Talks at Vizcaya: Preserving Vizcaya’s Swimming Pool Grotto

Get a behind-the-scenes look at one of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens’ most distinctive architectural features during a special evening program in the Main House courtyard. Talks at Vizcaya: Preserving Vizcaya’s Swimming Pool Grotto, taking place Wednesday, April 30, offers insight into the ongoing conservation of the historic Swimming Pool Grotto.

Installed in 1916, the grotto’s ceiling features an undersea mural by American artist Robert Winthrop Chanler—one of only three publicly accessible Chanler murals in the U.S. Over the years, exposure to the coastal climate and the original materials used in the space have caused significant deterioration, prompting a complex preservation effort.

This program explores the multi-year project funded in part by a $750,000 Save America’s Treasures grant awarded in 2024. Attendees will learn about the challenges and strategies involved in conserving this rare work, as well as the partnerships and innovations supporting the project.

The event will take place in Vizcaya’s Main House courtyard; the Swimming Pool Grotto itself remains closed to the public during conservation. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the talk begins at 7:30 p.m., with complimentary wine available prior to the program.