10 Best Historical Places in Miami
Discover the Most Historical Landmarks of Miami
The best historical places in Miami are a blend of captivating historic sites and unforgettable experiences. Whether you want to explore exquisite Renaissance-style gardens and old-world European architecture, find artistic inspiration in a delightful Art Deco district, or breathe in the air of a rare tropical forest, Miami has the spot.
While the city is a modern multicultural metropolis with a singular and colorful identity, it is also home to a host of historic gems that open a window to the past. Check out our list of the best historic places to visit in the Sunshine State to make your visit extraordinary.
1. Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
Renaissance-style mansion and gardens
Good for: History, Families, Photo
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens is a Renaissance-inspired waterfront mansion and garden built by industrialist James Deering in 1916 and the highlight of a trip to Miami. The magnificent Mediterranean-style mansion-turned-museum contains eclectic collections of treasures and artwork from antiquity to the early 20th century.
But for many visitors the gardens steal the show. Reminiscent of royal gardens in 17th and 18th-century Europe, the vast, manicured grounds are some of the most elaborate in the Unites States. There is an entry fee but no time limit, so plan to spend several hours exploring this stunning site.
Location: 3251 S Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33129, USA
Open: Wednesday–Monday from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm
Phone: +1 305-250-9133
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
2. Ancient Spanish Monastery
Medieval monastery brought from Spain
Good for: History, Unusual
The Monastery of St. Bernard de Clairvaux is a 12th century Spanish monastery that was dismantled and brought to the US in 1925 by William Randolph Hearst. Hearst went into debt and died while the church was still in boxes. But it was bought by entrepreneurs and put together like a giant jigsaw puzzle in North Miami Beach.
Now among the oldest buildings still in use in the western hemisphere, the monastery serves as an atmospheric setting for movies and nuptials, with its ivy-covered stone walls, medieval statues, and stained-glass windows. Tours are available most days. The monastery is an hour by bus from downtown and has free parking. Do call ahead as monastery sometimes closes for events.
Location: 16711 W Dixie Hwy, North Miami Beach, FL 33160, USA
Open: Monday–Saturday from 10 am to 4.30 pm, Sunday from 11 am to 4.30 pm
Phone: +1 305-945-1461
Ancient Spanish Monastery
3. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
A historic lighthouse
Good for: History, Families
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is known for its historic lighthouse and family friendly beach, popular for swimming, kayaking, and fishing. It’s often ranked among the top 10 beaches in the country.
Just minutes away from Miami, the state park is a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site with a storied history, where Black Seminoles and fugitive slaves sought safe passage to the British Bahamas. Take a tour of the historic 1825 lighthouse for incredible views. Go on a weekday if you can as the park gets very busy on weekends and closes once it reaches capacity, even to cyclists and pedestrians.
Location: 1200 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, FL 33149, USA
Open: Daily from 8 am to sunset
Phone: +1 786-582-2673
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
4. Deering Estate
A rare, preserved forest in the city
Good for: History, Families, Unusual
The Deering Estate is a landmark on the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve known for its historic architecture, forest preserve, and globally endangered habitat. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, it was the home of industrialist and environmentalist Charles Deering, who bought it in 1916 to protect its forest for fear of losing it to development.
You can visit the pioneer family home and the Mediterranean Revivalist Stone House and partake in activities such as butterfly walks and canoe tours. Birdwatchers love the estate’s forest, a haven for birdlife with over 170 resident and migratory species. Take the guided Nature Preserve Tours to learn about the rare and important tropical hardwood hammock and endangered pine rocklands.
Location: 16701 SW 72nd Ave, Miami, FL 33157, USA
Open: Daily from 10 am to 4 pm
Phone: +1 305-235-1668
Deering Estate
5. Gesu Church
Florida’s oldest Catholic Church
Good for: History, Couples, Photo
Gesu Church is Miami’s oldest Catholic church and a historic landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in the 1920s, the pink Mediterranean Revivalist-style church utterly contrasts with the glistening skyscrapers surrounding it. Inside, the craftsmanship and detailing on show are remarkable with Gothic stained-glass windows from Munich, an Italian marble altar, and an embossed, arched ceiling and dome.
Gesu Church is legendary for its humanitarian work with returning soldiers, senior citizens, and exiles. It is located downtown just 2 blocks from the Bayfront Park and is easy and free to access on the Miami Metromover.
