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All the United States Florida Miami Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Former villa and estate of James Deering developed to preserve native tropical forests.

Miami, Florida

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Vizcaya: eastern view from Biscayne Bay. (Wikimedia Commons)   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Vizcaya
Vizcaya: the ‘Italian Barge’ in the bay. (Wikimedia Commons)   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Vizcaya
Vizcaya: north view of Villa from the Italian Renaissance gardens. (Wikimedia Commons)   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Vizcaya
Vizcaya: eastern view of Villa from Biscayne Bay. (Wikimedia Commons)   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Vizcaya
Villa Vizcaya. (Wikimedia Commons)   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Vizcaya
Vizcaya: Entrance drive view of west Villa facade. (Wikimedia Commons)   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Vizcaya
Vizcaya: Estate Entrance. (Wikimedia Commons)   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Vizcaya
Vizcaya: north Villa facade from the garden Casino. (Wikimedia Commons)   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Vizcaya
  breaingram / Atlas Obscura User
Overlooking a big area of the property, including a pond. (2018)   donnatalarico / Atlas Obscura User
Where every corner provides a wonderful vision.   spadaadjusting / Atlas Obscura User
Vizcaya garden waterfall   Helz / Atlas Obscura User
Gorgeous Hidden Alcoves at Vizcaya   FloridaResident / Atlas Obscura User
Outstanding Wedding Destination   FloridaResident / Atlas Obscura User
Stunning Manicured Gardens at Vizcaya   FloridaResident / Atlas Obscura User
Spectacular Views from Every Angle   FloridaResident / Atlas Obscura User
European-inspired Gardens at Vizcaya   FloridaResident / Atlas Obscura User
  CDVV86 / Atlas Obscura User
  CDVV86 / Atlas Obscura User
Blue Hour at Vizcaya   NicolaHM / Atlas Obscura User
  sherayne / Atlas Obscura User
  sherayne / Atlas Obscura User
  rugby007 / Atlas Obscura User
  rugby007 / Atlas Obscura User
  rugby007 / Atlas Obscura User
  rugby007 / Atlas Obscura User
  sherayne / Atlas Obscura User
  sherayne / Atlas Obscura User
  sherayne / Atlas Obscura User
  Runawaydc / Atlas Obscura User
  sherayne / Atlas Obscura User
  wherearewedude / Atlas Obscura User
  wherearewedude / Atlas Obscura User
  wherearewedude / Atlas Obscura User
  wherearewedude / Atlas Obscura User
  wherearewedude / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The former villa and estate of James Deering of the Deering McCormick-International Harvester fortune, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens are located on Biscayne Bay in the present day Coconut Grove neighborhood in Miami, Florida. Originally 180 acres in size, the estate was developed by Deering, a well-known conservationist, to conserve the mangrove swamps and dense inland native tropical forests.

Built primarily between 1914 and 1916, the estate, designed by Paul Chalfin, is open to the public year-round except on Tuesdays and major holidays. Included in the sights are extensive Italian Renaissance gardens, a historic village outbuildings compound, and native woodland landscape.

Deering used Vizcaya as a winter residence from 1916, when construction on the primary building was completed (construction on the grounds continued for at least seven more years), until his death in 1925 onboard the steamship S.S. City of Paris on his way back to the United States. After Deering's death, the estate was inherited by two of his nieces. Marion Chauncey Deering McCormick and Ely Deering McCormick Danielson started to sell off bits and pieces of the estate to pay for upkeep and maintenance costs incurred by passing hurricanes. Two decades after Deering's death, a substantial chunk of the land was donated to the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Augustine, Florida, and to Miami's Mercy Hospital.

Fifty acres surrounding the estate were held together and purchased by Miami-Dade County in 1952 for $1 million. After significant restoration projects, the estate was designated a National Historic landmark in 1994. Four years later, a trust was formed to serve as the museum's governing body. In 2008, Vizcaya was named one of the country's eleven most endangered historic places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Over the years, the estate and surrounding gardens have been used for important ceremonies and events. In 1987, President Ronald Reagen received Pope John Paul II at Vizcaya for his first visit to Miami. Seven years later, in 1994, President Bill Clinton chose the site to host the First Summit of the Americas and 34 world leaders met at Vizcaya to discuss trade benefits.

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Natural Wonders Intriguing Environs Ecosystems Nature

Know Before You Go

Consider an Atlas Obscura two-fer with this site and the Miami Marine Stadium, which is less than seven minutes away. Parking is free, and most of it is shaded. They offer free entry to those with an active or retired military ID.

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jrfox84, paulypaul, rugby007, nbj914...

  • jrfox84
  • paulypaul
  • rugby007
  • nbj914
  • Helz
  • FloridaResident
  • NicolaHM
  • sherayne
  • breaingram
  • CDVV86
  • donnatalarico
  • spadaadjusting
  • wherearewedude
  • Runawaydc

Published

April 18, 2011

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  • Yelp: Vizcaya Museum and Gardens: http://www.yelp.com/biz/vizcaya-museum-and-gardens-miami-2
  • Wikipedia: Villa Vizcaya: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Vizcaya
  • https://365atlantatraveler.com/things-to-do-in-miami-with-kids/
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
3251 South Miami Ave.
Miami, Florida, 33129
United States
25.746615, -80.211422
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