Boca Chita Key Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Boca Chita Key Historic District
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Boca Chita Historic District with Miami skyline in background
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States |
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| Nearest city | Homestead |
| Area | 110 acres (0.45 km2) |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000795 |
| Added to NRHP | August 1, 1997 |
The Boca Chita Key Historic District is a special historical area in Florida, United States. It is part of the Biscayne National Park in Miami-Dade County. This district is found on the northwest side of Boca Chita Key. It is surrounded by Biscayne Bay to the north and west. A partly broken stone wall marks its southern edge.
The district includes three old buildings and the famous Boca Chita Lighthouse. On August 1, 1997, this area was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was recognized for its unique buildings, interesting history, and fun recreational activities.
Contents
Exploring Boca Chita Key's Location
The Boca Chita Key Historic District covers about 110 acres (45 ha) of land. This is a small part of the much larger Biscayne National Park, which is about 180,000 acres (73,000 ha). The district's southern and western sides are bordered by the beautiful Biscayne Bay. A remaining part of an old stone wall also marks its boundary.
The Story of Boca Chita Key
The structures on Boca Chita Key were built by Mark C. Honeywell. He was a very rich businessman. Honeywell and his wife owned the island, which was near their home in Miami Beach. They bought the island in 1937. Between 1937 and 1940, they built many structures as part of their plan to develop the island. Some buildings from 1937 to 1939 are no longer there.
The Honeywells built the island as their special vacation spot. They created many buildings, including a chapel, a lighthouse, and a pavilion for picnics. They also built a generator room and a garage. An arch bridge was also constructed over an existing canal. The August Geiger Firm designed and built these structures. They used a modern style with materials like limestone, concrete, and asphalt.
The island retreat was a popular place for parties. The Honeywells and their guests would travel to the island from Miami Beach in fancy boats. When guests arrived, a cannon near the lighthouse would be fired as a special welcome.
After his wife passed away, Mark Honeywell lost interest in the island. He later sold it to Florence Emerman in 1942. The buildings were made with Miami oolite limestone. Even today, the outside of the existing buildings has a rough, natural stone finish, which is common in the area.
Historic Buildings and Features
Some of the important old structures here are the lighthouse, the chapel, and the open-air picnic pavilion. The stone wall and the cannon are also notable historical items.
The Famous Lighthouse
Mark C. Honeywell built the island's 65-foot lighthouse in 1938. It stands at the north end of the harbor. The lighthouse has a tapered shape and is made of concrete bricks covered with limestone. The base of the tower is 21 feet (6.4 m) wide. It sits on a 28 feet (8.5 m) square concrete foundation. The observation deck at the top has white protective rails. The dome, which holds the lantern light, is made of a steel frame. The entrance door has a stone design. Inside, a circular staircase goes up the tower.
Honeywell built the lighthouse to help guide his boats to the island. However, just a few hours after it was lit, it had to be turned off. Honeywell had not told or received permission from the U.S. Coast Guard or the Lighthouse Service. They considered it a danger to navigation because it wasn't on their maps.
In 1992, Hurricane Andrew damaged the lighthouse windows. A friend of Honeywell's provided money to replace them. The lighthouse dome was also repaired in 2013. These repairs included adding hurricane-proof glass, new vents for air, and a fresh coat of paint.
Since the lighthouse is not used for navigation anymore, you can visit it. It's open from September to May and on some summer days, but only when park staff or volunteers are there. From the top deck, you can see amazing views of the bay, the ocean, Miami, Key Biscayne, and the Miami Beach skyline.
The Chapel Building
The chapel is a concrete building that measures 12 by 20 feet (3.7 by 6.1 m). It is built with rough stone. The roof is curved and steeply sloped, covered with asphalt shingles. There are entrance doors on the north and east sides. The southern door has a low, curved wall next to it. Two identical openings are also on the walls.
The Picnic Pavilion
The picnic pavilion is an open-air structure located near the lighthouse. It sits on a concrete base that is 15 by 52 feet (4.6 by 15.8 m). Ten square pillars rise from this base along the longer side of the pavilion. These pillars support the roof's decorative edges and the hip-shaped roof, which is covered with asphalt shingles.
The Old Cannon
A cannon is another historic item found on the island. It is located on the northeastern part of the key, close to the lighthouse. The cannon's pivots are fitted onto an inclined base with grooves. The cannon is now rusted.
The Stone Wall
The stone wall was built using limestone on a reinforced concrete foundation. The Honeywells built it to enclose the original structures in the Boca Chita area. The wall was built in several sections. The first part stretched for 400 feet (120 m) from Biscayne Bay south of the picnic area. It then curved for 35 feet (11 m) and extended west for another 309 feet (94 m). The wall then turned north for 155 feet (47 m), ending near the engine house.
Originally, the wall had seven gates, but only three remain today. Two gates are 19 feet (5.8 m) wide and have tall gate posts. The third gate is 4 feet (1.2 m) wide and has an arched opening. Hurricane Andrew destroyed the eastern two-thirds of this wall, including a stone gate house and gate posts. The remaining one-third of the wall still has the arched opening.
Images for kids
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Boca Chita Historic District with Miami skyline in background
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Boca Chita Lighthouse
See also
In Spanish: Distrito históroco de Boca Chita Key para niños
