Culture & History in Miami

Get ready to see how Miami popped up atop the swamps to grow large and fast! This tour will narrate you its history as you browse the downtown Miami period buildings, instead of the modern skyscrapers and glitzy South Beach. You will start the time journey near the Chaille Block to witness how the local commercial architecture looked like during the first building boom in the early 20th century. Few steps away, get back to the 1560s as you admire the stately Gesu Catholic Church, a legacy of the earliest Spanish settlements in Florida, rebuilt in 1896. The soaring Miami-Dade County Courthouse nearby will surprise you how troublesome it was to construct skyscrapers on Miami's soft soil a century ago. Passing by the historic lowrise Flagler Worker's House, you will meet the famous oil and railroad tycoon and hotelier Henry Flagler who developed Miami and Florida down to Key West. Crossing the scenic Brickell Bridge over the Miami River, you will reimagine the life of the area's first tenants as the towering statue of the Tequesta Indians catches your eyes. Finally, you will discover the First Presbyterian Church, Henry Flagler's significant gift to the Presbyterians, who would gather for sermons in a restaurant in Miami's early days. To get there, you will walk through and take in the glorious views of Biscayne Bay and the iconic skyline from the waterfront Brickell Park. Join this tour to engage with Miami's past on a deeper level and get inspired!

Welcome to Miami Beach's splendid South Beach with its sandy strands, swaying palms, and pastel-colored buildings that popped up in the 20th century amidst the mangrove to become a swanky resort soon. This audio tour points out the spectacular small Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive and modern structures and streets of note, too, and is perfect to match with the ultimate beach leisure. You will start the tour in the historic district and see the epic Hotel Breakwater, the set of the iconic Calvin Klein’s 1986 naked photoshoot. You will also muse upon the landmark Waldorf Towers, the Colony Hotel, and many more. Then, you will enjoy scenic lookouts of the South Beach waterfront and beyond at the South Pointe Park Pier. Next, you will get a chance to explore the heritage of the Florida Jews, once predominant in the area, at the Jewish Museum. After that, the opulent villa Casa Casuarina will captivate you with a thrilling story of how fashion designer Gianni Versace lived and died there. In the end, you will stroll the hip main street, Lincoln Road, that hosted the first gay pride parade in 1972 and is now lined with the renowned shopping and art venues. On your way there, you will walk the historic Espanola Way, a quaint throwback to the Old World designed in the 1920s. Join the tour to discover what defined the resort town’s heyday in the past and still attracts holidaymakers from all over the world to Miami Beach!

Welcome to the Little Havana neighborhood that beautifully represents the Cuban lifestyle in Miami. This in-app audio tour will take you through the vibrant main street and immerse you in the local tastes, sounds, and stories. You will start at the famed Versailles restaurant, partly decorated by Cuban-American rapper Pitbull's uncle, where you will eat like a Cuban for the first time on this tour. After the fine special sandwich there, you will learn how Little Havana became the American home for Cubans and, if you like, visit the Bay of Pigs Museum for more information on that. Next, you will poke into the small Latin Art Core Gallery that pioneered displaying artworks by emerging and established Cubans and Latin Americans. After the art-looking, you will sip a cup of Cuban coffee at the inventive La Colada Gourmet coffeeshop. The tour will also show you the places in Calle Ocho (8th Street) to get the real deal on Cuban food staples like mojito, sugarcane juice, puff pastry, and others. Right next door, look up at the historic MDC's Tower Theater, where the Cubans would learn English in the 50-60s. From there, you will walk to Domino Park to watch the common pastime enjoyed by the elderly Cubans who avidly play dominoes. Finally, soak in the live salsa or jazz tunes at the iconic Ball&Chain bar, where Billie Holiday and Chet Baker regularly performed. Join the tour to taste Cuba in Miami and glimpse the local Cuban community's past and cheerful present!