Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Preserving History: Restoring Miami High

This morning, the City of Miami celebrated the Grand Opening of the restored Miami High School building. Our city's first high school is now home to a historic classroom, complete with an antique wooden 1900-era student school desk, historic photos of students at the building and a 1902 map of Florida. The building is open for tours, educational meeting space and a new City Parks Office.
The opening event was a proud occasion for this city, as we celebrated the preservation of another historic landmark and successful collaborative effort with the Dade Heritage Trust.
My administration understands how important it is to recognize and preserve our many historic treasures, and we know that by identifying and designating properties of major significance, we encourage the preservation and protection of Miami's important historic, architectural, and archeological resources.
The City of Miami's Historic Preservation Ordinance provides a process by which individual sites, historic districts, and archeological zones can be officially recognized.
Within the City of Miami, there are now almost 100 designated historic sites, districts and archeological zones. These designated properties include individual sites, such as private homes, schools, fire stations, churches, municipal buildings, bridges, and a cemetery, as well as the Morningside, South River Drive, Buena Vista East, Bayside, and Spring Garden historic districts.
During the event, I also had the pleasure to meet Miss Lamar Louis Curry, the 102 years young former Miami High teacher and local philanthropist who helped make the restoration possible. As Mayor, it is a privilege to recognize the unsung heroes of our community, whose dedication and spirit can serve as an inspiration to us all.


-Manny