South Florida

I'm not sure of the date, but believe these photos were taken in October 1983. This was about a year after I graduated Auburn. I was working with Southern Company Services in Birmingham, and this was probably my first vacation home to South Florida.

The Mall at 163rd Street, in North Miami Beach, was built in 1956 as an open-air shopping center. However, it was renovated from 1980 to 1982 as the nation's first "Teflon Tent" mall.

I grew up in south Miami Beach, and frequently walked by the Blackstone Hotel, a 13-story Mediterranean Revival building located at 800–830 Washington Avenue. It was designed by architect B. Kingston Hall and built in 1929.

A few blocks away, at 900 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, this tiny house was designed and built in 1916 by Avery C. Smith, who operated an early mainland-to-beach ferry service. The exterior is coral rock.

Moving on to Miami, the 20-story Atlantis Condominium at 2025 Brickell Avenue, had just been completed the year before. The building was made famous in the opening credits of the television show Miami Vice, which would premier in 1984.

Finally, I visited Key Biscayne, and specifically Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area. The Cape Florida Light was originally built in 1825, but was seriously damaged in 1836 during the Second Seminole War. It was rebuilt in 1847 and renovated in 1855, only to be damaged in 1861 during the Civil War. It was repaired in 1866, but was taken out of service in 1878. A century later, in 1978, it was restored to active service. Originally whitewashed, it appeared as natural brick when I photographed it:

Another view of the lighthouse, framed through pine needles:

A friendly nearby squirrel: