Miami Beach has yet another reason to party as this year the city celebrates a milestone. On March 26, 1915 the Town of Miami Beach was chartered and 100 years later the city that has become one of the most popular beach resorts in the world will be celebrating its 100th anniversary. This landmark event calls for a special blend of festivities so Miami Beach has planned a spectacular 100-hour, non-stop historic celebration to mark its 100-year anniversary. Festivities of the 100-hour, non-stop event include the world’s longest fashion runway, a car show and a free concert on the ocean featuring some of the world’s leading artists. Besides the non-stop event the city has planned an impressive roster of events that will continue throughout the year that will pay tribute to the past as well as emphasize the city’s rich cultural diversity. Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine has stated, “We believe that 2015 is the year to celebrate both our illustrious past and future.”
Miami Beach’s 100th Anniversary will be a gigantic tribute to past pioneers like Carl Fisher, “Father of Miami Beach” who had the vision to transform the once uninhabitable mangrove swamp into a playground for the wealthy. While once just a playground for the very rich, Miami Beach is now a major destination for visitors from all over the world. Miami Beach has a unique history as it was originally created as a resort for the very wealthy welcoming names like the Vanderbilts, J.C. Penny and the Firestones. During World War II, Miami Beach was transformed into Camp Miami Beach and became a military training center and over 80% of the Art Deco hotels were used as barracks for soldiers. When World War II ended, most of the Art Deco hotels were left in disrepair and many were boarded up for over 20 years. Since there was little tourism after the war, Miami Beach sat empty. When tourism picked up again in the 1950s, Miami Beach was still boarded up and empty while larger hotels like the Eden Roc and the Fontainebleau were built to accommodate the new visitors. In the late 1960s, Miami Beach was labeled “God’s Waiting Room” because the majority of the Art Deco hotels, now transformed into low-rent rooming houses, were filled with retirees. The ‘70s saw the arrival of the “Cocaine Cowboys” and Miami Beach was a dangerous place to visit. In the ‘80s, although still an unsavory neighborhood, the film and television industry discovered Miami Beach and its colorful pastel painted Art Deco building that had been transformed courtesy of the artist Leonard Horowitz. Now a Historic District, thanks to Art Deco activist Barbara Capitman, South Beach became a popular site for filming, fashion, television, and films. “Scarface” starring Al Pacino was partly filmed on Ocean Drive and the television series “Miami Vice” filmed six seasons in the streets of Miami Beach beginning in 1984. It was “Miami Vice” that was credited with putting Miami Beach on the map giving the world a weekly glimpse of this beautiful pastel painted tropical town. Now the world sees Miami Beach or more precisely South Beach as a popular party town and resort destination.
Miami Beach has many reasons to celebrate as it has seen its ups and lows but is definitely on an upswing. The Centennial Celebration will be marked with events that continue all year long as well as major events scheduled during the week of March 22-26. Some of the big events scheduled include a world-class CAA tennis exhibition with internationally renowned tennis players, a specially designed exhibition at Miami Beach’s Art Deco Museum, and many major events throughout the year with add their own special tribute to the roster of celebrations. The party continues until October 2015 but this is Miami Beach and we never need a reason to celebrate.