The Park Central Hotel features a rounded, corner facade finished in smooth, white stucco, accented by horizontal bands of blue neon. Architect Henry Hohauser designed the building in nineteen thirty-seven, placing it at the heart of the…
Art Deco Ocean Drive
This walk takes you past the iconic pastel hotels, neon signs, and geometric facades lining Miami Beach's legendary Ocean Drive. You'll hear how these 1930s resort masterpieces were built, how they were nearly demolished, and how a preservation movement saved them to define the city's style.
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1. Park Central South Beach
2. The Colony Hotel
The Colony Hotel features a bright neon sign that cuts across its vertical, streamline facade. Built in nineteen thirty-five by architect Henry Hohauser, it remains the quintessential example of Miami Beach Art Deco. During the nineteen…
3. Waldorf Towers South Beach
The Waldorf Towers Hotel wears a distinct, bright blue facade with a prominent central tower that stretches toward the Atlantic. Built in nineteen thirty-seven, the structure serves as a prime example of the Streamline Moderne style, which…
4. Hotel Breakwater South Beach
The Hotel Breakwater anchors the corner of Ocean Drive with its distinctive, neon-lit tower and sweeping, nautical curves. Built in nineteen thirty-nine, the structure reflects the streamlined aesthetic of the era, designed to resemble a…
5. Art Deco Welcome Center
The Art Deco Welcome Center sits within a miniature replica of the Essex House hotel, marked by a bright neon sign and a curved, pastel-colored facade. This building once served as a quiet residential hotel for winter visitors in the…
6. Leslie Hotel Ocean Drive
The Leslie Hotel wears a soft, butter-yellow coat with stark white horizontal bands that run the length of its facade. Built in nineteen thirty-seven by architect Albert Anis, it stands as a prime example of Art Deco design, defined by its…
7. The Carlyle
The Carlyle features a distinctive geometric facade with three vertical tiers of rounded glass blocks and curved corners. Built in nineteen thirty-nine, the hotel serves as a primary example of Streamline Moderne architecture in the Miami…
8. Cardozo South Beach
The Cardozo Hotel stands out on Ocean Drive with its stark white facade and bold, symmetrical geometric relief. Built in nineteen thirty-nine by Henry Hohauser, it remains a prime example of Art Deco design with its vertical lines and…