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

Miami Serpentarium

Founded by Bill Haast

Photographed By Tim Fillmon, November 4, 2019

1. Miami Serpentarium Marker

Inscription. The Miami Serpentarium, an early Florida roadside tourist attraction, was once located on this site. Operating from 1946 to 1984, the Serpentarium drew as many as 50,000 annual visitors. Founder Bill Haast put on five shows a day in a white lab coat, extracting venom to sell for scientific experiments. The self-described "poster boy for the benefits of venom" briefly operated a bona fide cancer research laboratory on the property and before invention of the Salk vaccine pursued a cobra venom treatment for polio. Having developed immunity from 172 poisonous snakebites, the "snake man" donated blood to many snakebite victims. Haast died at the age of 100 in 2011.

Erected by Village of Pinecrest.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1946.

Location. 25° 39.145′ N, 80° 19.797′ W. Marker is in Pinecrest, Florida, in Miami-Dade County. Marker is on South Dixie Highway (U.S. 1) 0.1 miles north of Southwest 128th Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located in the Pinecrest Town Center parking lot along US 1. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12651 Dixie Highway, Miami FL 33156, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

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3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Special Agent Jerry Dove, Special Agent Benjamin Grogan (approx. 0.4 miles away); Veterans Wayside Park (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Dice House (approx. 1.7 miles away); a different marker also named Dice House (approx. 1.7 miles away); Chinese Bridge (approx. 2.4 miles away); The Perrine Land Grant (approx. 2.6 miles away); Deering Estate (approx. 2.9 miles away); Whilden-Carrier Cottage (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pinecrest.

Photographed By Tim Fillmon, November 4, 2019

2. Miami Serpentarium Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 10, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2020, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,583 times since then and 294 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 7, 2020, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.