1950 to 1959 Miami Area Historical Photos Gallery - click on image to enter Photo Gallery by Don Boyd at pbase.com

1950 to 1959 Miami Area Historical Photos Gallery - click on image to enter

Most of these photos are from the Florida State Archives and Miami-Dade Building & Zoning Department and all of them were cleaned up and adjusted for exposure. Others were generously contributed by individuals such as Martha Pierson, Rose Farrell Taylor, Jeff Levine, Steve McDonald, Cecil Curry and Ted Crownover and we thank them for sharing.

5/18/08: all images of restaurants, bars, drive-ins, etc. were moved to the new separate 1950's, 60's and 70's Restaurants gallery. All images of cars, car races, etc. were moved to the new separate Cars, etc. gallery. Images of individuals and small groups were moved to the new separate Individuals and Small Groups gallery.

1950 - Crowd enjoying a concert at the new Bayfront Park Bandshell in downtown Miami	1950 - Musa Isle Indian Village on the Miami River at 27th Avenue, Miami	1950 - Aerial view of the Miller Road to Bird Road area	1950 - the South Beach fishing pier	1951 - Replacement of the NW 36 Street Bridge over the Miami River Canal plans
1951 - Miami shoreline with Bayfront Park in the foreground	1951 - the Sea Breeze Motel at 16151 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles	1951 - the Palms Motel at the southeast corner of US 1 and SW 67 Avenue, Dade County	1951 - the Palms Motel at the southeast corner of US 1 and SW 67 Avenue, Dade County	1951 - looking north from the Bluegrass Motel at 18325 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles
1951 - the Bon Aire Motel under construction at 18145 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles	1951 - ? Bros. Lawn Mower Center at 1501 NW 79 Street, Miami	1951 - the Allan Paint and Hardware store on the southwest corner of NW 79 Street and 16 Avenue, Miami	1951 - Tony's Cleaners and Laundry, Peggy's Beauty Salon and Lena's and Flora's Florist Shop, NW 79 Street and 16 Avenue, Miami	1951 - Filers Hardware store on the NW corner of NW 7 Avenue and 95 Street, Miami
1951 - the northwest corner of NW 7 Avenue and 95 Street, Miami	1951 - the Northwest corner of NW 7 Avenue and 95 Street, Miami	1951 - Beer bar, Mutual Financial Services, Beauty Salon and Venetian Blinds on NW 7 Avenue and 96 Street, Miami	1952 - Burl Grey's boat at a dock where the Miami Herald later built on the bay	1952 - Bike Races on Biltmore Way
1953 - WIOD-AM (later WCKR-AM and back to WIOD) radio broadcast towers off 79th Street Causeway	1953 - the new Burdines department store on Miami Beach	1953 - the new Burdines department store on Miami Beach	Downtown Miami around 1954	1954 - Aerial view of the Golden Glades Interchange looking west
1954 - Closer aerial view of the Golden Glades Interchange looking west	1954 - the Cloverleaf (Golden Glades Interchange) looking southeast at State Road 9	1954 - Matheson Hammock and the beach pavilion	1954 - Flagler Street looking east with City Drugs on the left	1954 - the childrens choir at St. Philips Episcopal Church in Coral Gables
1954 - the Sahara Motel on Collins Avenue in Sunny Isles	1954 - the Carousel Apartment Motel at 19051 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles	1954 - the Carousel Apartment Motel at 19051 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles	1954 - the Carousel Apartment Motel at 19051 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles	1954 - the Carousel Apartment Motel at 19051 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles
1954 - the Carousel Apartment Motel at 19051 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles	1954 - the Carousel Apartment Motel at 19051 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles	1954 - the Town Theater on East Flagler Street, Miami	1950s - the Musa Isle Indian Village on the Miami River and 27th Avenue, Miami	1954 - Seminole Indian boy and parrot at the Musa Isle Indian Village on the Miami River
1955 - NW 36 Street east of Miami International Airport with old Delta C&S billboard on the right side	1955 - Park & Shop City on NW 27th Avenue between 79th and 95th Streets, Miami	1955 - the Ainsley Building in downtown Miami	1950's - Fishing boats and the Jungle Queen tour boat at Pier 5 downtown Miami	1950's - the Santa display on the Burdine's downtown Miami connection
1950's - Shell's Super Store on N. W. 7th Avenue, Miami	1950's - the MacFadden Deauville Hotel on Miami Beach	1950's - Miami Jai Alai Fronton on NW 36 Street, Miami	1950's - Oolite Concrete Company cement truck	1950's - happy fishermen at the Chamber of Commerce Docks on Miami Beach
1950's ? - Miami Beach Kennel Club	Mid 1950's - the Columbus Hotel on Biscayne Boulevard	1950's - the Briar Bowl Tobacconist on Lincoln Road, Miami Beach	1956 - Barfield Instruments with the National Airlines hangar in background, east of LeJeune Road at NW 29 Street	1956 - newsclipping about Burl Grey painting the billboard
1956 - the International City Building and M&M Cafeteria on NW 36 Street, Miami Springs	1956 or 1957 - Dressel's Dairy Farm on Milam Dairy Road west of Miami International Airport	1956 or 1957 - The western portion of Miami International Airport, Dressel's Dairy Farm and undeveloped land	1956 or 1957 - The western portion of Miami International Airport, Dressel's Dairy Farm and undeveloped land	1956 or 1957 - Miami Springs, Virginia Gardens, Dressel's Dairy Farm and land west of Miami International Airport
1956 or 1957 - Miami Springs, Virginia Gardens, Dressel's Dairy Farm and land west of Miami International Airport	1956 or 1957 - Miami Springs, Virginia Gardens (upper left) and land west of Miami International Airport	1957 - the south entrance of the Burdine's department store at 163rd Street Shopping Center	1957 - the new Burdines department store at the 163rd Street Shopping Center	1957 - the north entrance to the Burdines department store at 163rd Street Shopping Center
1957 - the north entrance to the Burdines department store at 163rd Street Shopping Center	1957 - Downtown Miami Skyline	1957 - Isla-Gold Trailer Park and Motel on US 1 in Naranja	1957 - Aerial view of Bird Road and SW 117 Avenue area	1957 - Bird Road in the middle, viewed to the east, SW Dade County
1957 - U-toTe'm convenience store at NW 103 Street and 12 Avenue, Miami	1957 - Sears, Roebuck & Company on Biscayne Boulevard and NE 13th Street, Miami	1957 - The Miami News building on NW 7th Street	1957 - Carol City Town Hall	1957 - letter from Desser & Garfield, owners and developers of Carol City in northwest Dade County
1958 - aerial view of South Miami Heights, Cutler Ridge, Perrine, in Dade County, Florida	1958 - aerial view of South Miami Heights, Cutler Ridge, Perrine, in Dade County, Florida (close up)	1959 - Miami Herald relocation plans	1959 - Lindsley Lumber, NW 27th Avenue and 179th Street, Carol City	1959 - Lindsley Lumber, NW 27th Avenue and 179th Street, Carol City
1959 - the Biltmore Golf Course in Coral Gables	1959 - Allied-Knox Signs on NW 54 Street, Miami	Late 1950s - Highlander Homes in the Norwood section of North Dade County	1959 - 21101 to 21105 S. Federal Highway, Miami	1959 - the Florida East Coast Railway Station in North Miami
1959 - FEC train boarding passengers at the North Miami station	1959 - Emerald Lake	1959 - entrance to the Miami Seaquarium	Late 1950's - Jordan Marsh on Biscayne Boulevard	Late 1950's - Jordan Marsh on Biscayne Boulevard
1950's/60's - Stanley's Cash Store

