This downtown historical walking tour will begin in Bayfront Park at the War Memorial in the center of the park, and will begin at 9:00am on Saturday, May 11, 2024. This two-and-a-half-hour tour will start at and cover the history of what many deem to be Miami’s front lawn. The tourgoer will hear about how president-elect, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was nearly assassinated, and where Chicago Mayor, Anton Cermak, was fatally wounded on that evening. In addition, the attendee will see where the long-time park bandshell once stood and hear about the many historic events that took place in the bandshell.
The tour will progress north toward the Torch of Friendship where the tour participant will hear the story of the torch and how it was rededicated after a tragic event in American history. The tourgoer will hear the history of Miami’s famous Pier 5, the Bayfront Park auditorium, and the Prinz Valdimar ship which was retrofit into an aquarium and restaurant after it capsized in the turning basin of the Port of Miami.
Finally, the group will continue northward to the Kaseya Center and ultimately to Maurice Ferre Park, which at one time was the site of the first Port of Miami. Along the way, the tour guide will share the history of Miami’s original skyline along Biscayne Boulevard. This event will be filled with historical information about Miami’s two downtown parks, and the buildings that provided the backdrop for these parks, where so many great memories were made.
Tour Guide: Casey M. Piket, Founder of the Miami-History Blog / Podcast
