Harvey Milk Way
Type: Memorial Street SignMedium: Municipal Street SignDate of Completion: 2021Location: 18th Street and Miami Beach Convention Center on the Northeast corner of City Hall and Pride Park, Miami BeachContribution: LGBTQ Activist and one of the first openly gay elected officials in the US (San Francisco).Openly gay elected officials owe a tremendous debt to the persistence of Harvey Milk in seeking public office.Mr. Milk spent a considerable amount of time in Miami Beach and was a civil and human rights activist who made national and international headlines when he became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States by winning a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. His election came at a time when the LGBTQ+ community struggled to overcome widespread hostility and discrimination. Accustomed to receiving daily death threats, Milk was assassinated nearly a year after taking office by a disgruntled former San Francisco supervisor who also assassinated then San Francisco Mayor George Moscone. The slayings prompted thousands to march from San Francisco’s famed Castro Street to San Francisco City Hall in a silent candlelight vigil.Milk’s activism earned him a place in Time’s list of the “100 most important people of the 20th century.”
Celia Cruz Way
Type: Memorial Street SignsMedium: Municipal Street SignDate of Completion: 2023Location: 1755 Meridian Avenue, near the Miami Beach Convention Center and City Hall area, Miami BeachContribution: Cuban singer, dancer, performer and considered the “Queen of Salsa” musicIn recognition of her enduring impact on the cultural fabric of Miami Beach, and as her music continues to resonate through generations, the co-designation stands as a perpetual tribute to the enduring spirit and cultural richness brought forth by the legendary “Queen of Salsa,” Celia Cruz. It stands as a testament to her enduring legacy and the timeless influence of her musical artistry Celia Cruz, whose contributions to the world of music transcended borders, was celebrated not only for her enchanting voice and vibrant performances but also for her significant impact on the cultural identity of Calle Ocho in Miami and beyond.
Muhammad Ali Way
Type: Memorial Street SignsMedium: Municipal Street SignDate of Completion: 2016Location: Miami Beach Convention Center Drive, 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami BeachContribution: Sports/Boxing Legend22-year-old Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, grabbed the world’s attention Feb. 25, 1964, at the Miami Beach Convention Center when he upset Sonny Liston in a heavyweight title bout that became a seminal sports moment of the 20th century.He trained at the 5th Street Gym in South Beach in the early 1960’s and so spent a considerable time in Miami Beach. The sign in front of the Miami Beach Convention Center now bears his name as this was the location where Cassius Clay’s legend grew and began to be known as “The Greatest”.
Elie Wiesel Way
Type: Memorial Street SignsMedium: Municipal Street SignDate of Completion: 2022Location: NE corner of Pride Park at 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami BeachContribution: Nobel Laureate, Author, Holocaust SurvivorAdjacent to the Miami Beach Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach is a street sign designation for this Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.Mr. Wiesel’s countless contributions in telling the Jewish story during World War 2 help keep the knowledge alive so that this horror is never repeated. He worked as a translator, journalist, political activist, University Professor and authored numerous books. His imprisonment and miraculous survival from Auschwitz and Buchenwald gave him a powerful voice. He participated several times in March for the Living education program and was a strong defender of human rights and advocated for people wherever there was oppression.
Leonard Horowitz Place
Type: Memorial Street SignsMedium: Municipal Street SignDate of Completion: 1990Location: 11th Street and Ocean Drive, Miami BeachContribution: Community Activist, Co-founder of MDPLLeonard Horowitz was a young furniture designer from New York, who was openly gay. He moved to South Beach to live with his mother where he met and formed an unlikely bond with Barbara Baer Capitman,. They shared a passion for preservation, design and Art Deco buildings. Horowitz helped Capitman co-found the Miami Design Preservation League in 1976. Leonard Horowitz’s contribution went well beyond that as he worked to save the beachfront from flashy excess and to highlight its building’s unique design features, he created a pastel color palette to be used for painting South Beach’s weathered, forgotten buildings. “I formulated my palette on the basis of sunset, sunrise, the summer and winter oceans and the sand on the beach, which used to be much more golden,” he said. “They all are natural sources, and they are the same ones that the original designers used. Within them are an infinite variety of pastels.Horowitz presented his palette to the director of community development and asked if they could try out the colors on the white monotone Friedman’s Bakery on the corner of 7th and Washington Avenue. In 1982, Friedman’s Bakery was featured on the cover of Progressive Architecture magazine.As a result, South Beach became a popular backdrop for photo and model shoots as well as TV shows like Miami Vice. In 1985, the Breakwater hotel was chosen by photographer Bruce Weber, for an iconic photo shoot & commercial for Calvin Klein’s perfume “Obsession”. Horowitz’s tropical colors attracted international attention, as Art Deco building after building were restored in his pastel palette. Horowitz died from complications of the AIDS virus at age forty-three.
