Vizcaya Museum and Gardens: 100 years of history and beauty
Step back in time as you tour the Vizcaya Museum and its 10 acres of formal gardens. The 1916 estate is a glimpse into the American Gilded Age and the very early days of Miami's splendor.
Pope John Paul II, Queen Elizabeth II, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain, President Ronald Reagan and many film stars and dignitaries have visited the home, which is a National Historic Landmark.
See Vizcaya's sitting rooms, parlors, lavish dining room, delicate bedrooms and antique kitchen, and marvel at the house's artistry.
James Deering, an early 20th century American industrialist, built Vizcaya as his winter home on beautiful Biscayne Bay. (His agricultural machinery company, Deering Harvester, eventually became International Harvester.
The Deerings were one of the richest families in America at the time.) Deering hired 1,000 workers to build his luxurious estate when Miami's population numbered only about 10,000. The 180-acre estate included a lagoon with manmade islands, a swimming pool, tennis courts, grazing fields for livestock, barns and a village to house the staff.
James Deering's brother Charles, also quite succesful in the 1910s, built The Deering Estate not long after Vizcaya was finished. The Deering Estate is still operating today as a home for concerts, classes, special programs and events.
Don't be surprised if you see professional photographers and their clients on the beautiful outdoor stone steps or posing in the carefully cultivated gardens. Vizcaya has provided the background for many bridal and quince photos. (Known as a quince among Cubans, or as a quinceañera among other Latin Americans, they're a coming-of-age tradition for girls turning 15.)
Overlooking the swimming pool on the north side of the main house, you can partake in fresh salads, sandwiches, desserts and other refreshments. Statues and decorative stone benches call for visitors to sit, relax and listen to the birds and the bay.
Check the special events calendar for information on Evenings Under the Stars, Vizcayan Balls and other themed parties. Moonlight Garden Tours are given about once a month and provide garden-lovers with a chance to see this immense garden at night.
Usually coordinated with the full moon, visitors can enjoy live music and light food and drink for purchase with a salty sea breeze — admission is $15. Members receive special discounts for events and free admission to the gardens year-round.
Guided tours of Vizcaya's main house are available every day at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. and tours in Spanish are every Saturday at 2 p.m. Group tours may receive discounts; click here for more information. Guide books are on sale at the ticket booth for $3 in English and Spanish. You can also find maps in several languages.
Vizcaya is nearly a century old, and there are many steps and uneven floors and terrain throughout its main house, gardens and grounds; however, some parts of the estate are wheelchair accessible.
Wheelchairs are available for loan on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors can request a map
- by Jessica Bates, Miami Reporter for HelloMetro
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