Miami History, Florida

Miami, FL US - History - It’s Always Been Filled with Triumph & Turmoil

Since the city came into being over hundred years ago, Miami has been amongst those that’s been through both triumph and turmoil. However, the increasingly diverse populace of Miami has been responsible for turning this tourist-oriented city into a cosmopolitan and glowing metropolis. From the time of its foundation, rich sub-tropical abundance in Miami along with its beautiful beaches has attracted everyone. Tequesta Indians were the ones, who founded this land over 10,000 years ago and kept it to themselves. However, Spanish again ‘discovered’ it in sixteenth century.

During the nineteenth century, wreckers from Bahamas came to Southern part of Florida for hunting the remains of an array of international ships, which crashed into Great Florida Reef. Simultaneously, Seminole Indians alongside and group of runaway slaves also came to the same region. In 1891, Julia Tuttle, a widow, moved to Florida. She bought 640 acres of land in the northern banks of Miami River. Later on, she had a talk with Henry Flagler, a wealthy railroad builder, for extending his railroad into Miami. She also talked him into building a luxury hotel and a new town. This led to the birth of City of Miami on July 28, 1896.

Following these moves from Tuttle and Flagler, thousands arrived in the state of Florida. Even in those times, Miami was amongst the ones having a diverse population. It had a variety of cultures coming from every corner of the globe and flocking in Miami. An Irish Catholic was made the first mayor of this new city. African-Americans & Black-Bahamians made around one-third of its incorporators.

In 1926, terrible hurricane came in Miami, which led to hundreds losing their lives and thousands becoming homeless. However, things got under control very early mainly due to their resilient residents and part for the aviation industry. At this time, Pan American Airways came up with ‘Flying Clippers’ at Miami Dinner Key. They advertised Miami to be the ‘Gateway to the Americas’. Today, Pan-am terminal is Miami’s City Hall.

Following the Second World War, segregation of races hampered the development of the city. During this period, beaches’ colors were even clearly defined as separated. This segregation led to Overtown developing a unique identity for themselves. After civil battle that lasted decades, school segregations ended in 1970’s. Teachers, staffs and administrators of every public school were integrated. However, reports of racial tensions still cloud the city.

  Miami’s relatively a new city and has a long way to go. Still within this short time, they have been through innumerable issues that made an impact on the history of the whole nation