Thursday, July 27, 2017 / by Leon Zhivelev
Originally named "Fairyland Recreational Island", an amusement park with a Ferris Wheel and more, was planned to be built on the island before the plans were scrapped. Later, the Castaway Hotel was built in 1958 instead.
What is now known as Oceania Island Condominiums at Collins Avenue and 163rd street, was once a perfect example of what the average tourist thought Miami was from the 1950's to the 1970's.
Once known as 'America's Most FUNderful Resort Motel', the Castaways Hotel was designed with Oriental / Neo-Chinese Polynesian Pastiche architecture. It was extravagant and was one of the gems of Miami Beach's "Motel Row".
The motel featured 540 rooms, tennis courts, putting greens and a world famous bar known as the "Wreck Bar". Open from 11AM-5AM, the Wreck bar played live rock'n'roll to its patrons and featured bikini wearing go-go table dancers. They gave away maracas, mallets and other musical instruments to anyone who asked. The 'Wre ...
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miami history, tbt, sunny isles beach
Thursday, June 22, 2017 / by Leon Zhivelev
This wonderful look back into Miami History claims this drawing to be the earliest depiction of settlement in Miami drawn by a soldier stationed at Ft.Dallas in 1849.
Courtesy of Alvin Lederer
1849, hand drawn Bird’s-Eye-View of Miami, Florida - in fact, THE first known view of a settlement on the spot where the City of Miami would eventually flourish!! This drawing was made by a member of Company F of the United States Army’s 2nd Artillery Regiment which occupied the land at the mouth of the Miami River (then known as Fort Dallas) from October 1849 to December 1850. This was the third and longest occupation of the site of Miami, Florida by U.S. Army troops and was the first occupation since the site was abandoned in January, 1841.
We cannot stress enough the historical importance of this amazing View. It is the first known depiction of the settlement at the mouth of the Miami River and as such is the first known view of what would become the City of Miami, F ...
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tbt, miami history