In January 1977, when Miami Beach was far from the glamorous, pastel-washed destination we know today, a small band of preservationists staged something entirely new: the very first Art Deco Weekend . It wasn’t a festival then—more like a bold experiment, a public plea, and a line drawn in the sand. South Beach at the time was facing a crisis. Developers saw the aging 1930s buildings not as treasures but as outdated relics taking up valuable oceanfront space. Demolition crew

My job is to walk backwards — with passion, precision, and exceptional ratings to prove it. To me, Miami Beach is like a treasure chest: the buildings are its gold and silver, lobbies are its pearls, and the colors are its sapphires. Every day I lead travelers through the charming streets, lobbies, rooftops, and hidden alleys, and together we unveil this treasure. Art Deco Walking Tour People pay me to show them the world they’re already standing in — but can’t see. They foll

Grill reached full ornamental expression in the 1920s–30s Art Deco period, when industrial ventilation patterns became deliberate ornamental symbols of modern design. But that story doesn’t begin there. Rolls-Royce Phantom I (1925–31) Grill goes as far back as Ancient Egypt - decorative stone lattice in temples. The main purpose of a grill (a perforated barrier) was ventilation, light entry, and protection. The modern visual idea of a grill as style element started with ca

Our Dancing Daughters  (1928) - set decoration by Cedric Gibbons The United States had no official representation at the 1925 Paris Exposition , where Art Deco made its global debut. At the time, the nation still suffered from a colonial inferiority complex — the notion that true art could only come from Europe. MGM art director Gibbons was inspired by what he saw, and his film sets served as America’s first exposure to this “modern” style. Cedric Gibbons (1890-1960) Cedric

Production is underway for Art Deco Dreams: A Miami Beach Story  — a new documentary uncovering the vibrant, lesser-known history of one...

Miami Beach, FL – June 12, 2025  – The City of Miami Beach, through the Office of the Mayor, is proud to present 100 Years of Art Deco: A...

Now more than ever, it’s time to unite and raise our voices in defense of the Miami Beach Art Deco Historic District. A wave of...

Miami Beach, with its unique low-rise pastel buildings, charming sidewalks, and annoying historical character, has long been held back by...

Not many people are consciously aware that when a building is preserved, so is the scale. That very scale which makes Miami Beach a...