December 18, 2008 at 08:43am by Gus
Have you heard about Miami’s stilt houses built above the water in Biscayne Bay? Books, movies and TV shows have featured the place. The area is called “Stiltsville,” and federal park officials want to tear it down.
Is Stiltsville a landmark, worthy of the National Register of Historic Places, or an aging trailer park built on water, eroding the Bay’s ecosystem? You can decide for yourself after watching this video of Stiltsville, narrated by South Florida Historian, Dr. Paul George:
ABOVE: An 8-minute tour of Stiltsville: Leeshaw house; Hardin house; Shaw Sessions Baldwin house; Jimmy Ellenburg house; Hicks house; Miami Springs Powerboat Clubhouse; Bay Chateau.
15 Things You’ll Learn in the Video
- How Stiltsville began in the 1930s, with Crawfish Charlie’s bait shack
- Definition of a Commodore
- Shallow areas in the Bay and a good spot for kiteboarding
- How the homes were constructed
- Rules and regulations on getting a lease
- How many homes were left standing after Hurricane Andrew
- Most abundant fish in the area
- Stiltsvillians main enemy was not sun, or sharks, but seagulls
- Most picturesque home in the area
- Where Lloyd Bridges shot “Around the World Under the Sea”
- Distance to the Cape Florida Lighthouse
- Why Jimmy Ellenburg was the unofficial mayor of Stiltsville
- Where Jimmy’s Hurricane Drive-In was located and what was on the menu
- Which Stiltsville house was owned by a group of Miami firemen and policeman
- How to be a good tour guide
About the Tour
For two decades, Dr. Paul George, historian for the Historical Museum of Southern Florida, has toured his way to acclaim with his continuing series of historic tours. As a South Florida native, author and Miami Dade college professor, Dr. George has gained fame for his ability to recall the most impressive details about the people and places that make South Florida so unique.
Dr. George is a great storyteller. For the entire 3 hours, he kept us entertained. He was charming to talk to. I highly recommend the tour!
For information and reservations, call (305) 375-1621, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 3 pm (or leave a message at anytime) or email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Have you been to Stiltsville?
Why should Stiltsville be saved? What should be done with the homes? Please share your ideas in the comments below.
 | Gus Moore heads up Miami Beach 411 as site administrator, where he has been helping people understand how Miami works for over a decade. See more articles by Gus > |
