ART DECO DISTRICT WELCOME CTR.

 

Miami Design Preservation League’s 
Art Deco Welcome Center

1001 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33119-0810
Phone: (305) 672-2014
Fax: (305) 672-4319

Ground zero for ultra-chic Art Deco District on South Beach is a tiny, cluttered curios shop on the beach. The Miami Design Preservation League’s Art Deco Welcome Center, located at the southwestern corner of the Ocean Front Auditorium, just across the street from the Breakwater and Edison hotels, is the place to go when you want to learn about the art and architecture of the Art Deco era that flourishes on Miami Beach.

About 800 Art Deco-inspired buildings remain in the area of South Beach between Sixth Street north to Dade Boulevard and from Lenox Court east to the beach.

The league offers a variety of tours and workshops, but the most popular is the self-guided audio tour, which allows participants to wander through South Beach at their own pace. Average time to complete the tour is 60 to 75 minutes and is offered 10am to 4pm daily. The cost is $5.

Another popular tour is the walking tour, guided by local preservationists and history buffs offered on Thursdays and Saturdays. The Thursday tour begins at 6:30pm and on Saturdays, at 10:30am. Cost is $10. Both tours start and end at the welcome center.

The league’s big bash of the year is the Art Deco Weekend, usually held in mid to late January along Ocean Drive. It’s the mother of all street festivals and a cultural extravaganza. Aspects of the weekend’s whirl of activities include concerts, tours, classic cars, big-band concerts and a film and lecture series. And of course there’s a world of food and plenty of tall, frosty beverages to quaff. Call (305) 672-2014 for further information.

The Welcome Center, a great place not only as a starting point for your Art Deco excursions, but also for Art Deco souvenirs and other touristy paraphernalia, is open 11am to 6pm Monday through Friday, 10am to 10pm Saturdays and 11am to 10pm on Sundays.