burdine Stadium where he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Miami, he also made time to visit the Hialeah Race Track, Parrott Jungle, and the Surf Club where he painted an ocean vista from his cabana on the beach. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/26050068

History of Dade County Courthouses in Miami 01/30/2023

History of Dade County Courthouses in Miami This podcast episode features the different Dade County courthouses that were located in the City of Miami from the formation of the county. Dade County was created in 1836 and the county seat resided in Indian Key, along the banks of the Miami River, and in Juno, until a county-wide vote placed it in the City of Miami in 1899. The first county courthouse in Miami was located in a two-story building on the east side of Avenue D, the future South Miami Avenue, from 1899 until 1904. The first courthouse located on Twelfth Street, the future Flagler Street, opened in 1904 and was expected to accommodate the county’s business for fifty years. However, the growth of the county required a larger courthouse by the mid-1920s. Today’s Dade County courthouse was opened on September 6, 1928, but will soon be replaced by a new structure being constructed just west of the current building. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/25765734

50th Anniversary of Perfection in 1972 12/28/2022

50th Anniversary of Perfection in 1972 The year 1972 was a special year for the Miami metropolitan area. It was an election year when South Florida hosted the political conventions of both major parties, when the sitting president made Key Biscayne famous as the winter White House, and when Dade County approved a $553 million “Decade of Progress” bond issue to fund projects that would upgrade the county’s infrastructure and cultural institutions. It was also the year of the “perfect season” for the Miami Dolphins. Tune into this week’s podcast episode to hear about the early history of the Miami Dolphins and that magical season in 1972. Perfection, or going undefeated and untied for an entire season through the championship game, is a feat that had never been accomplished before or since the Miami Dolphins of 1972. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/25450578

History of the Village of Miami Shores 11/23/2022

History of the Village of Miami Shores This podcast episode features the story of one of South Florida’s prominent municipalities on the northeastern section of Dade County. What was once part of an area referred to generically as ‘Biscayne Country’, it became America’s Mediterranean when the Shoreland Company purchased and platted the future Village of Miami Shores. The development of Miami Shores began to market property during the peak of the 1920s building boom and set records for lot sales in a single day. However, the Shoreland company took on too much debt and had to file for bankruptcy after the boom abruptly ended in 1926. Miami Shores was completed after new investors took over the project, and the area incorporated as the Village of Miami Shores on January 2, 1932. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/25105410

Miami - Civil War to Incorporation (1861 – 1896) 08/23/2022

Miami - Civil War to Incorporation (1861 – 1896) This podcast episode features Miami from the onset of the Civil War to the dawn of incorporation in 1896. While it was a sparsely populated wilderness, the former Fort Dallas, or future City of Miami, was subject to a Union blockade during the Civil War years. During the reconstruction period, the Freedman’s Bureau dispatched William Gleason to assess the viability of the region for a place to settle freed slaves. This began a period of chaos between the established settlers and Gleason’s ambitions from 1866 through 1877. During the decades of the 1870s and 1880s, many of Miami’s earliest pioneers arrived and settled into an area simply referred to as Biscayne. Some still referred to the region as Fort Dallas, and a few remembered the Village of Miami period, but most of the settlers during this time were looking to enjoy the pristine and tranquil setting that Southeast Florida offered during the two decades preceding incorporation. Once Henry Flagler, Julia Tuttle, and the Brickells reached their respective agreements to form a city, the area changed dramatically. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/24138030

History of Fort Dallas 08/14/2022

History of Fort Dallas This podcast episode features the story of the Fort Dallas era of Miami. While there were several fortifications during the conflicts with the Seminole tribe during the mid-1800s, the area took on the name Fort Dallas for years following the army’s abandonment of the fort that once resided in today’s downtown Miami. Fort Dallas was originally built on Richard Fitzpatrick’s homesite during the Second Seminole War, and then later was refortified on the same property, then owned by Fitzpatrick’s nephew William English, during the Third Seminole War. Once the Seminole Wars had concluded, the remaining buildings were occupied by the Biscayne Bay Company who later sold most of the property to Julia Tuttle in 1891. The barracks, or “slave plantation quarters”, was once Dade County’s seat, and also would serve as a courthouse prior to the incorporation of the City of Miami. Fort Dallas provided the base of what would become the business district of the Magic City during its early years. Website: /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/24048435

Dade Heritage Trust Turns 50 06/20/2022

Dade Heritage Trust Turns 50 On the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Dade Heritage Trust (DHT), the Miami History Podcast welcomes Christine Rupp, director of the organization to discuss the institution’s mission, accomplishments, and future. DHT was founded to provide advocacy for historic preservation around Miami-Dade County. It was organized in 1972 by a group of women who saw the need for a county-wide organization to protect historic buildings and resources throughout the municipality. Website: Sponsor: /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/23489513

Downtown Miami Railroad Stations 06/14/2022

Downtown Miami Railroad Stations This podcast episode discusses the locations, stories, and impact of the FEC downtown railroad stations over the course of the City of Miami’s first 125 years of history. From the first temporary train station constructed in 1896, lasting only one year, to the long-time wood frame station near the county courthouse, the FEC railroad stations have always been important institutions during downtown Miami’s storied history. www.miami-history.com /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/23431010

The Story of Allapattah 01/05/2022

The Story of Allapattah Over time, Allapattah became one of many neighborhoods within the city limits of Miami. Today, it is a diverse area that is rapidly becoming the next target of gentrification and redevelopment. While it has been in integral part of Miami’s past, it stands to be an important part of the city’s future as development heads west of I-95. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/21677873

Main Library in Bayfront Park 07/21/2021

Main Library in Bayfront Park The main branch of the downtown Miami library began as a collection of books and reading circles by the Married Ladies Afternoon Club at the turn of the last century. The roving de-facto library met in many different places during its first decade, but the lack of a facility did not deter the women who began the city’s collection of books. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/19876418

Puerto Ricans in Miami 06/22/2021

Puerto Ricans in Miami For more than seventy-five years, Puerto Ricans have relocated to Miami in phases. Places like Brickell, Wynwood and the Redlands saw significant settlements of Puerto Rican families as part of several waves of migration. In the mid-1940s, some of the wealthier families purchased mansions along Brickell Avenue to form the first “Little San Juan”. A decade later, a migration of working-class Boricuas settled in Wynwood, shifting the designation of “Little San Juan” to that quarter. /episode/index/show/miamihistory/id/19562426

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