Location: 118 NE 2nd St, Miami, FL 33132, USA
Open: Monday–Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm, Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm
Phone: +1 305-379-1424
Gesu Church
6. Miccosukee Village
A surviving First Nations village in the Everglades
Good for: History, Families, Adventure
Miccosukee Village is a family-friendly experience of the history, traditions, and culture of the Miccosukee Tribe. You can see live alligators, watch the making of tribal arts, and see energetic performances of traditional music and dance.
Kids love the airboat rides through the wetlands where you can see alligators in the wild. Visit the living history museum to learn about the tribe’s proud history of evading capture and hear recordings of the Miccosukee language. You’ll find Miccosukee Village 20 miles (32 km) west of Miami on the Tamiami Trail.
Location: 500 US-41, Miami, FL 33194, USA
Open: Wednesday–Sunday 9 am to 4.30 pm (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
Phone: +1 305-552-8365
Miccosukee Village
7. The Barnacle Historic State Park
A tranquil old forest park in the city
Good for: History, Families, Unusual
Perched on the waterfront in Biscayne Bay, Barnacle Historic State Park is home to the oldest house in Miami-Dade County standing in its original location. Pioneer and conservationist Ralph Middleton Munroe built the house in 1891 on a site surrounded by a now-rare tropical hardwood hammock. Munroe cut only a narrow trail through the forest to preserve the lush landscape, and it has been protected ever since.
The Barnacle hosts events like moonlight concerts, movie nights, ghost tours, and Shakespeare in the Park. You can also visit just to enjoy a tranquil waterfront picnic or a stroll through the dense forest, still home to many bird species.
Location: 3485 Main Hwy, Miami, FL 33133, USA
Open: Friday–Wednesday from 9 am to 5 pm (closed on Thursdays)
Phone: +1 305-442-6866
The Barnacle Historic State Park
8. The Official Art Deco Walking Tour
A fun historical walking tour of vibrant South Beach architecture
Good for: History, Couples, Photo
The Official Art Deco Walking Tour introduces you to the vibrant and fascinating architectural historic district of Miami’s South Beach. Run by passionate and knowledgeable guides, the tour transports you back to the 1920s and 30s when the Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival, and Miami Modern (MiMo) styles dominated, with tales of political intrigue, unlikely heroes, and funny asides.
You visit the gorgeous buildings without rushing, stopping to see the interiors of important hotels, restaurants, and commercial buildings, some of which are otherwise closed to the public. Take the tour early in your stay for a rich understanding and appreciation of the area.
Location: 1001 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139, USA
Open: Daily from 9 am to 5 pm
Phone: +1 305-672-2014
The Official Art Deco Walking Tour
9. Venetian Pool
Historic Mediterranean-style pool
Good for: History, Unusual, Photo
Opened in 1924, the Venetian Pool in Coral Cables has a Mediterranean aesthetic with Old-World-style buildings, a picturesque footbridge, waterfalls, and grottos. Unusual for a pool, it was originally a limestone quarry pit and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is fed by spring water from an underground aquifer and refilled daily, so the water is pristine.
In its early days, the pool was popular with high society and movie stars and known for music performances on the drained pool floor. Today, it is a must-visit historic site you can visit all year except in December and January when it closes. Book ahead online as the pool stops selling tickets once it reaches maximum capacity.
Location: 2701 De Soto Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134, USA
Open: Monday–Friday from 11 am to 6.30 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 10 am to 4.30 pm
Phone: +1 305-460-5306
Venetian Pool
10. Freedom Tower
Historic tribute to freedom and hope
Good for: History, Couples
The Freedom Tower is a storied symbol of freedom of the press and people and an iconic presence on the Miami skyline. A National Historic Landmark, it was built in 1925 to house Miami’s first newspaper and later acted as a gateway for thousands of Cubans fleeing the Castro regime in search of the American dream.
Today it is home to fascinating art exhibits on the cultural influence of Cuban immigrants in Miami and the experience of exile and houses the Kislak Collection of artifacts from the civilizations that influenced the development of the Americas. The Tower is easy to reach with its own station on the Miami Metromover Omni Loop.
Location: 600 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, USA
Phone: +1 305-237-7700
Freedom Tower
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