Vizcaya Museum & Gardens

Vizcaya was built by James Deering, co-founder of International Harvester, around 1916 as his winter home. Mr. Deering picked this location because of the tropical climate and the setting on Biscayne Bay was ideal. The small town of Miami was nearby but Vizcaya was built to be a self sustaining community with it's own farm, livestock and other services.

The house took many years to build with the work of more than 1000 craftsmen. Mr. Deering sent "personal shoppers" to Europe after World War I to find the finest 15th thru 19th century antiques. Each room was built in a different style and filled with as many period pieces as he could find.

The lush gardens were designed in the Renaissance Italian and French style and required an extensive staff to maintain. There are also several smaller buildings on the property as well as amazing fountains.

The property was purchase by Miami-Dade County in 1952 for $1M to operate as an attraction. The facility is also available for rent for weddings and other events. It is located just a few minutes south of downtown Miami near the Biscayne Causeway.

Click on thumbnail for a full-size picture
Much of the grounds is still native Miami vegetation. Viewed: 258 times.	Statue of Ponce de Leon. Viewed: 285 times.	Fountain lined path to the mansion. Viewed: 422 times.
The front of the mansion. Viewed: 435 times.	Fancy gate leading to the north gardens. Viewed: 434 times.	Jungle cat? Viewed: 362 times.
The attached in-ground pool. Viewed: 600 times.	North garden, where orchids are grown. Viewed: 491 times.	Statue at the far end. Viewed: 350 times.
Orchids being grown in this structure. Viewed: 373 times.	Looking back at the north side of the house. Viewed: 362 times.	Path leading to a boat dock. Viewed: 395 times.
Cool little bridge. Viewed: 417 times.	Looking back at the mansion from the dock. Viewed: 536 times.	East side of the mansion. Viewed: 369 times.
Hmm, the sundial is running a bit slow. Viewed: 338 times.	The odd boat shaped breakwater/party pad. Viewed: 637 times.	Looking back at the house from the gazebo. Viewed: 435 times.
Tourists check out the breakwater. Viewed: 393 times.	Amazingly lush south gardens. Viewed: 435 times.	Looking back at the south side of the house. Viewed: 390 times.
Coral rock nook. Viewed: 416 times.	Ceiling decorated with shells. Viewed: 409 times.	Small fountain inside. Viewed: 313 times.
Looking back across the pool. Viewed: 474 times.	Looking up the waterfall. Viewed: 546 times.	View back at the house from the top of the waterfall. Viewed: 419 times.
I think this was called the casino at the far south end of the garden. Viewed: 413 times.	More gardens to one side. Viewed: 324 times.	Looking up a path up to the hill where the casino was. Viewed: 251 times.
Back of the casino. Viewed: 242 times.	Staircase to one side. Viewed: 278 times.	The canal behind the casino. Viewed: 287 times.
Another cool fountain in the gardens. Viewed: 380 times.	Another pool and a clump of several types of palm trees. Viewed: 354 times.	The palm trees. Viewed: 341 times.
Coral rock archway. Viewed: 305 times.	Viewed: 305 times.	One last view of the front of the mansion as we were leaving. Viewed: 327 times.
Courtyard with the now non-working wind speed and direction indicators. Viewed: 454 times.	Looking down the staircase from the second floor. Viewed: 501 times.

Comments From People Like You! Vizcaya Museum & Gardens : Miami, Florida 2004	add a comment
Eric 26-Apr-2006 19:54
The 'odd' boat is called a barge. Occasionally it was used for parties, but its main purpose was to prevent waves from crashing into the main property.
jdaniels 27-Jan-2005 23:14
Is there a picture with the pool part that is indoors.  I went there years ago and I remember walking through it but did not get pictures. Sorry, I didn't get a picture of it either.  I recall it wasn't very impressive because the cafe was right there.

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