Deering Estate: A Walk Through Time

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May marks the beginning of National Historic Preservation Month, which promotes the preservation of historic buildings, sites, and traditions of our communities for generations to come. A perfect way to participate in this month is by visiting the Deering Estate.

Valeria Mejia

The Deering Estate, located right in Palmetto Bay, is a magnificent piece of history from the early 20th century. The property used to be the home of Charles Deering, a Chicago industrialist, early preservationist, and environmentalist. Today, it offers visitors an opportunity to admire and learn about the different aspects of that era, including everyday life, architecture, and art. For those interested in Miami history, the Deering Estate is a great place to start.

One popular site to see at the Deering Estate is the Stone House, a three-story home that was originally designed by the Coral Gables architect, Phineas Paist. It was completed in 1922 and Charles Deering used the house to store his collection of fine art and furnishings. Today, guests have the chance to see some incredible pieces of artwork like the Deering Portrait and Flight Into Egypt glass panels, as well as the interior décor of the time. The iron gates, found in the Great Hall, and Deering headboard, in Mr. Deering’s room, tend to draw a lot of attention due to their intricate details in design. The Stone House also features a conservation collection.. However, the main attraction of the building is the wine cellar. Like many people during the Prohibition Era, Deering did not get rid of his alcohol and, kept his spirits secure in a vault cellar located in the basement of the property. In 1945, the cellar was rusted shut due to a storm surge, but when it was later opened in 1985, there were bottles of champagne, whisky, and wine everywhere.

The Richmond Cottage was originally built in 1896 as a home for S.H. Richmond and his family, before Deering purchased the property in 1906. Currently, it is one of the oldest wooden structures in Miami-Dade. It is also considered the last remaining structure of the former town of Cutler. The cottage was eventually transformed into an inn for the visitors of Henry Flagler’s East Coast Railroad. Charles Deering later purchased it and turned it into a winter home. At the Richmond Cottage, guests can visit the archaeology exhibit, conservation collections, and the Victorian garden room.

Guided tours are available by reservation and the Deering Estate is now rolling out an auditory self-guided tour. It will be entirely app-based and guests will be able to purchase through the app directly and at the ticket booth. The audio tour will offer visitors fun curatorial commentary on the objects, art work, and furnishings in the homes.

Here is an interview with Tamara McDonald, the Associate Museum Registrar. Here she discusses some of her favorite historic pieces and the must-sees of Deering Estate.

Q: Which historic building at Deering Estate is your favorite and why?

A:  My favorite building is the Stone House, it is like an extension of the art collection, history, and art in one. It is a blend of Charles’ interest in nature and many features can be linked to important aspects of South Florida history through the people who work to build the house itself from masons, landscapers, botanists, and architects to Bahamian artisans.

Q: Deering Estate also has a plethora of art, which piece of work do you consider to be the most captivating?

A: The Flight Into Egypt stained glass panels are my favorite because they are a blend of history, art, and education. Stained glass is a great example of that from the development of certain pigments to the inscriptions and scenes selected that emphasize core values and teachings to a public who in the time was largely unable to read and write.

Q: Are there any current restoration projects being done at the Deering Estate?

A: We are finishing our latest project, restoration of the People’s Dock extension, and will soon start restoration projects for the Richmond Cottage Kitchen.

Q: What are the main things to see inside and outside of the museum?

A: The nature trails, Chinese Bridge and Boat Basin are fun outdoor things to see and inside the art, historic photographs, maps, and objects in each room are different and you’ll want to see them all.          

The next time you are looking for something to do, make sure to grab your friends and family and head on over to the Deering Estate! Celebrate National Historic Preservation Month and come face-to-face with historic Miami from nearly 100 years ago.


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