Art Deco Historic District
Art Deco Architecture Miami Pixabay Public Domain
There's no better way to start your final sunshine-filled Miami day than with a visit to Miami Beach's premier architectural district near South Beach, the Art Deco Historic District. This area holds many names, such as the American Riviera and Deco Playground, and serves as a premier U.S. Historic District. This neighborhood is the nation’s largest 20th century nationally registered historic district and holds a total of over 800 historic buildings erected in the 1920s, '30s, and '40s. You will find a variety of architectural styles within, from Mediterranean to MiMo, but most importantly Art Deco. The neighborhood was reborn and built into what it is today after the 1926 hurricane, basing its overall design after the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Artes Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes. The district was dedicated in 1979 and has since then attracted thousands upon thousands of guests to come marvel at the fine white sand and colorful buildings.
The exuberant Deco architecture here is available to view by walking, biking, private, and self-guided tours, each starting at the Art Deco Welcome Center. The welcome center is the perfect place to find all the information about the neighborhood you need, including notable architects, residents, and buildings of the neighborhood. Check out the work of Igor Polevitzky, Roy France, and Robert Collins as you make your way to Gianni Versace’s mansion on Ocean Drive. While on your tour try to catch a glimpse of the Webster, built in 1939, the Carlyle or Cadillac Hotel, Paramount’s 1935 built Colony Theater or Jerry’s Famous Deli! If you’re lucky you may get here in time for the annual Art Deco Weekend festival mid-January, an event with over 150,000 guests and over 85 truly interesting educational events!
