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

Historical Marker #2 Dance Pavilion

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, March 7, 2018

1. Historical Marker #2 Dance Pavilion Marker

Inscription. A 1918 map located a "Negro Dance Pavilion" on Virginia Key. When Virginia Key Beach Park opened in 1945, a concrete dance floor was included on this site. Beach visitors danced the Lindy Hop, Foxtrot, Twist, Monkey, Mash Potato, Robot, and Hustle to the popular hits of the day. Local radio stations held live Saturday broadcasts and hosted dance contests here, too.

This project has been financed in part with historic preservation assistance provided by Bureau of Historic Preservation, Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State, assisted by the Florida Historical Commission.

Erected by Virginia Key Beach Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1918.

Location. 25° 44.113′ N, 80° 9.378′ W. Marker is in Miami, Florida, in Miami-Dade County. It is in Downtown Miami. It can be reached from Virginia Beach Drive 0.4 miles east of Rickenbacker Causeway. Marker is located near the Concession Stand and the Virginia Key State marker. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4020 Virginia Beach Drive, Key Biscayne FL 33149, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Florida

and on the Gold Coast.

It is also in the American South

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies:

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Virginia Key Beach Park (a few steps from this marker); The Concession Stand (within shouting distance of this marker); Coast Survey Base Marker (approx. 1.2 miles away); Office of Dr. James Jackson, Miami's First Physician (approx. 2.8 miles away); Chateau Petit Douy (approx. 2.8 miles away); Professor Charles Torrey Simpson/Professor Charles Torrey Simpson Park (approx. 2.9 miles away); Congregation Beth Jacob (approx. 2.9 miles away); Mary Brickell Park (approx. 3.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Miami.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Brickell Park (was approx. 3.1 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Historical Marker #2 Dance Pavilion image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, March 7, 2018

2. Historical Marker #2 Dance Pavilion

Marker is located just out of the picture to the right of the concession stand.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 24, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 23, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 621 times since then and 88 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 23, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.