Miami in Miami-Dade County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Art Deco Tower

Photographed By AGS Media, March 15, 2013

1. The Art Deco Tower Marker

Inscription. This seven-story octagonal tower was built in 1929 as an entrance to the Sears Roebuck and Company department store, which was designed by the architectural firm Nimmons, Carr and Wright. It was the focal point of the first Art Deco style development in the Miami area. After the Sears store closed in 1983, preservationists, led by the nonprofit Dade Heritage Trust, fought for years to save it from demolition. In 1991 Sears donated the property to Miami-Dade County and the tower was later incorporated into the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts. The tower was designated historic by the City of Miami in 1991 and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Art Deco series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1929.

Location. 25° 47.24′ N, 80° 11.362′ W. Marker is in Miami, Florida, in Miami-Dade County. Marker is at the intersection of Biscayne Boulevard (U.S. 1) and Northeast 13th Street, on the left when traveling north on Biscayne Boulevard. The tower's location is now known as the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, where it sits in-between and detached

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from the facility's two main buildings, which lie on either side of Biscayne Boulevard. The tower overlooks the Parker and Vann Thomson Plaza for the Arts, an outdoor performance space, and is visible from much of northeast downtown Miami and the Omni district. The tower is a short walk from two stations on the Metromover's Omni loop: Adrienne Arsht Center Station and Museum Park Station. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1300 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami FL 33132, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Miami City Cemetery (approx. half a mile away); Port of Miami (approx. half a mile away); The Tower of Snow (approx. half a mile away); Judge Lawson Edward Thomas Law Office (approx. 0.6 miles away); Tequesta (approx. 0.8 miles away); Gesu Catholic Church (approx. 0.8 miles away); Menendez on Biscayne Bay (approx. 0.8 miles away); Christopher Columbus (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Miami.

More about this marker. The plaque is mounted outside the tower's main doors, facing towards the street corner.

Regarding The Art Deco Tower. The tower (more widely known as the Sears Tower or the Carnival Tower) and the four-story department store once attached to it were the first known use of Art Deco architecture in the county, pre-dating the noted Art

Art Deco details from the Tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, March 15, 2013

2. Art Deco details from the Tower

Appearing just above the main doors

Deco districts in nearby Miami Beach. Listed with the National Register of Historic Places as "Sears, Roebuck and Company Department Store" (reference # 84003903), the property was deemed eligible as early as 1989, but remained unlisted due to objections by Sears (despite the fact that the store had been closed since 1983). The listing finally became official in 1997, once Sears was no longer the owner. Unfortunately, long years of disuse left the store in structural decay, and by 2001 only the tower portion of the building remained standing.

Also see . . . Sears, Roebuck and Company Department Store (Miami, Florida). article on Wikipedia (Submitted on March 24, 2013, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida.)

The Art Deco Tower, a.k.a. Sears Tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, March 15, 2013

3. The Art Deco Tower, a.k.a. Sears Tower

Knight Concert Hall and the Tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, March 15, 2013

4. Knight Concert Hall and the Tower

A nighttime view of the tower, to the right of the Concert Hall

The Tower and the Adrienne Arsht Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, March 15, 2013

5. The Tower and the Adrienne Arsht Center

The tower sits between the Ziff Ballet Opera House (left) and the Knight Concert Hall (right).

Sears, Roebuck and Company Department Store image. Click for full size.

State Archives of Florida

6. Sears, Roebuck and Company Department Store

Courtesy: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/163595>/a>

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2013, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 745 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 24, 2013, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide view photo of the marker and the surrounding area together in context. • Can you help?