A look back at Miami's old hotels, theaters, billboards and stores

These photo albums show Miami history, the way the city looked years, ago.

Hotels such as the Americana and Dupont Plaza once drew attention with their MiMo designs and grand lobbies. Movie theaters like Kelly's, the Riviera and the Olympia offered luxurious features and landmark locations. Notable billboards featured memorable images like the Coppertone girl and promised developments like Interama. Sears stores, ubiquitous in South Florida, now mostly vanished, previously anchored downtown Miami and many malls, reflecting changes in retail landscapes.

NO. 1: 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

NO. 2: DO YOU REMEMBER THESE OLD MIAMI MOVIE THEATERS? SEE WHAT THEY LOOKED LIKE BACK WHEN

They were like palaces. No multiplexes then. | Published March 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Miami Herald Archives

NO. 3: WHAT DID THAT SIGN SAY? TAKE A LOOK AT OLD HIGHWAY BILLBOARDS IN MIAMI

Remember the Coppertone girl whose dog pulled down her swimsuit? | Published April 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Miami Herald Archives

NO. 4: SEARS WAS EVERYWHERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA. TAKE A LOOK AT THE STORES BACK THEN

These photos show a different shopping world. | Published May 13, 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.