Miami Beach’s Fontainebleau looked like that? See how the landmark hotel has changed
By Miami Herald Archive
The Fontainebleau is changing again.
This time, the iconic Miami Beach hotel is adding a convention center that’s expected to be finished in November. The new five-story space next to the hotel is being built to accommodate about 1,000 people.
Over the years, the resort has built a new tower, added and destroyed a mural, remade the pool area.
But the original curves and MiMo designs are what makes this one of the most recognized buildings in the world.
What did the Fontainebleau look like in the early years?
Let’s time-travel through the Miami Herald photo archives to take a look:
Fontainebleau hotel construction
Fontainebleau Hotel under construction in the 1950s, with the Firestone Estate in foreground. Miami Herald File
A worker during construction. Miami Herald File
The rising Fontainebleau in 1954. Bob East Miami Herald File
The old Firestone estate was used as a construction office by the Fontainebleau before it was demolished to make way for the pool and gardens Bob East Miami Herald File
Under construction in the 1950s. Miami Herald File
The Fontainebleau pool
In 2003, Cookie the Octapus at the Fontainebleau. Miami Herald File
Todd Rosenberg, right, and his 3 1/2 year old son Rylan, of Boca, vacation at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach in December 2009. Rosenberg said he loved it because he had the pool to himself. Last night he and his wife ate in the hotel restaurant and were the only ones there. MARICE COHN BAND Miami Herald File
In 2010, 12-year-old Amanda Blanco of West Kendall jumps in the pool, while staying at the Fontainebleau Hotel on Miami Beach with the Flores families who are taking a short vacation across town. PATRICK FARRELL Miami Herald File
In 1983, Bob Dugan cools his winning feet in the Fontainebleau Hilton pool after clocking a 48 minute 32 second time in the Fifth Annual Electric Island Run. Miami Herald File
The hallmark of the renovated Fontainebleau Hilton -- the 18,000-square-foot, 368,000-gallon free-form swimming pool, featuring a huge rock grotto and cascading waterfalls. Miami Herald File
Another view of the rebuilt pool and rock grotto. Miami Herald File
The pool area in 1978. Bob East Miami Herald File
The Fontainebleau mural
In 1997, the landmark mural on the wlal of a building that creates an illusion of looking through an arch to the hotel beyond. A group protested at the base of the mural to protest its removal to make way for a new hotel tower. Randy Bazemore Miami Herald File
The mural in 1997. Hernan Reyes Miami Herald File
Inside the Fontainebleau
A bar area at the Fontainebleau Hilton Hotel. Miami Herald File
In 1987, Gilbert Samuda, of Crystal Maintenance, cleans a chandelier in the Louis Phillipe room of the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. The yearly cleaning takes seven nights. Brian Smith Miami Herald File
A room at the hotel. Miami Herald File
The lobby floor. Miami Herald File
Weary hotel dwellers nap in Fontainebleau lobby after Hurricane Cleo in 1964. Miami Herald File
Outside the Fontainebleau
The Fontainebleau as seen from Indian Creek accross Collins Avenue. Miami Herald File
In 1976, a fire at the Fontainebleau Hilton. Miami Herald File
Workers at the hotel grounds. Miami Herald File
The spirit of Miami Beach docked in front of the Fontainebleau Hotel in 1987. Randy Bazemore Miami Herald File
View of the Fontainebleau in 1997. Hernan Reyes Miami Herald File
