How Hurricane Andrew and Wolfie’s changed South Florida

South Florida is shaped by powerful events and memorable places.

Photos from Hurricane Andrew show the devastation and rebuilding of South Miami-Dade.

Classic restaurants like Wolfie’s and Lums evoke memories of lost gathering spots where locals once celebrated milestones.

Key West’s history can be glimpsed in photos of President Truman eating at Shorty’s Diner, a spot now long gone.

Take a look at the photos.

In this file photo from Aug. 25, 1992, residents at the Saga Bay apartment complex see firsthand what happened to their units after Hurricane Andrew blasted South Miami-Dade a day earlier on Aug. 24, 1992. Here, a man is seen inside his unit. By Chuck Fadely

NO. 1: ANOTHER HURRICANE SEASON JUST STARTED. SEE HOW THE ‘BIG ONE’ IN MIAMI CHANGED OUR LIVES

Where were you on that day? | Published June 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Miami Herald Archives

The Little Havana business district in the 1960s.

NO. 2: LITTLE HAVANA USED TO LOOK LIKE THAT? SEE THE OLD PICTURES FROM THE 1960S, ’70S AND ’80S

The president had lunch there. | Published February 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Miami Herald Archive

In 1952, a car hop at Colonel Jim’s Tasty Thrill drive-in on the 79th Street Causeway in North Bay Village. The sign says “Blink Lights for Service.” By Bill Sanders

NO. 3: DO YOU REMEMBER THESE MIAMI RESTAURANTS? LUMS, WOLFIE’S, EL CID, MORE. TAKE A LOOK

Let’s open the photo album. | Published March 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Miami Herald Archives

President Harry Truman drives his own car in Key West in 1946.

NO. 4: IS THAT THE PRESIDENT AT A DUVAL STREET DINER? SEE KEY WEST THROUGH THE YEARS

Let’s take a step back in time. | Published April 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Miami Herald Archives

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.