Overtown

Black History In Early Miami

In honor of black history month, we’ll take a look at some of the significant events and figures in the course of Miami’s black history, starting with the settlement of the city through the early 1900s. Plus, join us later this month for a Black History Celebration at Yeelen Gallery.

/ February 3, 2021

How was Miami’s Overtown neighborhood chosen as the place to expand I-95?

Interstate 95’s expansion through Overtown had a huge impact on the neighborhood and the City of Miami, so we took a look at how the decision happened.

/ January 15, 2019

Spotlight on Overtown

Overtown has for decades been considered the heart of Miami’s black community. In the early 20th century, when it was known as “Colored Town,” the area housed jazz clubs and local businesses that attracted everyone from a young Muhammad Ali to legends like Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday.

/ January 15, 2019

Video: Meet Overtown’s RBG, Ms. Jackie Bell

At 81, Jackie Bell is far from retirement. She may not have a computer or a smartphone, but what she lacks in technology, she makes up for in resilience. She remembers the Overtown she grew up in, before the construction of I-95 drove businesses out of the community. “You didn’t know you were segregated,” she […]

/ January 10, 2019

Overtown: A Miami neighborhood full of history and promise

Once known as “Colored Town,” Miami’s Overtown neighborhood has a vibrant and full history. It’s also currently experiencing a renaissance driven by locals who grew up there and newcomers inspired by the opportunity to support a community rebuilding itself. The Lyric Theatre has been renovated and reopened and new businesses like Lil’ Greenhouse Grill and […]

/ January 9, 2019

Video: History meets hospitality at the Copper Door B&B

Chefs Jamila Ross and Akino West recently converted an abandoned 1940s motel in historic Overtown into a vintage-styled bed-and-breakfast concept that’s equal parts love and hospitality. The Copper Door B&B features 22 rooms, three private suites, and a banquet table where travelers can share stories over a homemade breakfast prepared by the couple. Sure, you’ve […]

/ January 3, 2019

Video: Lil Greenhouse Grill’s gotta lotta soul

Your taste buds won’t be the only ones dancing after a meal at Lil Greenhouse Grill. Stroll into this mom-and-pop shop and you’re sure to find authentic soul food eats and people grooving in their seats. What started out as a food truck has rapidly evolved into a gathering place for the community, like the “Cheers” […]

/ December 19, 2018

Video: Forget what you think you know about Overtown

Overtown is a neighborhood that knows all about change. Once considered “The Harlem of the South,” it was the gathering place for musicians such as Duke Ellington, Sammy Davis Jr. and Billie Holiday. But when the construction of I-95 divided the neighborhood into quadrants in the 1960s, Overtown’s economic stability collapsed, and so did its […]

/ December 17, 2018