Episode 21 - 1896

A city is born.

Abner Knowlton’s 1896 plat of the Miami town site shows the original street grid of the City.
Click here to view the full-size image.
Source: HistoryMiami Research Center

Sizing and packing oranges in Florida, ca. 1890.
Source: Florida Memory

The Great Freeze in the winter of 1894-1895 wiped out nearly the entire state’s citrus crop, and caused the near-total collapse of the Florida economy. Only remote South Florida was spared.
Source: Florida Memory

The grounds of Ft. Dallas, Julia Tuttle’s homestead, shortly before Flagler’s first visit. This image looks east towards the bay. The Brickells’ trading post is visible top right, across the river.
Source: Florida Memory

In the wake of the Great Freeze, the announcement of a new Flagler town to be built at Miami triggered a rush of “95ers,” who threw up makeshift huts in the woods of Tuttle’s property.
Source: Florida Memory

Julia Tuttle had Avenue D - today’s Miami Avenue and the City’s first thoroughfare - cleared, and built the voluminous Miami Hotel to house as many newcomers as possible. Crossing the street is a spur line of Flagler’s railway, which carried Royal Palm guests and supplies directly to the grounds of Flagler’s resort.
Source: Florida Memory

This 1895 image depicts an “early view of 1st Street.” This may be either today’s S. 1st Street, in downtown, or N. 1st Street, two blocks farther north, or it may be the original “1st Street,” today known as N. 11th Street - the northern extremity of the planned city.
Source: Florida Memory

“Men on the porch of Julia Tuttle's Hotel.”
1896.
Source: Florida Memory

“An early boarding house - Miami, Florida.”
1896.
Source: Florida Memory

“Family outside their home - Miami, Florida.”
1896.
Source: Florida Memory

“Early street scene on North Miami Avenue - Miami, Florida.” This was Avenue D.
1896.
Source: Florida Memory

A view looking north on Avenue D.
1896.
Source: Miami History Blog

“Men standing in the entrance to the Bank of Bay Biscayne - Miami, Florida.”
1896.
Source: Florida Memory

“People gathered outside ‘Camp Meeting’ tent - Miami, Florida.”
1896.
Source: Florida Memory

“Group of people gathered on East Flagler Street at 1st Avenue - Miami, Florida.” This was known as 12th Street at the time.
1896.
Source: Florida Memory

The arrival of the first passenger train to Miami on April 22, 1896.
Source: Florida Memory

J. W. Chamberlain documented the groundbreaking ceremony for the Royal Palm Hotel.

In the foreground are, from left to right: E. G. Sewell, Thomas L. Townley, John Sewell, C. T. McCrimmon, and J. E. Lummus.

In the background are the 12 black laborers who John Sewell hand-picked to do the hard work of clearing the way. They are A. W. Brown, Philip Bowman, Jim Hawkins, Warren Merridy, Richard Mangrom, Romeo Fashaw, Scipio Coleman, Sim Anderson, Dave Heartley, J. B. Brown, William Collier, and Joe Thompson.

Behind them, across the river, stands the Brickells’ home and trading post.

March 15, 1896.
Source: Florida Memory

This Chamberlain image captures the final moments of an ancient Tequesta burial mound - the large hill behind the men. The 50-60 skeletons that were unearthed when it was razed are lost to history.
March 15, 1896.
Source: Florida Memory

The front page of the first issue of Miami’s first newspaper, the Miami Metropolis. Published May 15, 1896.
Source: Florida Memory

This 1896 image faces north on Avenue D. The large two-story building with five windows above housed Willis Myers’ Lobby Pool and Billiard Parlor on its first floor. The second floor was the location of the incorporation meeting that brought the City of Miami into existence.
Source: Miami History Blog