Neighborhood Highlights
Coral Gables Museum
Housed in the city’s Old Police and Fire Station, the Museum is located downtown and includes thousands of square feet of indoor and outdoor space. The museum’s galleries contain a variety of historical items and contemporary art pieces done in a wide range of mediums, and the outdoor public areas are nothing short of stunning. The grounds are expansive, and guided tour options are available.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
This lush, 83-acre tropical oasis features a verdant rainforest with a stream, a splashy waterfall, a sunken garden, dramatic vistas, an enormous vine pergola, and a museum of plant exploration. Fairchild’s collection of rare palms, orchids, and other flora are undeniably stunning.
Cape Florida Light
Located on Key Biscayne island and the oldest structure in Miami-Dade County, the Cape Florida Light was built in 1825 and has survived 200 years of nature's battering. The lighthouse contains 109 steps of a spiral staircase, which able tourists may climb. The wrap-around balcony at the top rewards any climber with spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Florida, Key Biscayne, and Miami Beach.
History
Coral Gables was founded as a planned community as part of the City Beautiful Movement during the Florida land boom of the 1920s. Its Mediterranean Revival style of architecture was a key element of the original plan designed by real estate developer George Merrick. Merrick's plan included precise zones for residential areas and downtown, now known as the Miracle Mile. Coral Gables is also home to the top-ranked University of Miami, which was established in 1925 and has been the city's largest employer ever since.
Today, The City Beautiful is dedicated to preserving its unique history and its numerous incomparable local landmarks.
