Connecting Biscayne Bay

Making Visible an Extraordinary Tapestry Woven by Time

Biscayne Bay and its celebrated waters include and are surrounded by hundreds of contributing iconic and historic structures—many of which are now on the National Register of Historic Places—but are not usually seen or understood as part of a larger seamlessly interconnected and interrelated network of natural, ecological, historic and cultural treasures. The Bay itself works as an aquatic pathway linking these historic sites, bridging time periods and cultures.

As part of a multi-pronged approach to “Connect the Bay”, we are beginning an application to list Biscayne Bay on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

Biscayne Bay is understood (and protected) today primarily as an ecological resource, home to many of Miami’s iconic marine species. By listing Biscayne Bay on the NRHP, we aim to recognize that Biscayne Bay is also an expansive site that holds the cultural, architectural, and archaeological histories of South Florida. Listing the Bay on the NRHP will celebrate and uplift the Bay’s overlapping uses and unique history, and by doing this, we’ll inspire greater environmental consciousness and local pride in Miami’s shared aquatic park.

Our Partners

The Art

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Christina Pettersson has lived in Miami, FL most of her life. Thus her last two solo exhibitions, in Everglades National Park and at the historic Deering Estate on Biscayne Bay, reflect her lifelong passions in her hometown.

 FAQs

  • The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of our country’s historic buildings, districts, sites, structures, and objects worthy of preservation. It was established as part of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and is overseen by the National Park Service.

  • The National Register is the official Federal list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. National Register properties have significance to the history of their community, state, or the nation. Under Federal Law, the listing of a property in the National Register places no restrictions on what a non-federal owner may do with their property up to and including destruction, unless the property is involved in a project that receives Federal assistance, usually funding or licensing/permitting.

  • Biscayne Bay is an incredible and indispensable resource. It is not only an invaluable habitat for marine life and endangered species but also an expansive aquatic park binding together our community’s social and cultural environment. Adding it to the National Register will honor this living landmark, and provide a tool to ensure its preservation for subsequent generations. Recognizing the historical importance of the Bay means recognizing the significance of the indigenous communities that first settled the bay and its tributaries, and their contributions to our shared cultural landscape.

  • Although the Bay is already an aquatic preserve, it can also be listed on the National Register. This additional designation will complement and expand on existing protections, and can be tailored to protect the Bay in its totality, recognizing not only it’s environmental importance, but it’s historic significance as– –well. This combined recognition focuses on the impact Biscayne Bay has on the quality of life on residents, as well as marine flora and fauna, and honors the Bay as a socioecological entity that binds all life in Miami together. Listing on the national register is not only national but international recognition. It also enables increased attention to the protection of the Bay.

  • The health of the Bay is directly tied to the quality of life of people who live around it. Listing the Bay on the National Register yields further protection of the ecosystem, which can support its recovery. This is a step towards preventing devastating fish-kills, sewage run-off, and pollution that compromise the benefits of living along what would otherwise be a beautiful bay. Listing the Bay on the National Register benefits not only residents but all who come to enjoy it as a marine and recreational resource. Designating the Bay as one of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation can give special economic advantages such as the promotion of tourism to the places in and around the Bay.

  • Parts of the Bay are fortunate to already receive protections, either within the boundaries of aquatic preserves or Biscayne Bay National Park. However, ongoing environmental issues have shown that more needs to be done to protect the Bay, and listing it in its entirety on the National Register will– –bring international recognition to the ongoing efforts to improve the health of the ecosystem. The registration will provide another layer of significance to the Bay, emboldening the conservation and remediation efforts underway, and mobilizing further future action to preserve. The designation will further mobilize communities that surround the Bay to engage in citizen science initiatives and grassroots conservation efforts.

  • The campaign is spearheaded by Bridge Initiative, a Miami-based nonprofit organization bringing artists and scientists together to raise awareness around conservation and environmental concerns. It is supported by the Dade Heritage Trust, and Friends of Biscayne Bay. In addition to local environmental organizations, the campaign to list the Bay on the NRHP is supported by residents who enjoy and benefit from the beauty of the Bay. This includes those who live adjacent to the Bay as well as those who use it for waterfront activities like boating, swimming, snorkeling, fishing, birdwatching, and other water sports.

  • Yes, listing on the register creates new and additional protection, and makes clear our collective appreciation for the Bay. The special recognition of the resource enables a thorough and careful review of its uses.

  • Listing creates new protections. Although the listing itself does not does not create a regulatory or a restrictive set of rules, it does ensure that there is appropriate and protective consideration of proposals that may be destructive of the Bay. For example, if a proposal came forth to fill parts of the Bay, the recognition of the Bay as a Historic Place would further require that the permit request goes through a special and enhanced review process to ensure appropriate protection. Such protection would benefit not only the organisms that live in the Bay, but the people that live around it. Those who might be adversely impacted by additional protection of the Bay may be those who may propose to use it as a resource for dredging or filling.