The Miami area is world famous for sandy beaches, nightlife, Art Deco architecture and sports teams. A vibrant city of 0ver 400 thousand, the Miami metropolitan area is home to over 11 million people. Located on the southern most tip of Florida, the city of Miami is a golden jewel on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. From the bright lights and neon of South Beach to its bustling seaport, Miami stands as a gateway to the American South. With a skyline that rivals that world’s great cities, Miami is a testimony to architectural diversity.
A world class tourist destination, Miami greets visitors with swaying palm trees, skyscrapers and luxury hotels offering spectacular views of the ocean. The preservation of Miami’s classic Art Deco structures and the marinas on Biscayne Bay enhances the visual splendor of this great American City.
The city of Miami and the surrounding metropolitan area has seen incredible growth in both the population and the number of new buildings. In just over 30 years, the population of the Miami metropolitan area has more than doubled. A look at the Miami skyline reveals a great deal of construction activity as more high-rise buildings make the transition from the drawing board to the construction phase. Construction cranes are a common sight along the Miami skyline.
There are buildings either in the planning stage or being constructed that will exceed 1000 feet in height, over 300 feet taller than the tallest buildings in the city. Examples include the proposed Empire World Towers, twin towers will rise over 1000 feet into the Miami skyline. Featuring skywalks that will connect the two structures, the Empire World Towers will certainly be the dominate feature along the skyline of Miami.
Another enormous building that is in the works is the 1049 foot One Bay Front Plaza. A striking combination of modern and Art Deco architecture, the Bay Front will overlook Biscayne Bay offering spectacular panoramic ocean views.
The Four Seasons Hotel Tower
Among the 50 tallest buildings in the United States, the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel Tower is one of the most prominent features along the Miami skyline. The gleaming glass exterior rises nearly 790 feet above Brickell Avenue and provides over 200 hotel rooms and suites. The Four Seasons also offers luxury condominium accommodations, shops, restaurants.
The Wachovia Financial Center
The Wachovia Financial stood as the tallest high rise in Miami for nearly twenty years. Completed in 1983, the center stands over 760 feet tall and provides office and commercial space.
The Dade County Courthouse
For over 40 years, the Dade County Courthouse building stood as the tallest building in Miami. Not a high rise building by contemporary standards, the 360 foot tall courthouse was looked on as Miami’s first skyscraper.
Freedom Tower
Another landmark building along the Miami skyline is the Freedom Tower which was completed in 1925. Also looked upon as one of the city’s first real skyscrapers, the Freedom Tower is a classic example of Mediterranean revival design. Listed as a National Historic Landmark and the United States National Register of Historic Places, the Freedom Tower has managed to escape the wrecking ball. Over 250 feet tall, the structure features an impressive cupola top and was recently renovated and restored.
Miami Sport Teams
Miami is home several successful professional sports franchises in baseball, football, soccer and basketball. The Miami Dolphins of the National Football League have developed a legion of loyal fans since the team was founded in 1966. Like the football Dolphins, the Florida Marlins of Major League Baseball is a young club that was established in 1993. The only professional sports team that plays in Miami proper is the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association.
Some Miami History
Miami is a relatively young city, having been officially incorporated in 1896. Other major cities in Florida such as the capital of Tallahassee, Saint Augustine and Pensacola were founded much earlier. Founded by an Ohio native, Julia Tuttle, Miami has seen cycles of growth and retrenchment dating back to the early part of the 1900s. Starting in the 1920s, the population of Miami started to grow and has not stopped since with the population growing from just under 30 thousand in 1920 to over 100 thousand in 1930.
