Downtown Miami shoppers on East Flagler Street and Second Avenue in 1981.
Bob East
Miami Herald File
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Looking back at old Miami
Photos and memories of the way South Florida used to look: its streets, stores, events and people.
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Look around downtown Miami today and you’ll see skyscrapers, trendy restaurants, a basketball arena.
But what did downtown look like 40, 50, 60 years ago?
Let’s dig into the Miami Herald archives to see:
FROM THE AIR
Circa 1990, the view from the roof of the newly opened Park West Apartments looks south over the Miami Arena and Arena Towers and on to downtown. Brian Smith Miami Herald File
The Goodwill Industries building.
A helicopter sprays for mosquitoes over downtown Miami in 1984. Bob East Miami Herald File
In 1977, construction nears completion of the new downtown regional U.S. Customs office between Southeast Fifth Street and the Miami River behind Rivergate Plaza. John Walter Miami Herald File
THE SKYSCRAPERS
Downtown Miami in 1966. Miami Herald File
View of the downtown Miami skyline seen from Claughton Island, now known as Brickell Key, shows the construction of a new bank building, the tallest at the time in 1983. Bob East Miami Herald File
The Lindsey Hopkins education center in downtown Miami on Northeast Second Avenue at 14th Street. It was built in 1942 and became part of a bigger complex in 1970. Miami Herald File
Sparking the growth in downtown Miami’s convention market: the new $93 million James L. Knight Center, which opened in 1982. Miami Herald File
The downtown Miami skyline in the 1980s. Al Diaz Miami Herald File
INSIDE THE BUILDINGS
Inside Southeast Bank’s Downtown Miami Banking Center. Shown here is the Commercial Lending area, located on the mezzanine of the Banking Hall. Southeast’s new banking center occupies two floors of the Southeast Financial Center’s 15-story annex. Bob East Miami Herald File
CARS AND TRAFFIC
On the road to downtown Miami in 1956, cars travel on a new extension of 12th Avenue. Bill Sanders Miami Herald File
In 1948, the view looking north along Southeast Second Avenue toward downtown Miami. Bill Stapleton Miami Herald File
Downtown Miami traffic in 1957. John Walther Miami Herald File
Flagler Street in downtown Miami. Miami Herald File
A downtown Miami parking lot. Joe Rimkus Jr. Miami Herald File
MASS TRANSIT
In 1988, downtown advocate Carlos Batista spray paints stick figure sculptures that will be part of the Light up Miami. The art, on top of downtown buildings, is for the benefit of Metromover riders. Mary Lou Foy Miami Herald File
Jitneys line up around the corner of Borth Miami Avenue in downtown Miami at the end of a workday in 1986. Robin Cohen Miami Herald File
Twenty new buses get an escort through downtown Miami in 1986. Miami Herald File
ON THE STREET
A look at Flagler Street, the downtown Miami business and shopping center. Miami Herlad File
Christmastime on Flagler Street in 1963. Bill Kuenzel Miami Herald File
Christmas shoppers in downtown Miami in 1976. Albert Coya Miami Herald File
Downtown Miami street scene. Miami Herald File
Old buildings planned for demolition, making way for parking lots for the new downtown Miami Herald building in the 1960s. Miami Herald File
In 1944, the San Carlos Hotel on Northeast Second Avenue and First Street in downtown Miami.
A Coast Guard band plays at Miami Dade College in downtown Miami in 1976. Albert Coya Miami Herald File
Bill Murphy, a disc jockey at 97GTR, struggles to lift his stations 30-foot inflatable gorilla mascot into position at the international food bazaar on Flagler Street in downtown Miami in 1987. Brian Smith Miami Herald File
The Fort Lauderdale High School band marches in the Orange Bowl Parade in downtown Miami on New Year’s Eve 1959. Miami Herald File
LANDMARKS
In 1994, landmark buidings: Central Baptist Church and the post office in downtown Miami. Jeffery A. Salter Miami Herald File
Thousands of people pack Bayfront Park amphitheater to enjoy free public concerts. Miami Herald File
Boat parade on Brickell Point, with downtown Miami in the background. Bob East Miami Herald File
This story was originally published July 1, 2023 at 11:21 AM.
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