Rainbow Crosswalk
Title: Rainbow CrosswalkMedium: Terrazzo Pavers in Art Deco PatternDate of Completion: 2018Location: 12th Street and Ocean Drive, Miami BeachContribution: Additional tribute to Leonard Horowitz in recognition of his pastel pallet for Ocean Drive’s Art Deco Hotels
Barbara Capitman Way
Type: Memorial Street SignsMedium: Municipal Street SignDate of Completion:Location: 10th Street and Ocean Drive, Miami BeachContribution: Community activist, Historic preservationist and co-founder of MDPLBarbara Capitman was a community activist and author who led the effort to preserve Miami Beach's historic Art Deco district and helped create the Miami Design Preservation League.Together with a group of historic preservationists, they began a fight to save the long-neglected art deco buildings in Miami Beach. She lobbied politicians and developers. She and her supporters held candlelight vigils, protest marches and stood in front of bulldozers that were about to demolish buildings. Some were torn down including the Senator and New Yorker Hotels but many more were saved.The group's efforts were rewarded when Miami Beach's Art Deco District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The renewed interest in the area led to an economic and cultural rebirth in the city with new investments in hotels, apartments and restaurants. It became a favorite destination of tourists, artists, fashion and film. Capitman's son, Andrew, bought several art deco buildings in the area including the Cardozo Hotel on Ocean Drive. Artists, designers and writers were frequently found in the hotel's café.
Andy Sweet Street
Type: Memorial Street SignsMedium: Municipal Street SignDate of Completion: Location: 14 Street and Ocean Drive Miami BeachContribution: Documentarian, photographer and film producerAndy Sweet was an American photographer known for his documentary photography and street photography. He photographed the life and residents of South Beach, with a particular focus on the Jewish community. Sweet also captured the carefree young people who made Miami Beach their second home. He and fellow photographer Gary Monroe spent nearly 10 years documenting the daily lives of South Beach residents as part of their “Miami Beach Photographic Project.” The Oxford American wrote a story on his vision of capturing a disappearing Jewish Community in Miami Beach.Sweet and Monroe’s work received much support from the city, and they were awarded two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts for the project. Aside from his work documenting Miami Beach, Sweet was also an MDPL staff photographer. Sweet’s work stands out for celebrating Miami Beach’s Jewish community. This was a time when the older Jewish population was flourishing in South Florida, with the beach as a warm haven for retirees and transplants from up north, many of them Holocaust survivors.Sweet was murdered in 1982, when he was 28 years old. He was stabbed 29 times in his Miami Beach apartment. His violent death and the following trials were covered extensively in the media. The son of a prominent Miami Beach family, the gruesome nature of his death diverted attention from his art just when his work was gaining a following.
Paul Steinberg Bridge
Type: Memorial Street SignsMedium: Municipal Street SignDate of Completion: 2018Location: Bridge Number 870054 on State Road 112/W. 41 Street/Arthur Godfrey Road, Miami BeachContribution: Public Servant, Community LeaderThis designation was made in recognition of Mr. Steinberg’s many years of public service.These include six years in the Florida House of Representatives and four years in the Florida Senate. Mr. Steinberg also stands as a pillar of the community, having spent 30 years providing legal services to the residents of Miami Beach and beyond.