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Wilson Wright		17-Jul-2008 02:21
The name that comes to my mind on WTVJ was Ralph Renick. His Sister-in-law Babs Henry Collar went to Edison with us and I think graduted in 1947.

Trudy Kline Roth		10-Jun-2008 02:06
I'm trying to find old photos of the section of Miami that went from 7th ave NW to about 2nd Ave NW between 20th St and Flagler. I am doing a research project and can use any/all information about this area. Until about 1960 it was called "Colored Town" then changed to Overtown. My name is Trudy Kline Roth e-mail trudellen@yahoo.com

Don Boyd		09-Dec-2007 02:02
Those are really great memories, Ann. Thank you very much for posting them. Please feel free to add more when you think of some more. Don

ann lederman		08-Dec-2007 18:02
Hi, I worked at Burdine's from 1949 till 1953 as an elevator starter. We had to wear costumes and model clothing in the tea room at lunch time. I also rode the baby elephant on the roof of Burdine's and was in the Christmas Parade evey year riding the elephant!! He was very gentle and well taken care of. After that in 1959 till 1963, I worked in the Cariage Club Beauty Salon. Art Bruns did not own the Miami Springs Villas, he was the General Manager. Percy Gardiner, from Toronto Canada and his son George owned the whole thing. George Gardiner was one of the "Silver Seven" men who owned the Toronto Mapleleafs Hockey Team. I met many celebrities there, including Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Don Drysdale, and other baseball players. Also Michael Landon, Hoss, and I dated Lorne Greene for about ten months, until he wanted me to move to Lake Tahoe, but I didn't know anyone there and was a little apprehensive. I did his other's hair for a while, she lived at the Morton Towers in Miami Beach. We had a great time at the Villas and I will never forget it!! Ann (Waybright) Lederman

miamigrl		25-Nov-2007 00:38
To Arizona Al: Just left another comment under the picture, then found this last one of yours, you ARE in the '63 Palm Echo (when you were a Junior) - check it out on page 132. Love these memories!!

