History of Miami Beach Through Photos of "Then & Now"

In short, it is "the history of the city of the century". Because there is no place on the planet like Miami Beach and there is no city of its size on which so much has been written.

In 1870, Henry and Charles Lum, father and son, sailed from Key West and camped one night on a sandbar island among the mangroves that would buy the state for the (at that time too) incredible 75 cents the half hectare.

With that amazing start, what would become Miami Beach, would eventually emerge as the most famous and incredible resort destination in the world.

An aerial view north of Collins Avenue and 27th Street in Miami Beach, at the point where Indian Creek Drive becomes a separate street and runs parallel to its namesake on the left. Algiers Hotel is appreciated directly before the camera and the big hotel in the center to the right of the photo is Seville.

This street is Española Way, west of Washington Avenue, around 1927.

A view to the east of Lincoln Road, "Fifth Avenue of the South". This historical photo was taken sometime in the late 1930s, from Pennsylvania Avenue. Lincoln Theater is on the left. Lincoln Road is now a famous shopping center and the old Lincoln Theater was transformed into shops.

A wonderful view of Ocean Drive, taken in 1937, with a view north from Ninth Street. On the left, The Edison Hotel can be seen in this photo.

This historic aerial view of Miami Beach is oriented to the north and was taken from a plane over Government Cut. Miami Beach Kennel Club is seen in the background, on the left, while the pier of South Beach goes into the Atlantic Ocean. North of the short stretch of hotels over the ocean is the famous Lummus Park, named after the Lummus brothers, one of whom (John Newton) became first mayor of Miami Beach in 1915.

Miami Beach is, in short, the city of the world and, once again, one of the most desired and attractive destinations on the planet.

Seth H. Bramson, the official historian of the city of Miami Beach, has lived in Miami for 68 years and has published many books on the history of South Florida. The vintage photographs shown above were selected from your personal archive and remind us of the past days. For more information on the Miami Beach centennial celebration, visit MiamiBeach100.com