Miami Beach boasts the world’s largest collection of Art Deco buildings, with over 800 properties built between 1923 and 1943 that evoke a unique charm and distinguish our city as one of the most visually captivating places in the world.

Art Deco originated in Paris and came into prominence at the 1925 World’s Fair. As artists sought a modern and hopeful way to express the post-war era, Art Deco emerged as a bold, functional and decorative style. It embraced symmetry, clean lines and the use of modern materials like chrome and concrete, focusing on form, function and artistic expression. The movement became global, influencing architecture, interior design, fashion and the arts.

In the early 20th century, Miami Beach embraced Art Deco. After the devastation of the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 and the economic challenges of the Great Depression, the city’s resurgence in the 1930s aligned with the rise of Art Deco architecture, which quickly became its defining style. Influential architects such as Albert Anis, L. Murray Dixon and Henry Hohauser designed many of the city’s Art Deco buildings, creating a cohesive collection of hotels, theaters, restaurants and residential structures.

As Art Deco evolved, Miami Beach adopted Streamline Moderne, a substyle marked by smooth, curved lines and minimalist forms. This design reflected the era’s optimism and resilience. With simple geometric shapes and functional elements, Streamline Moderne introduced iconic Art Deco marquees, bold signage and creative use of materials like terrazzo floors, neon lighting and glass block windows.