HistoryMiami facts for kids
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| Location | 101 W Flagler St Miami, FL 33130 |
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| Public transit access |  Government Center |
HistoryMiami Museum is a super cool place in Downtown Miami, Florida. It used to be called the Historical Museum of Southern Florida. This museum is the biggest history museum in all of Florida! It has lots of exciting things to see and do.
At HistoryMiami, you can explore four main galleries that are always there. They also have up to three special exhibits that change over time. Plus, there's an Archives and Research Center where you can find old photos and documents. The museum also has an Education Center and offers fun City Tours to explore Miami's past.
The museum first started way back in 1940. That makes it one of the oldest cultural places in South Florida! It's also connected with the famous Smithsonian Institution, which means it's a really important museum.
The first museum opened in 1962. It moved a couple of times before finding its home in the Miami-Dade Cultural Center in 1984. In 2010, the museum changed its name to HistoryMiami. Then, in 2014, it got much bigger! It took over the space where the Miami Art Museum used to be. The museum also has a special library, leads tours around the city, and has taught over 500,000 students about Miami's amazing history.
HistoryMiami Museum helps people learn about the past. They have exhibitions, city tours, and educational programs. They also collect important historical items and publish books. All of this helps us understand how Miami became the city it is today.
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What You Can See at HistoryMiami
HistoryMiami Museum is a huge place, about 70,000 square feet! It's packed with over a million old pictures and 30,000 cool objects. Imagine seeing a trolley car from the 1920s! You can also find gold and silver from shipwrecks that happened hundreds of years ago. There are even items from Pan American World Airways and rafts used by people coming to Miami.
Exploring Miami's Past
One of the main exhibits is called Tropical Dreams: A People’s History of South Florida. This exhibit takes you on a journey through 12,000 years of history! You'll learn how the area and its people grew. It covers everything from the first Native American settlements to the Spanish explorers and even World War II.
Special Exhibits and Research
The museum also hosts special exhibits. For example, there was an exhibit called Operation Pedro Pan: The Cuban Children’s Exodus. This exhibit told the story of the largest recorded child refugee movement in the Western Hemisphere. It used old photos, personal stories, and items like letters.
HistoryMiami also has an Archives and Research Center. This is where scholars and students can find old photos and documents. It's a great place for anyone wanting to learn more about Miami's history. Downstairs, there are classrooms for learning programs and lectures. This area also holds some of the museum's amazing collection of objects.
Protecting History
Did you know that HistoryMiami is the official place for all archaeological finds in Miami-Dade County? This means any ancient items found in the area are brought here to be studied and protected.
Important People at the Museum
- Jorge Zamanillo was the executive director of HistoryMiami from 2016 to 2022. He helped lead the museum during those years.
More Places to Discover
If you like learning about Miami's history, you might also be interested in these places:
- Downtown Miami Historic District
- Lummus Park Historic District
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Miami, Florida
- Timeline of Miami, Florida history