Arizona Al		23-Nov-2007 19:29
To miamigirl: What an amazing small world. Both of us in Mrs. Bush's 6th grade class at Cutler Ridge Elementary 1958!! You can not find me in the 1963 Palmetto Year Book because I graduated in 1964:). In the 6th grade photo I am sitting on the left side one row from the windows behind a guy in a white shirt (Bobby Houpt) and a guy in a striped shirt (Dennis "Duke" Oyler) and next to the guy in a striped tee shirt(Bruce Clemmer). Alan Ogus, Ph.D. Ridge Rat Emeritus, Alive and very well in Phoenix, Arizona

Phil Fortman		14-Oct-2007 03:56
Manocarz: Yes, I have the book and am sitting with it on my lap open to the pages your reference as I type this response. Thank you, I missed that detail. My family moved to Miami in 1950 when I was about 6 years old arriving in a Ford that looked like one of those in the foreground of the photo. Do you know the whereabouts of more photos of Pier 5? I saw the 2 here. I remember going out fishing on a charter boat called The Prowler captained by (I think) Chris Christiansen. Tourists and locals alike would crowd the dock in the late weekend afternoons to see and buy fish as the boats returned.

Tom Burr		10-Oct-2007 13:19
Love the photos. I lived on Key Biscayne from 59-61 and these bring back a lot of memories. Keep up the great work.

manocarz		10-Oct-2007 01:30
Phil: Thre is a great coffee table type picture book by Arva Parks Moore and Carolyn Klepser titled: "Miami Then and Now." Copyright 2002. My brother gave a copy to me as a gift last year. All throughout the book there is an old black & white photo of a old spot in Miami on the left page and a current color photo of the same place on the right hand page. Pages 38 & 39 answer your question about the boat on land at Bayfront. It indicates that the 241 foot "Prins Valdemar" was in place on the northern edge of Bayfront from 1926 to 1952. It was both an aquarium and a restaurant. If you can get ahold of the book it has numerous before and after shots with short paragraphs of details. You will not be dissappointed.

Phil Fortman		08-Oct-2007 01:38
I found your land-locked ship photo in the gallery of the previous decade: 1930 to 1949 titled: the Miami Aquarium onboard Prins Valdemar in Bayfront Park. Was the restaurant I remember a late change for this early landmark or was I mistaken? I am really enjoying browsing your galleries. Thank you for your contribution to South Florida history.

Phil Fortman		07-Oct-2007 23:36
About 1950, I remember a large steel hull schooner on the shoreline just north of the Bayfront Park area. I think it had been pushed ashore by a storm some years earlier, but had been converted to a seafood restaurant. "The Seven Seas" come to mind, but not sure if that was the name. The ship sure impressed me as kid. Also the "Light House Restaurant" on the north side of Haulover Cut where the waiters would net your choice of the fresh catch of the day out of large concrete holding tanks in the restaurant.

manocarz		03-Oct-2007 15:08
I sure hope Jef Levine comes up with some more photo's. They are all GREAT!!!! Thanks to Jeff and to Don for posting them.

Guest		15-Aug-2007 20:10
Guest Jack I was Forest Ranger Supervisor for the Division of Forestry in Dade County in the late 60's. I enjoyed calling Channel 10's Walt Chronice for advise on the weather. He was most congenial and informative, and never refused a call. Great memories!

Peter Tyson		15-Aug-2007 12:51
They used to have a Ferris Wheel on the top of Burdines at Christmas time and the walkway across to the second building was decorated with lights. I got autographs one Christmas from Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker, and Pernell Roberts (Bonanza stars). PT

Susan McCleskey		30-Jul-2007 19:16
What an AWESOME web site!! I, too, remember the rides and cotton candy atop Burdine's at Christmas time!! I graduated from Miami High in 1959---what memories!! Thanks again, ever so much!!

BERNA NITZBERG		17-Jul-2007 17:12
I remember the cotton candy at Burdine-s on the roof at Christmas time...

Jeff		14-Jul-2007 02:46
Walter Cronise was the waethermanon Channel 10 in the 70's and 80's. Neil Frank ws the head of the Hurricane Center...

Verna (Braddock) Campbell		13-Jul-2007 19:19
Gordon Dunn was one of the Weather men. I knew his daughter-in-law, Mary Dunn, that lived in Westwood Lake. Her kids went to Westwood Christian School where I drove a school bus for seven years. Back then I was Verna Jackson.

Dave		05-Jul-2007 21:42
Do you mean Weaver the Weatherman? He was on WTVJ forever. He passed away in 2006

guest Joni		04-Jul-2007 19:48
Who was the weatherman I think on Channel 10 in the 60's 70's?....He wore a bowtie everyday and had curlie hair and has there forever? Was it Walter Chronice? Also a man that worked with the Hurricane Bureau....before Bob Sheets? Can name a few but not that one....Enjoying your wonderful site....Love the walk down Memory Lane.

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