02/02: Lighthouses and Art Deco
Category: General
Posted by: The Agnew Family
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is a short drive from our house in Little Havana. Driving along the Rickenbacker Causeway we see a lot of beaches and even more parking lots. This area is probably packed on a hot summer day.
A view of Miami from the Rickenbacker Causeway.
At the southern most tip of Cape Florida is the 1845 brick Cape Florida Lighthouse.
The original lighthouse was damaged by a hurricane in 1835. In 1836, the lighthouse was attacked by Seminoles and burned. In 1846 a 2nd lighthouse was built. In 1855 the tower was raised to 95 feet to extend the reach of the light. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1878 and remained inactive to 1893. The lighthouse became privately owned in 1893 switching hands several times before it was purchased by the state 1966 and restored. In 1992 the lighthouse survived Hurricane Andrew but the park suffered severe damages. In 1995/96 the lighthouse was restored back to the 1855 specifications.
The original light keepers house has long ago fallen into the ocean (the ocean has been eroding the shoreline as it does everywhere). A replica of the original home was built in 1996 as part of the restoration.
We drove into South Beach to look at the art deco buildings. Miami Beach deco relies on 'stepped-back' facades that disrupt the harsh flat light. Cantilevered 'eyebrows' jut out above windows to protect interiors from the sun. I love architecture but don't know anything technical about it. I do know that I like the art deco style. It was hard to choose photos so there's quite a few here.
McAlpine Hotel was built in 1940 and designed by L. Murray Dixon. Not sure which building is in the right hand photo but I like the look.
This art deco hotel is being gutted and a huge addition is being added to it. We saw a number of hotels where this had been done.
Hoffman's Cafeteria was built in 1938 and designed by \Henry Hohauser.
Old vehicles were parked in front of several of the hotels adding character. This is the Webster Hotel built in 1936 and designed by Henry Hohauser.
The art deco style continued inside several of the hotels and in this case the pool at the Raleigh Hotel (built in 1940 architect L. Murray Dixon).
The lobby of the National Hotel (1940, designed by Robert Swartburg) continues the art deco look.
A beautiful fireplace was in the lobby of another hotel.
Art Deco is also found on the beach.
A shot down the beach. Lots of colourful umbrellas, chairs and huts dot the landscape of the beach.
We enjoyed dinner at one of the many restaurants on Ocean Drive while we waited for the sun to set. The hotels take on a new look with coloured lights.
Colony Hotel is the oldest deco hotel in Miami Beach.
Deco guru L. Murray Dixon designed the tower of this hotel to resemble a lighthouse.
Decorated palm trees bring out the party atmosphere of South Beach.
The Victor was built in 1937 and designed by L. Murray Dixon.
A view of Miami from the Rickenbacker Causeway.
At the southern most tip of Cape Florida is the 1845 brick Cape Florida Lighthouse.
The original lighthouse was damaged by a hurricane in 1835. In 1836, the lighthouse was attacked by Seminoles and burned. In 1846 a 2nd lighthouse was built. In 1855 the tower was raised to 95 feet to extend the reach of the light. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1878 and remained inactive to 1893. The lighthouse became privately owned in 1893 switching hands several times before it was purchased by the state 1966 and restored. In 1992 the lighthouse survived Hurricane Andrew but the park suffered severe damages. In 1995/96 the lighthouse was restored back to the 1855 specifications.
The original light keepers house has long ago fallen into the ocean (the ocean has been eroding the shoreline as it does everywhere). A replica of the original home was built in 1996 as part of the restoration.
We drove into South Beach to look at the art deco buildings. Miami Beach deco relies on 'stepped-back' facades that disrupt the harsh flat light. Cantilevered 'eyebrows' jut out above windows to protect interiors from the sun. I love architecture but don't know anything technical about it. I do know that I like the art deco style. It was hard to choose photos so there's quite a few here.
McAlpine Hotel was built in 1940 and designed by L. Murray Dixon. Not sure which building is in the right hand photo but I like the look.
This art deco hotel is being gutted and a huge addition is being added to it. We saw a number of hotels where this had been done.
Hoffman's Cafeteria was built in 1938 and designed by \Henry Hohauser.
Old vehicles were parked in front of several of the hotels adding character. This is the Webster Hotel built in 1936 and designed by Henry Hohauser.
The art deco style continued inside several of the hotels and in this case the pool at the Raleigh Hotel (built in 1940 architect L. Murray Dixon).
The lobby of the National Hotel (1940, designed by Robert Swartburg) continues the art deco look.
A beautiful fireplace was in the lobby of another hotel.
Art Deco is also found on the beach.
A shot down the beach. Lots of colourful umbrellas, chairs and huts dot the landscape of the beach.
We enjoyed dinner at one of the many restaurants on Ocean Drive while we waited for the sun to set. The hotels take on a new look with coloured lights.
Colony Hotel is the oldest deco hotel in Miami Beach.
Deco guru L. Murray Dixon designed the tower of this hotel to resemble a lighthouse.
Decorated palm trees bring out the party atmosphere of South Beach.
The Victor was built in 1937 and designed by L. Murray Dixon.