Miami Celebrates 15th Birthday in 1911

The Magic City celebrates its fifteenth birthday in style with a baseball game, parade, and aviation exhibition in July of 1911.

Cover: Wright Brothers Plane Piloted by Howard Gill in 1911

At the onset of 1911, the residents of Miami were preparing for a milestone celebration. While this year only marked the fifteenth anniversary of the city’s incorporation, there was a notable sense of excitement and accomplishment among the pioneers of the soon to be fifteen-year-old municipality.

According to the 1910 census, there were fewer than 5,500 inhabitants living in the Magic City. It was likely that every resident was aware and enthusiastic for the events that would mark the city’s celebration in July of 1911. If they were not aware, it was the decoration committee, responsible for preparing the city for the three-day celebration, who informed them of what to expect and prepare for this important commemoration.