Julia Tuttle

Cozy Corner on the corner of today's Flagler Street and Biscayne Boulevard in 1916

Cozy Corner in Downtown Miami

When John Sewell and his crew began preparations to clear the grounds in April of 1896 for what would become the Royal Palm Hotel, Julia Tuttle asked him to preserve as many of the best shade trees as possible. She…


Aerial of Downtown Miami in 1921

Tuttle Avenue in 1921

Miami experienced several significant changes during the year of 1921. On January 1st, the city implemented a new street naming system to provide a more flexible method of structuring its address scheme to account for any future growth in the…


Hotel Miami in 1897

Hotel Miami on Avenue D

In early 1896, Julia Tuttle and her son, Harry, were intent on opening the first hotel in what would become the city of Miami on July 28, 1896. The mother and son duo decided to expand a building that was…


Aerial of Fort Dallas in 1894

Miami in 1893 – Part 1 of 2

Pre-incorporation Miami, that is the period prior to 1896, was a subtropical Eden with its clear streams and dense foliage, its billowing clouds, and stunning light, its sounds of birds and other wildlife in an untrammeled wilderness. Our information on…


Captain Vail's Floating Hotel in 1896

Captain Vails Floating Hotel

Captain Edward E. Vail was more than just a Miami pioneer. His experiences on the sea and as an entrepreneur provided him with several lifetimes of fascinating stories. He was considered one of the more interesting raconteurs in early Miami….