Miami is known for many things, including amazing luxury exotic cars, a vibrant nightlife, art deco building, and great food. There are also some wonderful historic landmarks in the Miami-Dade metropolitan area that are worth a special trip. These iconic structures are beautiful and each is a unique part of the Miami culture. Miami-Dade County, Florida is located along the southeastern coast of the state. The county includes 34 incorporated cities, including Miami which is the largest city. The county also includes a part of the Everglades National Park. There are interesting and historic structures and icons in several of the cities within Miami-Dade county.
Within Miami, stands Freedom Tower. This building and tower were constructed in 1925 and served as the Miami News headquarters until the 1950s. It was later used to process Cuban immigrants and is considered the Miami version of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
In Miami Beach, the Colony Hotel is the iconic image that often pops into mind when someone things of Miami. It is colorful and perfectly represents the Miami culture. In Hialeah stands Hialeah Fountain. Hialeah also contains the famous Hialeah Racetrack. Locals love the fountain because of the welcoming arch as visitors enter the city.
In Homestead, visitors enjoy the Coral Castle. This incredible structure was built by Edward Leedskalnin because his fiancee jilted him the day before their wedding. No one knows exactly why he built the structure or even how, but it is an interesting site.
Doral boasts the Trump National Doral. This is a nice building that started life as the Doral Golf Resort & Spa. It was supposed to become the jewel of the area, but that didn't happen. Now, it stands as an iconic reminder of what can happen when planned development doesn't go well.
In Miami Gardens stands a structure that appears very similar to another iconic US structure. Miami Gardens loves its arch and features it on its city seal. The arch is on the National Historic Register of Historic Places and stands at the entrance of Sunshine State industrial park.
Coral Gables is home to one of the most beautiful buildings in the country, the Biltmore Hotel. This incredibly lovely structure features Mediterranean style architecture and is considered the crown of the town. Another colorful example of south Florid and Miami architecture is the Opa-Locka City Hall. The town was developed by Glenn Curtiss who built it in an Aladdin-type theme, complete with Moorish domes.
In North Miami Beach stands the St. Bernard de Clairvaux Church. Constructed in the 12th century in Spain, this church was taken apart and sent to New York in the 1920s. William Randolph Hearst placed it in storage and it wasn't until the 1960s that it was bought by new owners and rebuilt in North Miami Beach.
In Miami Shores, the St. Rose of Lima Bell Tower is one of the most ornate bell towers in the country. This is a lovely example of church architecture. Visiting Miami is often about dancing, tanning, and drinking. These icons in the Miami-Dade area offer another way to enjoy this historic city.