HistoryMiami

I give them five stars just because they were able to secure a full Birds of America collection from John James Audubon. I mean, I think there are three full copies in the world? I may be wrong, but these books (full) are extremely rare. They don’t even have that collection at The Audubon House in Key West, although why would they?
I have been here for several other exhibits, yet nothing to me has been as memorable as the Birds of America exhibit. Even the staff was excited to talk about it. I spent plenty of time with the curators talking about many many things regarding these prints. I was lucky I got plenty of information for a cheap ticket price.
Other exhibits here may have been interesting but I no longer know if they took place here, or at the museum across from this one. I am not even sure if this is the Art Museum. But anyway, none of this will matter because, if my memory doesn’t fail me (or maybe it does, so shoot me a message), they will be moving to the museum complex where PAMM is located.
Anyway, wait for the Audubon collection to surface again and come see it.

I totally recommend that visitors, transplants and natives all take advantage of these low-​cost/​free tours and concerts. There is something about putting on my walking shoes and visiting the historical areas of Miami that make me feel like I can touch the pulse of this city. Take away all the flash and beautiful people shown on television and what we have left is an authentic story of heroes overcoming adversity. We have artists, writers, poets, activists, gangsters, refugees, snow-​birds, silver-​spoon socialites and environmentalists all competing to tell the story of Miami. But why choose one version over another? Mix them to weave a sexy, vibrant and eclectic tale of tropical wonder.
For more information about History Miami — visit:

I haven’t been inside the museum proper since I was in college (and to be fair I’ll hold off a star for that), but have taken part in various Historical Tours guided by the museum’s Dr. Paul George. These tours have taken me along the Miami River, along our northern coast (from Bayside to Bal Harbour) and most recently, to Stiltsville.
Check-​in by another museum staffer was prompt and friendly. Our boat captain from the Island Queen boat was also courteous, and took us on a smooth route.
Dr. George is the kind of teacher who makes history fun, somewhere along the lines of Billy Joel in «We Didn’t Start the Fire»
going as far as surprising us with a guest lecturer, older gentleman who basically said that Miami’s always been a Party and YOLO type town, and Stiltsville was the town’s VIP section back in the 30’s and 40’s!
The cruise lecture started promptly at 9AM from the Bayside Marina, and Dr. George’s knowledge about Miami’s History — from the Tequesta’s thru the Bootleggers during Prohibition, with Richard Nixon and the wild 80’s thrown in — was enlightening. Some of the items pointed out included the Devil’s Punchbowl, a once flowing freshwater spring near Vizcaya, and how Coconut (née Cocoanut) Grove was discovered with an old postal map found by Comm. Munroe from earlier settlers. We were also able to cruise and see the structure of the Powell Key Biscayne Bridge as well an extra credit tour of the Miami Marine Stadium.
I’d definitely recommend this and other tours to learn more about our city. Dr. George mentioned he also teaches a South Florida History class at MDC and has some other boat and narrated walking tours planned.

On the second Saturday of the month, HistoryMiami hosts Family Fun Day and admission is free for all. They offer arts and crafts for the kiddos as well. You can ride the mover (if it’s working) and it drops you off right there. If you drive, parking in the Cultural Ctr lot will only cost you $ 5 with museum validation.
The museum is set up in two separate buildings. The permanent exhibit, Tropical Dreams, history of S. Florida, in one building. And the temporary exhibits and a couple of permanent exhibits in the other. We primarily went to see the Pedro Pan exhibit because my momma bear is a Pedro Pan kid. It is nicely presented and informative. We also really enjoyed the Tropical Dreams exhibit and learning more about South Florida in the beginning.
The staff is friendly and available to answer any questions. This is a small museum and can easily be enjoyed in just a couple of hours if you’re short on time. However, if you are like me and like to read everything, then you might be there a bit longer.

I really loved HistoryMiami! I hadn’t been since elementary school and was surprised by how much fun I had while I was there. The museum provides tons of information and interesting facts about our history. My favorite was the beginning, when you get to learn about South Florida pre-​colonization. But the entire museum is lots of fun :]
A definite perk of this museum is the location — It’s literally right off of the Government Center station. It’s nice being able to park at the metro and ride the rail rather than sit through traffic and pay overpriced parking.
I highly suggest going to this museum. It doesn’t get the appreciation it deserves!

I fell in love with this Museum which I stumbled upon on a free second Saturday. My 3 year old son loves it so much he asked me to buy a membership (so of course we are now members:)
The Children’s Play area is a lot of fun and we love discovering new things upstairs wandering through the interactive exhibits.
The Pedro Pan exhibit is a must-​see!

I visited HistoryMiami with my family to view the Operation Pedro Pan exhibit (my father was one of the children refugees). We came on the second Saturday of the month, which was free (normally, admission is $ 8 per adult). This is an incredibly curated museum, with objects linked to Miami’s cultural heritage. The caliber of the exhibits matched what I have seen in London, New York, D.C., and Chicago. I loved that they have domino tables you can use and crafts/​activities for children. When we went upstairs to the Pedro Pan exhibit, I was amazed at the stories shared by refugees who came to the United States as children. The video and images added depth to the story of the Cuban exodus, and I was so overwhelmed I started to cry. This is, in part, my father’s story, and it is part of Miami’s history. Highly, highly recommended.

