Downtown Miami in Miami-Dade County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Challenger Memorial
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, March 8, 2026
1. The Challenger Memorial Marker
Ivory
Cinder
Open petals
Soar the space path
Flesh spirits heroes
McAuliffe Onizuka Jarvis McNair Smith Resnik Scobee
Erected 1988.
Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is January 28, 1986.
Location. 25° 46.384′ N, 80° 11.2′ W. Marker is in Miami, Florida, in Miami-Dade County. It is in Downtown Miami. It is at the intersection of Biscayne Boulevard and Chopin Plaza, on the right when traveling north on Biscayne Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 199 FL-5, Miami FL 33132, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker and memorial is in South Florida and on the Gold Coast. It is also in the American South. 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 walking distance of this marker: Miami Centennial Time Capsule (within shouting distance of this marker); Bayfront Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Anton J. Cermak (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Slide Mantra (about 400 feet away); Dade County War Memorial (about 400 feet away); General D. Josι de San Martνn (about 500 feet away); Simσn Bolνvar Monument (about 600 feet away); Christopher Columbus (approx. Ό mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Miami.
Also see . . . Miamis oft-overlooked Challenger Memorial gets new attention (Caplin News)
this page online
As a result of that tragedy, memorials were built across the country. The grandest and most celebrated was designed by famed Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi, who died a few weeks before the memorial was officially unveiled on December 30, 1988, without seeing his work completed. The double helix-shaped steel and granite sculpture firmly stands in the southwest corner of Bayfront Park in Miami...The memorial was funded by donations from Miami-Dade schoolchildren and their families, and the trust fund of Lamar Louise Curry, a social studies Miami Senior High School teacher who made many contributions to Miami. Besides being an only child and never getting married, Lamar inherited from her father a lot of real estate in the Florida Keys and in Miami. She had a lot of love for Miami and its people.(Submitted on April 17, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, March 8, 2026
2. The Challenger Memorial
The Challenger Memorial is a sculpture erected in 1988 by Isamu Noguchi, after the famed artist's death.
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, March 8, 2026
3. The Challenger Memorial
Challenger Memorial Plaza, located in downtown Miami's Bayfront Park.
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, March 8, 2026
4. Lamar Louise Curry Dedication
A garden is dedicated to the funder, Lamar Louise Curry, and her parents.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 17, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 17, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
