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: 228 times.	Statue of Ponce de Leon. Viewed: 247 times.	Fountain lined path to the mansion. Viewed: 376 times.
The front of the mansion. Viewed: 394 times.	Fancy gate leading to the north gardens. Viewed: 387 times.	Jungle cat? Viewed: 323 times.
The attached in-ground pool. Viewed: 537 times.	North garden, where orchids are grown. Viewed: 435 times.	Statue at the far end. Viewed: 308 times.
Orchids being grown in this structure. Viewed: 327 times.	Looking back at the north side of the house. Viewed: 320 times.	Path leading to a boat dock. Viewed: 354 times.
Cool little bridge. Viewed: 370 times.	Looking back at the mansion from the dock. Viewed: 486 times.	East side of the mansion. Viewed: 326 times.
Hmm, the sundial is running a bit slow. Viewed: 295 times.	The odd boat shaped breakwater/party pad. Viewed: 563 times.	Looking back at the house from the gazebo. Viewed: 375 times.
Tourists check out the breakwater. Viewed: 342 times.	Amazingly lush south gardens. Viewed: 383 times.	Looking back at the south side of the house. Viewed: 341 times.
Coral rock nook. Viewed: 369 times.	Ceiling decorated with shells. Viewed: 357 times.	Small fountain inside. Viewed: 266 times.
Looking back across the pool. Viewed: 421 times.	Looking up the waterfall. Viewed: 488 times.	View back at the house from the top of the waterfall. Viewed: 372 times.
I think this was called the casino at the far south end of the garden. Viewed: 357 times.	More gardens to one side. Viewed: 293 times.	Looking up a path up to the hill where the casino was. Viewed: 218 times.
Back of the casino. Viewed: 214 times.	Staircase to one side. Viewed: 246 times.	The canal behind the casino. Viewed: 255 times.
Another cool fountain in the gardens. Viewed: 339 times.	Another pool and a clump of several types of palm trees. Viewed: 314 times.	The palm trees. Viewed: 303 times.
Coral rock archway. Viewed: 270 times.	Viewed: 266 times.	One last view of the front of the mansion as we were leaving. Viewed: 287 times.
Courtyard with the now non-working wind speed and direction indicators. Viewed: 393 times.	Looking down the staircase from the second floor. Viewed: 454 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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