Dedications of Park & Causeway in 1947

In a ceremony that spanned three days, the Rickenbacker Causeway and Crandon Park on Key Biscayne were dedicated beginning on Sunday, November 9, 1947.

Cover: Entrance to the Rickenbacker Causeway in 1947. Courtesy of Florida State Archives.

Two historic South Florida icons were honored when the Rickenbacker Causeway and Crandon Park were dedicated on November 9, 1947. A war hero and airline executive, Eddie Rickenbacker, stated it was an honor to be associated with Charlie Crandon, a good friend of Rickenbacker and long-time Dade County commissioner who was instrumental in the acquisition and expansion of parks throughout Dade County during his time in office.

Eddie Rickenbacker was an aviation pioneer who led the 94^th Aero Squadron during World War I and was a decorated war hero when he returned home from the conflict in Europe. At the conclusion of fighting in France in 1918, the 94^th had the highest number of aviation victories of all American squadrons. The decades following the war Rickenbacker had tremendous success in business. He started a car company, founded Florida Airways, purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from Carl Fisher, and founded a comic strip called Ace Drummond. Eddie’s nickname after World War I was the ‘Aces of Aces’. In 1935, Rickenbacker facilitated the merger of Eastern Air Transport and Florida Airways to form Eastern Airlines, and later became CEO of the company.

During the second world war, Rickenbacker became a consultant for the British Royal Air Force and the American Army Air Corp to provide guidance on bombing strategy. During one mission in October of 1942, his plane crashed in a remote area of the Pacific Ocean and he and his crew were stranded at sea for 24 days before being rescued.

Charlie Crandon, who served for 20 years on the Dade County Commission, played a key role in establishing the county’s park system, including his namesake park on Key Biscayne. In addition, he pushed for the county’s health department, sponsored the building of the Dade County Auditorium, and was president of the Fairchild Tropical Garden’s Board during his storied political career.

Figure 1: Eddie Rickenbacker (left), and Charlie Crandon (right), on November 9, 1947. Courtesy of the Miami Daily News.

The formal opening of the causeway and park spanned three days beginning on Sunday, November 9^th, through Armistice Day observances on Tuesday, November 11, 1947. As chairman of the board of County Commissioners at this time, Crandon reflected on this momentous occasion by saying:

“The whole program has been arranged to not only befit the occasion, but also to demonstrate to the rest of the world the expansion of the Miami area’s recreational facilities provided by the new causeway and park on Key Biscayne. The official dedication of the park and span symbolizes the opening of another record season for this area and will show the rest of the country that we are open for winter pleasure as usual.”

By Sunday morning, grandstands were erected on both sides of the entrance to the Rickenbacker Causeway, near SE 26^th Road and Brickell Avenue, which was the starting point of a parade route that would traverse the 4-mile span beginning at 2pm on Sunday afternoon on November 9^th. The theme of the three-day event was referred to as a ‘Tequesta festival’, which included students dressed as braves and squaws as part of the parade festivities. The procession also included marching bands from local high schools and the American Legion.

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The Greater Miami high school mixed chorus of 300 voices, directed by Harvey Carney, sand “America the Beautiful” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic”. Thereafter, Florida Governor Millard Caldwell introduced the guests of honor, Rickenbacker and Crandon, who both made brief dedicatory addresses on ceremony conducted on the causeway.

In addition to the parade and dedication ceremonies, there were sailing boat races that began at 1pm off the causeway, followed by power boat races at 2:30pm. The three-day celebration concluded with a fireworks display on Tuesday evening to commemorate Armistice Day. See video below for film of the dedication ceremonies.

In total, it was estimated that there were 2,000 participants in Sunday’s events, and over 10,000 visitors to Key Biscayne during the course of the three-day celebration. The Rickenbacker Causeway was the first span connecting the mainland with Key Biscayne, providing a new way to access the island. In addition to residents and tourists in attendance, the dedication ceremonies included the governors of Florida and surrounding states, as well as military leaders who were friends and colleagues of Eddie Rickenbacker.

The land for Crandon Park was part of a donation in 1940 by the Matheson family of over 800 acres for a public park. Charles Crandon promised the family that the county would build a bridge to Key Biscayne to ensure that the park was accessible to the public. World War II delayed the construction of the span, but the structure was finally completed in November of 1947 in time for the dedication ceremonies on November 9^th for both the park and causeway.

Figure 2: Images from the dedication ceremony published in the Miami Daily News on November 10, 1947.

Resources:

• Miami News: “Thousands To See Official Dedication of Causeway, Park”, November 9, 1947.

• Miami Herald: “Rickenbacker Causeway, Park Open with Dedication Today”, November 9, 1947.

• Miami News: “Thousands Witness Causeway and Park Dedication”, November 10, 1947.