History Miami is one of Miami’s most educational and enjoyable Museums. It has a permanent exhibit that highlights the evolution of Miami and the greater South Florida area. The exhibit covers south Florida’s early inhabitants the Tequesta, the influence of Spanish empire, and the homesteaders that flocked to the area and paved the way for its rise to large metropolitan area. The museum also highlights local culture with countless pieces. From displays of Pan Am memorabilia, to sports memorabilia like the center court of the old Miami Arena, and traditional garments and headdresses from Miami’s Latin American and Caribbean populations. The museum also has a wing for rotating exhibits. The museum is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate which allows access to travelling exhibits from the Smithsonian so there is always something new and exciting to see. I was there when they had their collection of prints from the Birds of America, by John James Audubon. For their latest exhibit check out their website. In conclusion, I would recommend this for anybody who would like to learn about Miami’s early beginnings and enjoy some of its culture.

This is a certainly a unique treat in the middle of downtown Miami.
If you like traveling, which I do, and you like the history of the places you travel to, which I do, then the History Miami is the perfect place for you. It is unassuming, uncomplicated, not that busy and a hidden gem all rolled into one. The one thing that may make unsure to visit again is that once you walk through the ‘history” part, then it comes across as «been there done that» so there might be no reason to come back. That with the fact it may not be for everyone makes it more a «might» see destination for everyone.
The place is a bit oddly designed. It is separated by two different buildings, the true «History of Miami» permanent section is in the main building (where admissions is located), while the traveling exhibitions are in the secondary building. When I went there, was hardly anything on the first floor (much of it cordoned off), everything from both exhibits required a walk up a long flight of stairs on the second floor. The place is old (hey vintage!) and slightly dusty (oh ignored!), it felt like the place had not been visited by a large number of people in a long time, including local school children, and that made me really sad. (C’mon discover your hometown!)
I went in the middle of the week during the month of October and the place was not busy at all. I swear at times I was the only person there, and there was only the one person at the admissions desk to explain what this place is all about and maybe two employees talking and walking about. It was odd and slightly off putting for sure.
But on this day, what really drew me to visit History Miami was the Beatles in the secondary exhibit, and that did not disappoint. Nor did the adjacent exhibit of the history of Latin music, which was more of a pictorial/​mural showcase than artifact showcase. Both were totally fascinating and beautifully curated. And at tickets for 8 dollars for both places, plus parking nearby garage validation, you can’t go wrong!
I have to hope that History Miami has something for everyone. A little historical perspective for history and geography nuts out there. And fascinating touring exhibits for people who wouldn’t otherwise visit. All in all this is a «must see» for any history die hard and a «should see» for those visiting Miami with a few hours on their hands. There are parking garages nearby, which even with validation cost a pretty penny, and I after I visited I decided that I was close enough to walk to the key shopping area alongside Biscayne Blvd. Which I sure did.
Totally worth the trip, glad I went. But keep in mind, it’s still not for everyone.

Really nice and informative museum reflecting and describing the history and culture of Miami and its surrounding areas. For $ 8.00, you can’t ask for anything more than that. There are a total of 2 buildings to see and exhibits include the history of Miami and the greater South Florida region as a cultural crossroads of the Americas, Archaeology, Seminole (a Native American tribe), Technology and Home Furnishings, Aviation (including things by the now-​defunct Pan Am), Maritime, and things from community life. Good way to learn more about the history behind Miami!

naty K beat me to it (see her review): l0 stars PLUS for the Beatles Exhibit;I’veseen many (including various Rock and Roll Halls of fame) but here you can record your own memories of the Beatles and how they affected your life-​and I recall VERY
clearly when i first heard my FIRST Beatles song-​at Chloe Scott’s in Palo Alto, Ca, l965-​I don’t recall which song, but it didn’t matter. I knew it was important and
life changing and this exhibit captures all of that!!! I also had a wonderful
experience with «Selma» who operates the front desk and had all sort s of
wonderful info to convey, as well as Surmise t. lewis, who had a great
christmas hat on to go with their Christmas activities for Kids-​how I wish
I had time to take part-​she is in charge of public programs and was
knowledgeable and friendly-​as were ALL The volunteers, including a
former Professor, Richard Glukstad, who had published a book I’m
trying to get; Nobody’s Perfect! He was a great compendium of information
and I only wish I had had more time to share experiences and pick his brain.
It is IMPOSSIBLE to see the ENTIRE Museum in one fell swoop-​I missed all
of the History of Miami exhibits due to my exhaustion from the encounters
and sights listed above, but i can’t wait to go back. And it’s proximity
to the Central Branch of the Library, where they were having a massive
book sale, which I made myself AVOID, are reasons enough to return to
Miami. Who’d thunk it-​the City of Miami is a treasure chest of multiple
experiences – far outshining those in the publicity that South Beach garners.
As far as I’m concerned, you can have a totally fulfilling cultural experience
by visiting the City of Miami and it’s museums-​and once the Science
center opens… the archchitecture from the Arena where the Heat play
to the older Miami History Museum plus the people who work at or
are associated with the Museum make the trip a really fun and educational
experience! Go Miami!