Nancy Liebman Way
Type: Memorial Street SignsMedium: Municipal Street SignDate of Completion: 2024Location: 9th Street and Ocean Drive, Miami BeachContribution: Public Servant, Community activist for historical preservation and arts and culture.This designation celebrates Nancy Liebman’s service to the city including her early work as a PTA leader and her tireless advocacy to preserve Art Deco Miami Beach, serving as the executive director of the Miami Design Preservation League. Nancy also served as an elected Commissioner for the City of Miami Beach from 1993 to 2001. During that time, she helped to bring Art Basel to Miami Beach, which solidified the city as an arts and culture mecca. She worked to preserve the Mid-Century (MiMo) architecture of Biscayne Boulevard as well as expanding the historic districts in Miami Beach to North Beach. In 2012, she co-founded Miami Beach United. Most recently, she served on the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board.
Matti Herrera Bower Way
Type: Memorial Street SignsMedium: Municipal Street SignDate of Completion: 2024Location: 15th Street between Ocean Drive and Bay Road, Miami BeachContribution: First woman and Hispanic person to serve as Mayor, Community activistMs. Bower’s served as the first woman and first Hispanic person Mayor of the City of Miami Beach from 2007 to 2013; and as a City Commissioner for the City for another eight years.Her career as a public servant was framed by fierce advocacy for quality public education, historic preservation, affordable housing for low-income seniors, and social equality initiatives in the City. Her belief in the importance of community engagement and transparency in government decision-making left a lasting mark on the City
Joe Tom Easly
Title: Commemorative PlaqueMedium: PlaqueDate of Completion: 2025Location: Pride Park, Miami Beach - 1809 Meridian Ave, Miami BeachContribution: LGBTQ+ and human rights activistMr. Easly was a dedicated LGBTQ+ and human rights activist as well as an advocate and legal scholar for equality. He devoted his efforts and demonstrated leadership in his push for legal and military reforms. He was instrumental in having the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Clinton era policy repealed. He served in the military during the Vietnam War. He was revealed to be gay to the government who then sought to end his service. Despite having to leave the military for his sexual orientation, he was given an honorable discharge for his exemplary service.After he left the military, Mr. Easly worked for a consumer watchdog organization in Europe and later served as a professor of Law at American University and later Assistant Dean. He continued his advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ students and community, joining the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club in Washington DC and later becoming chairman of the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. He also served as the president of the Human Rights campaign where he helped in identifying LGBT supportive candidates to run for Congress. His efforts on behalf of a blinded and burned Iraqi boy he assisted find treatment in the US gained him additional recognition in the NY Times.
Desi Arnaz Historic Marker
Title: Historic MarkerMedium: Historic Marker DesignationDate of Completion: 2024Location: Collins Park, Corner of Collins Avenue and 23rd Street, Miami BeachContribution: TV pioneer, producer & performer, Arts and Culture contributor, Cuban AmericanAlmost 90 years after getting his first job as a band leader at a nightclub in Miami Beach, the City honored him with a historic marker located at Collins Park outside the Miami City Ballet. It is near the site of the former Park Avenue Restaurant that hosted performances and came to be remembered as the Park Avenue nightclub. The memorial joins an artsy Miami Beach district that includes the Bass Museum of Art and a library.Desi Arnaz came to Miami Beach as a teenage Cuban immigrant. He struggled to learn English. He attended a Catholic school in Miami Beach, and picked up the guitar and the conga drum, eventually being hired as a bandleader at a nightclub where he popularized the conga.“He was not only a pioneer for Cubans that were coming to the United States but he was a pioneer for the arts in Miami Beach,” said Alex Fernandez, Miami Beach Commissioner.
Jose Marti Bust & Jose Marti Street
Artist: Tony LopezTitle: Jose Marti Bust & Municipal Street SignMedium: Sculpture – Bronze bust on marble baseDate of Completion: 1986Location: Collins Park- Collins Avenue and 21st Street, Miami BeachContribution:Cuban Poet and symbol of Cuban Independence, National HeroIn memory of José Martí (1953-1895), a leader of the Cuban independence movement from Spain and a renowned poet and writer, a sculpture was erected in 1986 in Collins Park where it remains to this day. Considered the Cuban people's National hero, he is often referred to as the Apostle of Cuban Independence. Martí campaigned for the liberation of Cuba from Spain and was imprisoned by Spanish authorities in 1868 forcing him to flee to New York where he continued to advocate for Cuban freedom while in exile and organized the Cuban Revolutionary Party.Collins Park fronts the Ocean between 21st and 22nd Streets on land that Miami Beach pioneer John S. Collins donated as a permanent public park in 1914. Collins Park marks the start of South Beach's boardwalk which extends for more than 20 city blocks, and is home to the Bass Museum of Art an extensive sculpture garden that includes other bust of individuals that made meaningful contributions in various fields and who are held in high esteem by residents of Miami Beach.
