The Rich and Forgotten History of Black Coconut Grove podcast is a collaboration between legacy residents of Coconut Grove, a small community in Miami, FL, and Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Through history, stories of triumph and perseverance and hopes for the future, as told by legacy residents, we’ll learn how heritage is powerful and empowers
Gaston Lachaise Lachaise (1882–1935) joined the Vizcaya project in mid-1920 as the formal gardens were nearing completion. A prominent sculptor, he was commissioned to create sculptural work on top of decorative columns for the Marine Garden. This garden marked the transition from the formal gardens to the more natural and wild Lagoon Gardens that no
In 2018, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens began engaging with long-time Black residents of Coconut Grove to explore their shared Bahamian heritage. Through these conversations, we learned that many elderly residents were deeply concerned about preserving their personal histories amid rapid neighborhood changes. The First Forum Motivated by this sense of urgency, Vizcaya dedicated three years
By Rebecca Peterson Inspiration In 2015, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens held a symposium on American artist Robert Winthrop Chanler (1872 – 1930). Chanler was one of several contemporary artists commissioned to create work for the estate. He produced an “undersea fantasy” fresco for the ceiling of Vizcaya’s swimming pool and a folding screen that adorns
This is a landmark year for Vizcaya. The museum is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the formal gardens, which were completed in 1922. While Vizcaya’s gardens are known to be among the most elaborate in the United States, this is not only due to their natural wonders. These exemplary green spaces also hold historic significance
In celebration of Pride Month, we would like to highlight Louis A. Koons Jr. (1881-1929). Born in Massillon, Ohio, Koons was employed at Vizcaya between 1916 and 1921 as clerk and assistant to Artistic Director Paul Chalfin (1874-1959). He helped document Vizcaya’s object collection through the card catalogue with his beautiful penmanship. The card catalogue
Climate change is impacting us all, in ways we expected, and in surprising ways too. On August 10, Vizcaya is bringing the community together to share our stories about the impacts of climate change during the Climate Against Humanity program. We’re not talking about projections for the far or near future, but things are happening
In celebration of Vizcaya’s garden centennial, we want to learn about your favorite memories in the formal gardens. This could be your wedding or engagement, when you brought your mom here for the first time, discovering special animals or plants in gardens, etc. We want to know them all! The Prize One winner will get
If you love orchids, you don’t miss this special behind-the-scenes tour on Friday, December 13, 11:30 a.m. Join Vizcaya’s own orchid specialist as we go inside the museum’s greenhouse to explore rare orchids and learn expert plant care tips.
Tickets are just $39 per person and include museum admission. Spots are limited, so reserve yours now!
