Venetian Islands, Florida Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Venetian Islands
Neighborhood of Miami
View of the Venetian Causeway and Venetian Islands with South Beach in the background, as seen from the Arts & Entertainment District neighborhood
Venetian Islands neighborhood within the City of Miami
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Miami-Dade County
City	Miami
Islands of the Venetians Islands	Islands list Belle Isle Biscayne Island Di Lido Island Flagler Monument Island Rivo Alto Island San Marco Island San Marino Island
Time zone	UTC-05 (EST)
ZIP Code	33139
Area code(s)	305, 786

Aerial view of the westernmost Venetian Islands from the Arts & Entertainment District

The Venetian Islands are a group of artificial islands in Biscayne Bay, Florida. They are located in both Miami and Miami Beach. These islands are connected by bridges, forming a path from the mainland of Miami to Miami Beach.

The islands, from west to east, include:

Biscayne Island (in Miami)
San Marco Island (in Miami)
San Marino Island (in Miami Beach)
Di Lido Island (in Miami Beach)
Rivo Alto Island (in Miami Beach)
Belle Isle (in Miami Beach)

There's also Flagler Monument Island. It's an island built in 1920 to honor Henry Flagler, a famous railroad builder. This island is not lived on and is used for picnics.

History of the Venetian Islands
Biscayne Island
San Marco Island
Images for kids
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History of the Venetian Islands

The idea for the Venetian Islands was much bigger than what we see today. There was a plan for another bridge called "The Drive of the Campanili." This bridge would have connected Hibiscus Island to Di Lido Island.

The road would then go north through the middle of Biscayne Bay. Five new islands were planned along this path. The road would then turn slightly northeast, ending at Indian Creek Village. Four more islands were also planned along two east-west roads. These roads would connect to the main causeway.

The First Bridge: Collins Bridge

The first bridge connecting the mainland to Miami Beach was called the Collins Bridge. It was built by a farmer named John S. Collins and funded by Carl G. Fisher, who was famous for car parts and racing. When it was finished, it was the longest wooden bridge in the world!

This wooden bridge was 2.5 miles long and opened on June 12, 1913. It was very important because it provided a way to get to the new city of Miami Beach. Before this bridge, you could only get there by ferry.

Why Some Islands Were Not Built

Even though many islands were planned, not all of them were built. You can still see the foundations for one of these unbuilt islands, called Isola di Lolando, in Biscayne Bay.

Construction stopped because of two big events. First, the 1926 Miami Hurricane caused a lot of damage. Second, the "Florida land boom" ended. This was a time in the 1920s when land prices in Florida went up very quickly, but then they crashed. The company building the islands went out of business in 1927.

The Venetian Causeway Today

The original wooden bridge was replaced in 1925. It became a series of bridges with arches and was renamed the Venetian Causeway.

Today, the Venetian Causeway is a popular place for people to exercise. You can see people jogging, riding bikes, walking dogs, and just enjoying a stroll. The islands offer a quiet, suburban feel. They are also very close to popular areas like South Beach in Miami Beach and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.

Biscayne Island

Biscayne Island is a neighborhood in the City of Miami, Florida. It is the westernmost of the Venetian Islands. These islands are a chain of artificial islands in Biscayne Bay.

In the 1930s, Biscayne Island was used as an airport called Viking Airport. It had a hangar, a grass runway, and ramps for seaplanes. The airport closed by 1937, and homes started to be built in the 1940s. Today, the island has apartment buildings, homes, and a part of the Venetian Causeway where you pay a toll.

San Marco Island

San Marco Island is another neighborhood in the City of Miami, Florida. It is the second island from the west in the Venetian Islands chain. It sits between Biscayne Island and San Marino Island. San Marco Island is known for its nice houses and is also part of the Venetian Causeway.