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: 214 times.	Statue of Ponce de Leon. Viewed: 231 times.	Fountain lined path to the mansion. Viewed: 357 times.
The front of the mansion. Viewed: 373 times.	Fancy gate leading to the north gardens. Viewed: 364 times.	Jungle cat? Viewed: 300 times.
The attached in-ground pool. Viewed: 508 times.	North garden, where orchids are grown. Viewed: 406 times.	Statue at the far end. Viewed: 286 times.
Orchids being grown in this structure. Viewed: 300 times.	Looking back at the north side of the house. Viewed: 298 times.	Path leading to a boat dock. Viewed: 330 times.
Cool little bridge. Viewed: 348 times.	Looking back at the mansion from the dock. Viewed: 456 times.	East side of the mansion. Viewed: 304 times.
Hmm, the sundial is running a bit slow. Viewed: 275 times.	The odd boat shaped breakwater/party pad. Viewed: 532 times.	Looking back at the house from the gazebo. Viewed: 347 times.
Tourists check out the breakwater. Viewed: 319 times.	Amazingly lush south gardens. Viewed: 360 times.	Looking back at the south side of the house. Viewed: 319 times.
Coral rock nook. Viewed: 345 times.	Ceiling decorated with shells. Viewed: 333 times.	Small fountain inside. Viewed: 245 times.
Looking back across the pool. Viewed: 395 times.	Looking up the waterfall. Viewed: 462 times.	View back at the house from the top of the waterfall. Viewed: 348 times.
I think this was called the casino at the far south end of the garden. Viewed: 333 times.	More gardens to one side. Viewed: 274 times.	Looking up a path up to the hill where the casino was. Viewed: 201 times.
Back of the casino. Viewed: 197 times.	Staircase to one side. Viewed: 226 times.	The canal behind the casino. Viewed: 234 times.
Another cool fountain in the gardens. Viewed: 316 times.	Another pool and a clump of several types of palm trees. Viewed: 295 times.	The palm trees. Viewed: 285 times.
Coral rock archway. Viewed: 250 times.	Viewed: 249 times.	One last view of the front of the mansion as we were leaving. Viewed: 267 times.
Courtyard with the now non-working wind speed and direction indicators. Viewed: 366 times.	Looking down the staircase from the second floor. Viewed: 433 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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