South Florida Centennials

Long before the Town of Davie became known for horses and rodeos, it was miles of untamed Everglades. After the wetlands were drained in the early 1900s, people flocked there for the agriculture and development opportunities. The pioneers who settled learned to work the land and face the challenges of building a new community. At the heart of those early days was the Davie School. Today, it’s the Old Davie School Museum.

At 100 years old, Miami Dade College’s restored Freedom Tower turns exile and arrival into an interactive museum — with more than 350 oral histories, a recreated processing room and galleries organized around freedom, opportunity, home and love.

Once a glamorous racetrack, Hialeah Park became iconic for its pink flamingos. A century later, the birds — and memories — remain, kept alive by locals like historian and former worker Ken Wilde.

George Washington Carver Elementary, located on the edge of Coconut Grove and Coral Gables, has been an institution for generations of Black Grove residents. The school's 125-year history and notable alumni, like astronaut Wilson Scott, have been memorialized as the community celebrates its legacy.

As Boca Raton celebrates its 100th anniversary, the legacy of Pearl City — a historic Black neighborhood established before Boca — offers a powerful reminder of the area's humble agricultural beginnings. Just a mile from today’s bustling downtown, the neighborhood's enduring spirit continues to shape Boca Raton’s story.

A new play set in the 1920s blends history with personal family stories. Playwright June Morris discusses her debut play, 'Greetings from Paradise.'