Arch Creek, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arch Creek Park |
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Arch Creek natural limestone bridge was the site of an early settlement in Miami-Dade County
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| Type | Municipal |
| Location | Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States |
| Area | 8 acres (32,000 m2) |
| Created | 1982 |
| Operated by | Miami-Dade County Parks and Recreation Department |
| Website | Arch Creek Park |
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Arch Creek Historic and Archeological Site
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 Location in Miami
Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA |
| Nearest city | North Miami, Florida |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001700 |
| Added to NRHP | July 15, 1986 |
Arch Creek is a special place in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Long ago, it was an important settlement, even before Europeans arrived. The Tequesta people lived here for many centuries.
The area gets its name from a natural limestone bridge. This bridge was about 40 feet (12 m) long and stretched over the creek. Sadly, it collapsed in 1973. Today, Arch Creek is part of the Arch Creek Memorial Park. You can find it at 1855 Northeast 135th Street, right on Biscayne Boulevard. This historic site was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on July 15, 1986.
Contents
History of Arch Creek
The Arch Creek area has a very long history. For hundreds of years before Europeans came, different groups of native people lived here. One of the most well-known groups was the Tequesta people.
Early Trails and Settlements
During the Seminole Wars (conflicts between Native Americans and the U.S. Army), a general named Abner Doubleday created a trail. This trail connected Fort Lauderdale to Fort Dallas on the Miami River. The trail crossed over the natural limestone bridge at Arch Creek. This was a key spot because the creek brought fresh water from the Everglades to Biscayne Bay.
In 1895, Henry Flagler's railroad reached Arch Creek. This railroad helped bring many new visitors and settlers to the area. Most of these new people came from states along the East Coast.
Growing Community Life
The first European-American families who settled here started farms. They grew crops like tomatoes and pineapples. In 1903, a railroad depot was built, which is like a train station. Soon after, the town began to grow with a packing plant, a sawmill, a post office, and a school.
By 1910, Arch Creek was a popular spot for tourists and community events. There was a "shell house" that sold souvenirs and snacks. On weekends, families from all around would come for barbecues. Sometimes, as many as 500 people would gather! "Dad" Wiggins was famous for his barbecue cooking. Families would bring side dishes and desserts, while kids played by the creek. By 1912, the community had eighteen homes, a church, a general store, a blacksmith shop, and two places to pack tomatoes.
Changes and Challenges
By 1920, the population of Arch Creek had grown to 307 people. In 1924, the Biscayne Canal was dug to help stop local farms from flooding. During the 1920s, Florida had a big "land boom." This meant land was being bought and sold very quickly. Parts of Arch Creek were divided up and sold to tourists from the north as places to build homes.
On February 5, 1926, the town officially became "Miami Shores." A big hurricane in September 1926 stopped land sales for a while. However, money from a bond issue helped build a new city hall in 1928. The old Arch Creek school burned down in 1927. It was replaced in 1928 by the W.J. Bryan school, which is still open today. The town was called "Miami Shores" until 1931. In 1952, it became part of the City of North Miami.
Saving the Natural Bridge
In 1957, the natural bridge faced its first big threat. The Army Corps of Engineers wanted to blow up the bridge or change the creek's path. This was part of a plan to prevent floods. A newspaper even said the bridge "must be sacrificed." But local groups like the Audubon Society and the Historical Association protested. Their efforts saved the bridge from being destroyed.
Things were quiet until the 1970s, when the Chrysler Corporation bought the land. They planned to build a car showroom and a car agency. In 1972, Chrysler asked North Miami to change the zoning rules so they could pave the area and build a garage. Again, many groups strongly opposed this. After almost a year of hard work, the State of Florida agreed to buy the land. They wanted to make it a state park. The State's Land Acquisition Trust spent $822,000 to buy about 7.9 acres (32,000 m2) of land east of the creek.
A group of local citizens, who later formed the Arch Creek Trust, went to Tallahassee in February 1973 to finish the agreement. On the night they returned, the natural bridge collapsed into the creek. People wondered if it was sabotage, but experts later agreed it was probably due to constant vibrations from trains, erosion, or just old age.
The natural bridge was made of bubbly limestone and had roots from oak trees growing through it. These roots likely helped hold the rock together. Before the collapse, some trees near the bridge were removed, which killed their roots. Also, holes were drilled into the road at both ends of the bridge to stop cars from using it. When the bridge collapsed, it broke along these lines of holes.
In 2018, Florida International University suggested building a new road crossing at the park. This would provide another way for cars and emergency vehicles to reach their campus. While the idea passed in the Florida Senate, many people are protesting it. They want to protect the natural reserve.
Arch Creek Park Museum & Nature Center
In 1978, Dade County leased the land from the State of Florida. They started planning to turn it into a park for quiet activities. Clean-up crews worked hard, and construction began on a small museum and a nature study center. A nature trail was built in the hammock area (a type of forest) by the Youth Conservation Corps. They also planted over 500 trees!
Arch Creek Park officially opened on April 25, 1982. Today, it's an 8-acre (32,000 m2) site where N.E. 135th Street meets Biscayne Boulevard. It's a great place to learn about plants, history, and archaeology. The park has a museum and nature center designed like an old Florida pioneer home. Inside, you can see Native American tools found on the grounds and live animals from the nearby hammock. You can still see parts of the old coontie mill across the creek. The park is the only preserved archaeological site in the county.
In 1992, the Arch Creek Trust and the Trust for Public Land helped get an extra 1.5 acres (6,100 m2) at the north end of the park. This made the park's total size about 9.4 acres (38,000 m2). Money for this came from the Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program, which helps protect important natural areas. In 1994, the park received money to add a Butterfly Garden on this new land. It uses native plants that attract butterflies.
The park offers activities all year round. Guided walks on the nature trail are held on weekends. Many students from Miami-Dade County also visit the park regularly for educational trips.
See also
In Spanish: Arch Creek para niños