Jackie Gleason Theatre
Title: Jackie Gleason TheatreMedium: Performing Arts CenterDate of Completion: 1964Location: 1700 Washington Avenue, Miami BeachContribution: TV Pioneer, performer and resident, Arts and CultureIn the late 1950s and early 1960s a number of popular TV shows were filmed in the Miami Beach Auditorium including Dick Clark, Ed Sullivan and others. It was renovated in the 1970’s and renamed Miami Beach Theater of the Performing Arts. A number of Broadway shows were performed there as well. In 1987 it was renamed The Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts in recognition of his many contributions to the City. Since then, the theatre has seen additional transformation and is now operated by Live Nation
Anne Frank Commemorative Stone
Artist: UnknownTitle: Anne Frank Memorial StoneMedium: MarbleDate of Completion: 1980Location: On the grounds of the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU, 301 Washington Avenue, Miami BeachContribution: Symbol of Jewish culture and atrocities of the HolocaustThe Anne Frank Memorial Stone is found in front of the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU near where a parking lot adjacent to the museum currently stands. The lot was previously a small park that had been dedicated to her. Prior to the building’s conversion to a museum, it was a synagogue. The memorial stone was placed there when the park was inaugurated in 1980 with the corresponding Hebrew year: 5740.Anne Frank was a German-Dutch diarist of Jewish heritage. One of the most-discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust, she gained fame posthumously with the 1947 publication of The Diary of a Young Girl (originally Het Achterhuis in Dutch, lit. 'the back house'; English: The Secret Annex), in which she documents her life in hiding from 1942 to 1944, during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. It is one of the world's best-known books and has been the basis for several plays and films. (Source: Wikipedia)The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU is unique as it is the only place that collects, documents, preserves, and interprets Florida Jewish history. It is housed in 2 historic buildings that were formerly synagogues for the first Jewish congregation on Miami Beach.
Meyer Lansky Window
Artist: Rabbi Moses MescheloffTitle: Meyer Lansky DonationMedium: Stained Glass WindowDate of completion: Unknown: late 1930’s or early 1940’s (estimated)Location: The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU, 301 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach.Contribution: Prominent, if not notorius, Jewish figure and residentThe Meyer Lansky window is located on the lower south side of the Art Deco-style building at 301 Washington Avenue in Miami Beach, Florida. Stained glass window of red, green, yellow, blue, and gold featuring floral, pomegranate, and Star of David motifs, features text reading “GENEROUS CONTRIBUTOR” and “MEYER LANKSY” along the lowest panel. The building’s stained-glass windows each bore the name of a family or individual who contributed financially to the synagogue’s construction,Meyer Lansky, at one time one of the most powerful men in America, once graced the halls of Congregation Beth Jacob. He came to South Florida in the 1940s (living in Hallandale) to set up casinos here and in Cuba. Beth Jacob was known as “the gangster shul” since Lansky and his associates often attended services here. The mob’s accountant later became a resident of Miami Beach following his deportation from Israel in 1972. His generous contributions to the synagogue merited him this named window. The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU has receipts from Lansky written to Beth Jacob for Synagogue Contribution ($300 in 1976), Annual Membership ($120 in 1976 and 1978) and tickets for High Holy Day Services (1978). Rabbi Swirsky of Beth Jacob provided the eulogy at Lansky’s funeral. The Meyer Lansky window is one of 80 stained glass windows featured at the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. According to the Jewish Museum, Lansky’s seat was right down in front so that he could get out quickly if he needed to.
