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

Vizcaya

Photographed By AGS Media, March 14, 2013

1. Vizcaya NRHP Plaque

Inscription.
This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list.

Location. 25° 44.674′ N, 80° 12.632′ W. Marker is in Miami, Florida, in Miami-Dade County. Marker can be reached from South Miami Avenue south of Southwest 32nd Road, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3251 South Miami Avenue, Miami FL 33129, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Alice Wainwright Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); David Thomas Kennedy Park (approx. 1.4 miles away); Professor Charles Torrey Simpson/Professor Charles Torrey Simpson Park (approx. 1.4 miles away); General Antonio Maceo (approx. 1.4 miles away); José Martí (approx. 1.4 miles away); Memorial to the Fallen of Cuban Liberation (approx. 1½ miles away); Nestor A. Izquierdo (approx. 1½ miles away); Bay of Pigs Monument (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Miami.

More about this marker. The Vizcaya Museum & Gardens are located on the shore of Biscayne

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Bay in the Coconut Grove section of the city of Miami. Vizcaya is largely hidden from the road by a dense perimeter of natural forest. The roadside gated entrance is clearly visible, from which a long driveway leads to the house and gardens. The grounds are located within walking distance from the Vizcaya Metrorail Station.

The NRHP plaque is mounted on the main house exterior wall, to the left of the stairs when approaching the entrance loggia. It may be somewhat hidden by shrubbery.

Regarding Vizcaya. Vizcaya is the former villa and estate of businessman and industrialist James Deering (1859–1925). The three-story main house was built between 1914-1916 in the Mediterranean Revival style with Baroque elements, and served as Deering's winter residence. It is surrounded by ten acres of Italian Renaissance style botanical gardens, elaborately landscaped with limestone masonry, statuary, fountains and pools. Vizcaya'a architectural presence extends even into the bay where, parallel with the villa's east facade, sits a massive, decorative stone barge which functions as a breakwater, Additional structures on the estate include a tea house, an ornamental building known as the Casino, and a lodge at the main gate.

In 1952, Vizcaya was acquired by the county government to operate as a museum and display the many furnishings and

Vizcaya Museum Main Entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, March 14, 2013

2. Vizcaya Museum Main Entrance

The plaque is located near the stairs to the left of the three center archways.

antiquities which Deering collected from Europe and elsewhere to furnish and decorate his home. The Vizcaya Museum & Gardens are open to the public daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except Tuesdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Vizcaya was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 (reference #70000181), and in 1978 the listing was updated with enlarged boundaries to include the gardens and outbuildings (reference #78003193). In 1994, the U.S. Department of the Interior elevated Vizcaya's status, declaring it a National Historic Landmark.

Also see . . . Villa Vizcaya. page at Wikipedia (Submitted on March 18, 2013, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida.)

Photographed By AGS Media, March 14, 2013

3. Vizcaya

Gardens at Vizcaya image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, March 14, 2013

4. Gardens at Vizcaya

Photographed By AGS Media, March 14, 2013

5. Gardens at Vizcaya

Photographed By AGS Media, March 14, 2013

6. Gardens at Vizcaya

Vizcaya Museum and Orchid Garden image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, March 14, 2013

7. Vizcaya Museum and Orchid Garden

Stone Barge in Biscayne Bay and Vizcaya's Tea House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, March 14, 2013

8. Stone Barge in Biscayne Bay and Vizcaya's Tea House

Photographed By AGS Media, March 14, 2013

9. Gardens at Vizcaya

Casino building at Vizcaya Gardens image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, March 14, 2013

10. Casino building at Vizcaya Gardens

Gate to Vizcaya image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, March 14, 2013

11. Gate to Vizcaya

Entrance off South Miami Avenue

Photographed By AGS Media, March 14, 2013

12. Vizcaya

Photographed By AGS Media, March 14, 2013

13. Gardens at Vizcaya

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, March 14, 2013

14. Vizcaya Museum & Gardens

Viewed from atop the garden's mound.

Aereal view of Vizcaya image. Click for full size.

State Archives of Florida, circa 1960s

15. Aereal view of Vizcaya

Seen are the main villa (upper left), the stone barge (upper center), and the Casino (lower center).Courtesy: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/40308

Fossil corals seen at Vizcaya image. Click for full size.

Photographed By John Kunkel Small, circa 1925

16. Fossil corals seen at Vizcaya

One of countless fossilized corals which are prominently visible in the limestone (quarried in the Florida Keys) used to build Vizcaya.Courtesy: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/50311

Credits. This page was last revised on November 16, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2013, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 906 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. submitted on March 18, 2013, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. 15, 16. submitted on March 19, 2013, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.