Timeline of Miami facts for kids
Welcome to a timeline of Miami's exciting history! This city in Florida has a rich past, from its early days to becoming a major hub. Discover how Miami grew from a small settlement into the vibrant city it is today.
Miami's Early Days: The 1800s
Founding and First Steps
- 1870 – William Brickell set up a trading post on the south side of the Miami River. This was an early sign of settlement.
- 1880 – The county's population was very small, only about 100 people.
- 1884 – Miami's first hotel, The Peacock Inn, opened in Coconut Grove.
- 1886
- Ralph Munroe built a home by the bay in Coconut Grove.
- Kirk Munroe also made his home in Coconut Grove.
- 1889 – The first school building in Coconut Grove opened for students.
- 1891 – Julia Tuttle, an important figure in Miami's history, moved to the area.
- 1895 – The Pine Needles Club opened the first public library in Coconut Grove.
Becoming an Official City
- 1896
- Miami officially became a city! John B. Reilly was chosen as its first mayor.
- The Florida East Coast Railway arrived, connecting Miami to Jacksonville. This was a huge step for growth.
- The Miami Metropolis newspaper started publishing.
- The Biscayne Hotel was built.
- 1897
- The grand Royal Palm Hotel welcomed its first guests.
- The City of Miami Cemetery was established.
- 1898
- Burdines, a well-known store, opened for business.
- David Fairchild created the USDA Plant Introduction Garden.
- 1899
- The main government office for Dade County moved to Miami from Juno.
- Telephone service began in Miami, connecting people like never before.
- 1900
- The Flagler Public Library, Miami Board of Trade, and Woman's Club were founded.
- The city's population grew to 1,681 people.
Miami in the 20th Century
Growing Pains: 1900s-1940s
- 1903
- John Sewell became the new mayor.
- The Ransom Everglades School was established in Coconut Grove.
- The Miami Herald newspaper began publishing.
- 1906
- Streetcars started running, making it easier to get around.
- An automobile parade showed off the new cars.
- 1909
- The City Hall building was completed.
- Lummus Park opened as a green space for everyone.
- 1910 – Miami's population reached 5,471.
- 1912 – An airport was built near Miami, a sign of future travel.
- 1913
- A bridge connecting Miami to Miami Beach was built.
- The Lyric Theater opened its doors.
- 1914 – Construction began on Vizcaya, a beautiful estate.
- 1915
- The Miami Chamber of Commerce was established.
- The town of Miami Beach became an official town near Miami.
- 1916 – David Fairchild created The Kampong, his winter home in Coconut Grove.
- 1917 – Elser Pier opened, a popular spot by the water.
- 1918 – The Airdrome Theatre and Strand Theatre opened.
- 1919
- Coconut Grove became an official town.
- The Seybold Canal Bridge was built around this time.
- 1920 – Miami's population grew to 29,549.
- 1921
- A new way of local government, the commission-manager system, was adopted.
- WQAM radio began broadcasting.
- 1923 – The Miami Times newspaper started publishing.
- 1924
- Buena Vista became part of Miami.
- The Miami River Canal Swing Bridge was built.
- 1925
- Several areas like Allapattah, Coconut Grove, and Lemon City joined Miami.
- Bayfront Park opened, offering great views.
- The towns of Coral Gables and Hialeah became official towns near Miami.
- The University of Miami was established in Coral Gables.
- 1926
- January 10: The Prinz Valdemar ship sank offshore.
- September: A major hurricane hit Miami.
- WIOD radio began broadcasting.
- The Player's State Theater was built.
- Booker T. Washington High School, Olympia Theater, and Tower Theater opened.
- 1927
- The Flagler Theater opened.
- E. G. Sewell became mayor.
- The Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church was built.
- 1928
- Pan American Field (an airfield) started operating.
- Al Capone bought a home in Miami Beach.
- 1929 – The Sears, Roebuck and Company Department Store opened.
- 1930 – Miami's population reached 110,637.
- 1933
- February 15: An attack occurred in Bayfront Park.
- E. G. Sewell became mayor again.
- Ryder, the truck leasing company, was founded in Miami.
- 1935
- January 1: The first Orange Bowl football game was played.
- November: Another hurricane hit the area.
- 1936 – Parrot Jungle was established.
- 1937 – Burdine Stadium and Liberty Square (a housing complex) opened.
- 1938 – The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden opened to the public.
- 1939 – E. G. Sewell became mayor for a third time.
- 1940 – Miami's population grew to 172,172.
- 1942 – May: The Portero del Llano ship sank offshore during World War II.