Benjamin Cardozo – Cardozo Hotel
Architect: Henry HohauserTitle: Cardozo HotelMedium: Boutique Hotel in the Art Deco StyleDate of Completion: 1939Location: Cardozo Hotel, 1300 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach.Contribution: Art Deco Hotel on Ocean DriveAn Architectural Gem in Miami Beach built in 1939 and named after Benjamin Cardozo, one of the first Jewish jurors on the US Supreme Court, Cardozo stands proudly in the renowned Art Deco District, listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Designed by architect Henry Hohauser, the hotel showcases traditional art deco style with its curved lines reminiscent of a Studebaker's fender and stunning keystone trim crafted from dyed porous limestone.Beyond its architectural significance, the Cardozo has graced the silver screen, playing prominent roles in feature films like "A Hole in the Head" (1959), "There's Something About Mary" (1998), and "Any Given Sunday" (1999). Experience the allure of Cardozo's rich heritage and cinematic charm. In 2019, another Iconic Miami Beach duo, owners Gloria and Emilio Estefan, reintroduced a refined and contemporary Cardozo, while preserving the hotel's distinct style.
Gianni Versace – Casa Casuarina
Architect/Builder/Designer: Ronin Wolf[, Addison MiznerTitle: Casa CasuarinaMedium: Versace Mansion/HotelDate of Completion: 1930, 1992-1993, 2000Location: 1116 Ocean Drive Miami BeachContribution: Fashion designer and pop culture icon, Ocean Drive residentMr. Versace was an Italian Fashion designer, socialite and businessman with an international luxury fashion house that produced everything from designer clothing to perfumes, make up, furniture and accessories. He also designed costumes for theatre and film. His mansion was originally built for a Standard Oil heir in 1930, the building changed hands until it was purchased by the Italian designer in 1992 and converted into a home. He was murdered by a serial killer, Andrew Cunanan on the steps of Casa Casuarina in 1997.His mansion is now a boutique hotel with 10 luxury suites and a restaurant named Gianni’s.
Hall of Fame Stop at the Miami Beach Convention Center
Architect/Builder/Designer: Title: MemorialMedium: WallDate of Completion: 2018Location: South Concourse Wall, Convention Center Drive Miami BeachContribution: Fashion designer and pop culture icon, Ocean Drive residentThe City of Miami Beach Hall of Fame was established in 2018 to recognize remarkable individuals that have made a lasting and significant impact on Miami Beach. Eligible individuals must have been either born in Miami Beach, made Miami Beach their place of residence or business and/or had a positive and lasting impact on the community. Nominees have been considered based on distinguished achievements in the arts, architecture, design, science, athletics, business, community leadership and family legacy. Nominees must be well known in their field of expertise and recognized as leaders. They may be living or deceased.The South concourse wall of the Miami Beach Convention Center houses plaques commemorating the 2023 inductees.
Henri Levy – Normandy Fountain
Developer: Henri LevyTitle: Vendome FountainMedium: Cement, Tiles, Cast Stone, Local LimestoneDate of Completion: 1925Location: Normandy Isle, Miami BeachContribution: developer of Normandy isles in North Beach and established the architectural landmark as a Jewish memorial.Developer Henri Levy came to Miami Beach seeking to develop the area. He had a successful chain of movie theatres in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was able to purchase land from Carl Fischer and named the area with a French theme after his native France. He was also instrumental in the development of the 79th Street Causeway that allowed direct access to the mainland. The neighborhood was carefully planned and has a number of homes in the Miami Modern Architectural style. The Vendome fountain was originally built in 1925 and survived the hurricane of 1926. As part of a revitalization effort, the fountain was restored in 2014 and remains a centerpiece of the neighborhood to this day surrounded by restaurants and shops. It is undergoing additional restoration in anticipation of its 100th anniversary.
Julia Tuttle, Julia Tuttle Causeway
1849-1898Contribution: Visionary and Founder of the City of MiamiTuttle was an American businesswoman who owned the property upon which Miami, Florida, was built. For this reason, she's called the "Mother of Miami." She's the only woman to have founded what would become a major American city. She convinced rail executive Henry Flagler to extend train service from Palm Beach to Miami by sending him orange blossoms during the great freeze of 1894-95 after the orchards further north had frozen.Today she has a historical marker in Miami as well as the 195 Causeway extension into Miami Beach from downtown Miami that has been named in her honor.
