Historic Treasures in Homestead

Historically home to farmers and Florida’s native scrub palmetto trees, Homestead and Florida City played important roles in the development of Greater Miami and Miami Beach. The arrival of Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway in 1904 was a game changer for the rural communities of South Dade, allowing farmers to transport and sell their produce all over the state, and transforming the region into an agricultural and economic hub.

Since incorporating in 1913, the City of Homestead has developed a charming Downtown Homestead (now added to the National Register of Historic Places) with boutique shopping, family-friendly activities and excellent restaurants. Throughout the area, you can also catch glimpses of Miami from its early days. From a restored 1920s theater and the original town hall to a limestone castle and sculpture garden with a mysterious backstory, these are the must-see historic treasures in Homestead and Florida City.

Coral Castle

If you’re seeking unique things to do in Homestead, your first stop should be Coral Castle. Latvian immigrant Ed Leedskalnin erected this fascinating monument to his long lost love, who broke off their engagement just one day before their wedding.

Using only basic tools, Leedskalnin spent 28 years cutting and moving over 1,100 tons of oolitic limestone to build a castle with furniture, intricately carved architectural elements and a sculpture garden. Enter through a nine-ton gate that unexplainably moves with the touch of a finger, look through a Polaris telescope and sit in rocking chairs you can actually use – they’re all made out of rock.

Admission is $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 5 to 12, and includes a 30-minute documentary about Coral Castle and a guided tour. Children 4 and under are free. The site is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, with the last tour at 7 p.m. and gates closing at 7:30 p.m. 28655 S. Dixie Hwy., Homestead, FL 33033

Historic Homestead Town Hall Museum

Homestead’s first town hall building, now the Historic Homestead Town Hall Museum, was originally built in 1917 to house the fire and police departments, municipal offices and even some jail cells, and functioned as town hall until 1975. An excellent starting point to explore Homestead’s greater historic downtown, go here to learn about the early days of Homestead’s storied past.

Exhibits display historical photographs and artifacts that document major events, such as the arrival of Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway and Hurricane Andrew. Many visit to see the 1924 American LaFrance fire truck that was actually used by Homestead firefighters in the early 1900s. In 1980, the local council voted to tear down the original building and replace it with a parking lot, but the move was stopped when town preservationists won a Florida grant to restore the building and keep it standing.

Admission is free. The museum is open from 1 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Researchers can schedule time to go through the city’s archives by appointment only. 41 N. Krome Ave., Homestead, FL 33030

Florida Pioneer Museum

Head to the Florida Pioneer Museum to learn about the daily lives of the original pioneers who settled and developed South Dade. Its historic buildings and artifacts give visitors a peek into their home life, farming, education and businesses, and they can even explore a few buildings that are still standing: a one-room schoolhouse, a general store and the restored John Overstreet House, an 1860s-built, two-story farm dwelling that was typical of the time, made of native heart pine.

Admission free. It is closed May through October, but welcomes visitors on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the rest of the year. 826 S. Krome Avenue, Florida City, FL 33034

The Hotel Redland

Homestead’s oldest building opened in 1904 as the Homestead Inn, and over the years, functioned as a general supply store, rooming house and the city’s first post office. It burned down in 1913 and later reopened as The Hotel Redland in 1934. In 1992, the hotel underwent a total renovation to restore its original glory, then was renovated again in 2023.

Visit the hotel today, and in its 13 rooms and shared spaces, you’ll see that it retains the same look and feel of its humble 1904 beginnings, with early wood frame vernacular architecture, a large wraparound porch and delicate gingerbread detailing. The on-site restaurant, Sushi Sake, is popular for its fresh sushi, hibachi favorites and a full cocktail bar. Fun fact: Local lore claims the property is haunted. You’ll have to stay there to find out.

Check the hotel website for nightly room rates and restaurant hours. 5 S. Flagler Ave., Homestead, FL 33030

Seminole Theatre

Originally built in 1921, Seminole Theatre is a historic performing arts venue and movie theater in downtown Homestead that still hosts scheduled performances, classes, camps and movies today. However, from the time it was built until now, the building has had quite an interesting history. In 1940, it burned down and was rebuilt with an Art Deco façade, a trait that remains a key part of its exterior today. Then, in 1979, financial troubles caused it to once again close its doors.

Fast-forward to 1992, and hurricane Andrew left the theater in ruins. Luckily, a 2015 renovation and expansion restored Seminole Theatre into downtown Homestead‘s primary performing arts center, adding a north wing, a south building and a brand new interior. While the theater isn’t necessarily open at all hours for walking tours, there is a robust calendar of live performances, movies and dance and acting classes for all ages that are open to the public.

Check the website before you go, as prices and times vary by performance and class. 18 N. Krome Ave., Homestead, FL 33030

Explore Historic Downtown Homestead With A Self-Guided Tour

Spread across 11 city blocks, historic Downtown Homestead was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. Get a closer look at its past with the City of Homestead’s free, self-guided Homestead Then & Now tour – you can do most of it on foot or by hopping on the free Homestead trolley. In addition to the locations mentioned above, this tour includes historic places that aren’t open to the public but are worth seeing from the outside for their architecture and backstory.

Landmark Hotel

Built in 1912, Homestead’s Landmark Hotel first opened as the Airdome Theatre, an open-air movie theater that played silent films, and has lived many lives since then. In 1916, it was moved closer to the railroad and housed the original Seminole Theatre from 1919 to 1936 before a full-scale renovation turned the building into a 26-room hotel and restaurant. It was named the Landmark Hotel in 1965, when new owners bought the historic property. While it’s no longer an operating hotel, you can still pass by the original building on your tour of Homestead. 55 S. Flagler Ave., Homestead, FL 33030

Lily Lawrence Bow Library

When the new location of the Homestead Library was built in 1939, it was renamed the Lily Lawrence Bow Library in honor of Homestead’s first librarian, who was also a policewoman and accomplished musician, artist and poet. The building is made out of native oolitic rock and hand-hewn Dade County pine and was dedicated by United States Senator Claude Pepper. Today, this building houses the offices of Homestead’s Community Redevelopment Agency, so don’t expect to visit and check out a book. Make it a stop on your tour and appreciate it from the outside as a historic building. 212 NW 1st Ave., Homestead, FL 33030

The Royal Palms On Krome Avenue

If you’re touring historic downtown Homestead by foot, walk under the Royal Palm trees along Krome Avenue, between Avocado Drive and Flagler Avenue – they're one of Homestead’s most recognizable landmarks. The Rotary Club of Homestead planted these palms twice: originally in 1925 and again in 1998 after Hurricane Andrew destroyed them. They became a part of Homestead’s recorded history in 2001, when the Homestead Historic Preservation Board recognized them as a symbol of a past era and worthy of preservation.