South Florida

Hotels in South Florida used to look like that? See for yourself

Stories by Miami Herald journalists, with AI summarization

The photos below show how South Florida's hotel scene has changed through the years.

See the hotel where the Beatles stayed in the 1960s. And of course the iconic Fontainebleau in its early years.

Enjoy the albums below.

The Fontainebleau Hotel rises at the former Firestone Estate, Miami Beach. In 1954 photo, the old Harvey Firestone home is still standing in the shadow of the new $14 million building. The magnate’s estate eventually gave way to a swimming pool and landscaped gardens patterned after Versailles.

NO. 1: MIAMI BEACH’S FONTAINEBLEAU LOOKED LIKE THAT? SEE HOW THE LANDMARK HOTEL HAS CHANGED

The lobby. The pool area. The curves. Wow. | Published July 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Miami Herald Archive

Boats and apartments along the Indian Creek area of North Beach in 1986. By Randy Bazemore

NO. 2: NORTH BEACH LOOKED LIKE THAT? SEE HOTELS, HOMES AND RESTAURANTS FROM THE EARLY DAYS

Recognize anything? | Published September 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Miami Herald Archives

The original Roney Plaza in Miami Beach in 1946.

NO. 3: HOTELS IN MIAMI USED TO LOOK LIKE THAT? SEE LANDMARKS THAT HELPED PUT THE 305 ON MAP

Take a look at these photos for a step back in time. | Published October 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Miami Herald Archives

The Great Southern Hotel in the 1920s, near Young Circle in Hollywood.

NO. 4: WHAT DID HOLLYWOOD AND FORT LAUDERDALE LOOK LIKE DECADES AGO? SEE FOR YOURSELF

Do you recognize anything? | Published January 31, 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.