- 1946 – A local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was established.
- 1949 – WTVJ (television) began broadcasting.
Post-War Growth: 1950s-1970s
- 1950 – Miami's population reached 249,276.
- 1952 – The Museum of Science and Natural History opened.
- 1953 – Diario Las Américas, a Spanish-language newspaper, began publishing.
- 1954 – Burger King was founded in Miami.
- 1955 – The Miami Seaquarium was established.
- 1957 – Robert King High was elected mayor of Miami.
- 1958 – The Catholic Diocese of Miami was established.
- 1959
- City public schools began to allow students of all races to attend together.
- Miami International Airport was officially dedicated.
- 1960 – Miami's population reached 291,688.
- 1961 – Colegio de Belén, a school, moved to Miami from Cuba.
- 1964 – February 25: Cassius Clay won the heavyweight boxing championship in Miami.
- 1965
- Many Cuban exiles began arriving in Miami on special "freedom flights" from Cuba.
- Florida International University was established.
- 1966 – The Miami Dolphins football team joined the American Football League.
- 1968
- August 5–8: The 1968 Republican National Convention was held in nearby Miami Beach.
- August 7–8: There were some disturbances in Miami.
- 1970 – Miami's population grew to 334,859.
- 1971 – The Latin Chamber of Commerce was established.
- 1972
- July: The 1972 Democratic National Convention was held in Miami Beach.
- August: The 1972 Republican National Convention was also held in Miami Beach.
- Florida International University officially opened its doors.
- The Miami Dolphins had their amazing undefeated "perfect" season.
- 1973
- April: The "freedom flights" bringing Cuban exiles to Miami ended.
- Barnacle Historic State Park was established.
- Maurice Ferre became the city mayor.
- 1975 – The Bee Gees music group moved to Miami Beach.
- 1976 – El Miami Herald, a Spanish-language newspaper, began publishing.
- 1977 – Bicentennial Park opened.
Modern Miami: 1980s-1990s
- 1980
- April–October: Many Cubans arrived in Miami during the Mariel boatlift.
- Miami MetroZoo opened near the city.
- Miami's population reached 346,865.
- 1981 – The Palace apartment building was constructed.
- 1982 – The Knight International Center (a convention center) opened.
- 1983 – The movie Scarface, set in Miami, was released.
- 1984
- Metrorail train system began operating.
- The Center for Fine Arts opened.
- The Miami International Film Festival began.
- The TV show Miami Vice, a crime drama set in Miami, started on NBC.
- The first Miami International Book Fair was held.
- 1985
- Xavier Suarez became the city mayor.
- The TV show The Golden Girls, a sitcom set in Miami, began its seven-year run.
- The Miami City Ballet performed for the first time.
- 1987
- November: Pope John Paul II visited the city.
- The Miami Tower was built.
- 1989 – Ileana Ros-Lehtinen became a U.S. representative for Florida.
- 1990
- Nelson Mandela visited the city.
- Miami's population reached 358,548.
- 1992 – August: Hurricane Andrew, a very powerful storm, hit the area.
- 1993 – Carrie P. Meek became a U.S. representative for Florida.
- 1994 – The 1st Summit of the Americas was held in Miami.
- 1996 – Joe Carollo became mayor of the city.
- 1997 – Dade County was renamed Miami-Dade County.
- 1998 – Xavier Suarez became mayor again briefly, then Carollo returned as mayor.
- 1999
- The American Airlines Arena opened.
- The Ultra Festival music event began.
New Millennium: 2000s
- 2000
- The Elián González affair was a major news event.
- Miami's population reached 362,470.
- 2001 – Manny Diaz became city mayor.
- 2002 – Art Basel, a big art fair, began in Miami Beach.
- 2003
- The Four Seasons Hotel Miami was built.
- The city of Miami Gardens became an official city near Miami.
- 2004 – Carlos Alvarez became mayor of Miami-Dade County.
- 2006 – The Carnival Center (now Adrienne Arsht Center) opened.
- 2007 – The TV show Burn Notice, set in Miami, began its run.
- 2009 – Tomás Regalado became city mayor.
Miami in the 21st Century
The 2010s and Beyond
- 2010 – Miami's population reached 399,457.
- 2011
- Carlos A. Giménez became mayor of Miami-Dade County.
- Frederica Wilson became a U.S. representative for Florida.
- 2015 – The old Miami Science Museum location in Coconut Grove closed.
- 2017 – The new Miami Science Museum opened in a new location.
Images for kids
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The Seybold Building in Miami, Florida, built in 1921.
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Timeline of Miami Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.