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

Two Parks, Divided

— Biscayne National Park —

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, March 17, 2024

1. Two Parks, Divided Marker

Inscription. On November 13, 1955 a segregated beach called Homestead Bayfront North was opened where you stand today. The park was created as the result of many "wade-ins;" public protests for Black Americans to be granted access to the waterfront. With the creation of this park, people with African heritage gained some access to Biscayne Bay, but separately from their white counterparts at Homestead Bayfront Park.

Despite the happy sights and sounds of a typical day at the beach, there was a palpable tension felt from the other park just to the south.

A miles-long canal, patrolled by police, acted as physical barrier between two roads, two parks, and two groups of Americans. When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 brought legal segregation and the Jim Crow era to an end, Homestead Bayfront North was closed. Visitors and some employees shifted to the newly integrated Homestead Bayfront Park, which is still a county park today.

This site lay fallow for years until the creation of Biscayne National Monument in 1968. Since then, people from across the United States and around the world have visited and recreated here as equals. Though

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the site is now unrecognizable as a segregated beach, we do our best to remember the history we share.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is November 13, 1955.

Location. 25° 27.858′ N, 80° 20.058′ W. Marker is in Homestead, Florida, in Miami-Dade County. It can be reached from Southwest 328th Street 2.8 miles east of Southwest 117th Avenue when traveling east. Located behind the Dante Fascell Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9700 SW 328th St, Homestead FL 33033, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Florida,

on the Gold Coast,

and in Greater Miami.

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

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, March 17, 2024

2. Two Parks, Divided Marker

Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Jones Family of Biscayne (here, next to this marker); Ring the Biscayne Channel Sea Bell! (a few steps from this marker); A Sudden Squall (a few steps from this marker); Maritime Heritage Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); His Majesty's Ship Fowey (within shouting distance of this marker); HMS Fowey Cannon (within shouting distance of this marker); Dante B. Fascell (within shouting distance of this marker); Hurricane Andrew (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Homestead.

Also see . . . Biscayne National Park. National Park Service (Submitted on May 1, 2024.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 29, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 361 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 30, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.