1903
Frank Stoneman (father of Marjory Stoneman Douglas) publishes The Miami Evening Record; the paper would be replaced by The Miami Herald in 1910. He served as editor of the Miami Herald from 1910-41.
March 14, 1905
Government Cut, a man-made shipping channel, opens between Miami Beach and Fisher Island, allowing better access to the Port of Miami.
1909
Construction of the Miami Canal begins west of today’s 27th Avenue as part of the state’s efforts to drain the Everglades.
June 12, 1913
John Collins, with financial support from Carl Fisher and the Lummus brothers, completes a two-mile wooden bridge connecting Miami with the spit of oceanfront land that would become the City of Miami Beach.
1913
The 400-seat Lyric Theater opens in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood and serves as a source of pride for the area’s black community. The theater, built by developer Geder Walker, is the oldest theater in the city.
Dec. 24, 1916
James Deering moves into his grand bayfront estate, Villa Vizcaya. Designed by architect F. Burrall Hoffman and Paul Chalfin, the Venetian palazzo cost an estimated $22 million.