10+ stars for their Beatles exhibit, here through January 2015. It features lots of collectible Beatles memorabilia, original letters, lyrics, album covers, and clothing, as well as that of bands and artists that were a major influence on The Beatles (Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, James Brown, and more). It is very interesting, I spent about 2 hours there viewing the instruments, contracts, and many other artifacts. There was also a drum set where some adventurous patrons were trying their hand at playing the drums, aided by a Ringo Starr instructional video. If you love good music, or you’re a music history buff, make it a point to catch this awesome exhibit! It is Beatle-​rific and Beatles fan approved!

I noticed in the Where magazine an ad for the latest Beatles exhibit at History Miami. With 400 items, it sounded like it would be great to see for any Beatles fan. The location is in downtown Miami by the library. It’s about a 40 minute bus ride away from South Beach or a 15 minute cab ride for about $ 26.
There are 2 buildings for the museum. We entered the main and larger building and paid admission, $ 8 each, and were given stickers to put on our shirts to show we paid. We started with the Beatles exhibit and walked across the plaza to the other building. We were warmly greeted and told what exhibits were inside and up the stairs was the Beatles one.
There were cool items to see from the Beatles visit to the US. There were videos, types of guitars they played, hand written set lists, contracts, newspapers articles, records, and more! There was a booth where visitors could record their memories, and my favourite was the drum set and instructional video from Ringo. There weren’t many visitors so I felt like we had lots of time to look at everything with no distractions. Definitely a great attractions for Beatles fans!
The other exhibit in the building showed the history of the Miami area including the influence of various cultures in the area. In the other building, the Tropical Dreams is an exhibit about the history of South Florida. It goes back hundreds of years to present day. It’s an interesting history lesson to learn more about the area.
A great museum to check out and giving it 4 stars with the Beatles exhibit which runs until January 18, 2015.

Pros:
— Free admission: museum is free on the second Saturday of every month. It wasn’t crowded when we went even on free day.
— Fun kids activities: on free day, there were blocks for kids to build whatever they wanted, as well as a station for kids to make magic wands. Friendly volunteers were present to help out. A worker read a story and taught kids about the culture of local native Americans.
Cons:
— Mediocre exhibits: there were fossils, local history, etc., but things seemed very dated and old. Exhibits definitely need some upgrading.
— Value: if it wasn’t free when we went, we would feel ripped off!
Overall: a good museum when it’s free; otherwise, spend your money somewhere else.

HistoryMiami is one of most well presented museums in S FL. The main permanent exhibit chronicles the development of Miami from the times of the Native tribes, through colonialism, up to the modern develop as a city from Henry Flagler. Very interesting and detailed information for each time period with mock exhibits, recreations, and photos and artifacts. I was really moved sitting inside the Buena Vista street car with the segregation sign still posted inside. If you are a Miami Dade resident, visit the near by Main Branch library and request a Museum Pass, there are several museum throughout the county that participate in this program which gives residents free entry and HistoryMiami is one. A good visit for the general curious, history buffs, or any resident looking to learn more about the hometown. Great job guys !

So many artifacts and so much information. Didn’t have time for it all. Absolutely loved the Bob Marley exhibit. Looking forward to going back!

$ 8 admission per adult for two floors of… not much.
The eighteen photos posted by others pretty much sums it up. (Except the photo of the women at a bar. I don’t know what that is doing here. I saw no bar in the museum).
You’d be better off spending your time and money somewhere else

I always try to visit at least one museum when visiting a new city so of course I had to check out HistoryMiami. This museum has 2 floors, but most of the stuff is upstairs in like a few sectioned off portions. It basically takes you through a quick and brief history of how Miami developed. There is the beginning of time, then through the Spanish invasion and discovery, to the native Americans, and development through wars, and finally to like modern times. I really really wish there was more to see, but the trolley bus thing, boat, and house pieces were quite cool. Staff is also very very friendly and I liked how helpful they were. Price was $ 7 since I used my student ID. Wish I could have gotten the combo with the Art Museum, but it is closed for a few more months.

A girlfriend and I ventured into HistoryMiami on Smithsonian museum day to get while the gettin’ was good.
We were certainly not disappointed!
Check out the Teen Exhibit. Sounds muy lame. But in reality – awesome!
I will be back for a more thorough review of the Pre-​History/​Contact era of South Florida.

History Miami is an interesting place for both local and out of towners. The story of Miami is told through a variety of artistical consisting such as painting, articrats, animal bones and other other items. It is very kid friendly as the are small colorful toys to cater to the interest of small children. I enjoyed the written description of each item with background information. Although I did not use one, an audion tour is available in both english and spanish.
Give it a try the next time you are around.