MiMo on Virginia Key

The Miami Seaquarium is MiMo  central on Virginia Key.
MiMo stands for Miami Modernist Architecture, a term landscape architect Randall Robinson and Miami Beach interior designer Teri D’Amico coined to describe a style of architecture from the 1950s and 1960s. (see info and link to the Nov. 28 MiMo Festival below).

The Miami Seaquarium, with its Buckminster Fuller-designed geodesic dome (19
60) and the historic Miami Marine Stadium, distinguish Virginia Key as home to a small, yet remarkable collection of institutional mid-century Modern architecture, according to Miami Architecture (University Press of Florida), a new book co-authored by Robinson.

The entry on the Seaquarium explains how it came to be:

..the Miami Seaquarium was one of a network of attractions constructed to exploit tourists’ thirst for exotic flora and fauna in this outpost of ‘subtropical America. It was also a major thematic attraction, designed to bolster tourism in Miami and to increase toll revenue on the Rickenbacker Causeway. ...The construction of more advanced aquatic theme parks in the intervening years, such as Sea World near Orlando, makes the Seaquarium’s 1950’s vintage plant seem quaint today. However, when completed it was one of only three large tank oceanariums in the United States and a technological feat of marine architecture and showmanship. 

LEARN MORE ABOUt MiMO:
The inaugural MiMo Festival takes place Sunday, 28, 2010. This "living art" festival includes a walking tour, art mural installations and performances throughout the day. 

@All Rights Reserved by Blanca Mesa, View from Virginia Key.

Subscribe at viewfromvirginiakey.com 

Also on Facebook, join Friends of Virginia Key.

"Aquatic Army" To Rally on Virginia Key Sunday

An “Aquatic Army” will descend on Virginia Key Sunday, Oct. 17 at the “Rally for Lolita’s Retirement.”

The event is being organized in part by Oceanic Defense, a non-profit ocean education and advocacy group that seeks to raise awareness about everyone’s responsibility to protect the world’s oceans. This week the group hosted a series of events and community forums in Miami.

The Rally takes place from 12 to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010 outside the Miami Seaquarium, 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Virginia Key.

Guest speakers include Captain Pete Bethune, captain of Earthrace, the wave-piercer that set a world record for the fastest global circumnavigation; Trevor, a nine year old boy from Washington State who started the Let Lolita Live Campaign; and Cynthia Aguilar, a record-setting endurance paddle boarder and South Beach Ocean Lifeguard, subject of an upcoming documentary about her challenge to solo paddle from Cuba-to-Key West.

Lolita (Tokitae) is a 44-year old captive orca living at the Miami Seaquarium in Miami, Florida. She was captured off Whidbey Island, Washington State in 1970. In response to previous requests to retire Lolita, the Miami Seaquarium has responded that the killer whale has been hand-fed for the past 39 years and could not survive on her own in the ocean.

Resources:
www.oceanicdefense.org
http://www.miamiseaquarium.com

Photo courtesy of Oceanic Defense.

@2010 All Rights Reserved

Virginia Key on Facebook: Friends of Virginia Key

Study, Part 2: How Virginia Key fits into Biscayne National Park’s “Story”

A good visitor center tells a story.

In the case of Biscayne National Park -- which is considering placing a northern visitor center in the Virginia Key area -- it would be the story of its inception.

Biscayne National Park was created in 1968 to protect “a rare combination of terrestrial, marine and amphibious life in a tropical setting of great natural beauty.”

What makes it special is the “interplay of the mainland, Biscayne Bay, keys, reefs and the Florida Straits...The land is filled to overflowing with unusual trees, ferns, vines, fowers, and shrubs,” according to the National Park Service brochure.

Biscayne Bay, which is within the park’s boundaries, is home to brilliantly colorful tropical fish; its shallow waters filling with light.

These are, of course, characteristics it shares with Virginia Key and the surrounding waters of the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve.

Two locations on Virginia Key -- one near the Miami Seaquarium and the other next to the Miami Marine Stadium -- were recently examined by Bernadette Rabb, a graduate of Florida Atlantic University’s Urban Planning Department, as possible sites for a Biscayne National Park Visitor center.

According to her report, these are some of the reasons either site on Virginia Key would be an attractive location for a National Park Visitor Center:

(Virginia Key) has many similarities to Biscayne National Park’s protected areas in that it is an ecological land flourishing with vegetation and life...The Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve is the bay area around the island..that eventually meets up with the waters of the protected areas of Biscayne National Park.

Virginia Key is a place that has history and ecological significance. Most of the properties located on the island have cultural, historical or ecological significance and environmentalists argue that these areas and the rest of the island should be preserved. On the island there already exists a 700-acre state-designated Bill Sadowski Critical Wildlife Area...Virginia Key Beach Park, once an African-American beach, is now listed in The National Register of Historic Places....

The report also comments on the historic Miami Marine Stadium, an icon of modern architecture that is part of Miami’s mid-century architectural heritage. The siting of a visitor center near the stadium would not create much additional environmental impact since this land has already been developed. In addition, its waterfront location with an adjacent marina would provide ideal access for marine tours.

In conclusion, the report states: “The island that is already appreciated by nature lovers seems like a good place to represent Biscayne National Park.”

Drums in the Park Sunday at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park

Everyone is welcome at the “Drums in the Park” event this weekend at the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park -whether to play or listen - at the open drum circle.

The community gathering takes place from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 19 at the dance pavilion just steps away from the sandy shores of the beach park (also every third Sunday of the month).

This is a great opportunity for family and friends to hear some great music and also enjoy the beach park, which features a historic seaside carousel, miniature train, nature boardwalk and a restored sandy beach that has been replanted by volunteers with native dune vegetation.

Attention musicians: drums and other acoustic instruments are welcome. Show your drum at the park entrance, say “Drum Circle,” and voila - you get the park entrance fee ($5) waived.

Directions: This is the historic Virginia Key Beach Park after the Miami Seaquarium (just before the Bear Cut bridge heading south towards Key Biscayne). Turn left at the traffic light.

Resources: Virginia Key Beach Park, http://www.virginiakeybeachpark.net/home.htm; 305-960-4600.

Mother's Day is About Lolita

Today, Mother’s Day, there will be a protest -- as there has been for many years -- in front of Miami Seaquarium by supporters of Lolita (Tokitae), the captive killer whale and star attraction of the marine exhibition park on Virginia Key.

According to the Orca Network, Lolita was captured off Whidbey Island, Washington State in 1970. Lolita was believed to be 2-6 years old and was separated from her mother, along with other orcas who were also captured for sale to marine parks.

Researchers believe they have identified Lolita’s mother, identified at “L-25,” “Ocean Sun,” a member of the Southern Resident community of Orca’s off Washington State’s coast.

On this Mother’s Day, supporters of Lolita plan to come out to raise awareness about the capture and separation and promote Lolita’s retirement into a baypen “where she would be able to interact with and if she chooses to do so, rejoin her pod including her mother."

The Miami Seaquarium has responded in the past that Lolita, which has been hand-fed for the past 39 years, could not survive on her own in the ocean and would "continue to be an ambassador for her species from her home at Miami Seaquarium," according to statements previously released to the press.

The 38-acre Miami Seaquarium on Virginia Key, which opened in 1955, is the longest operating “oceanarium” in the United States. From 1963 through 1967, 88 television episodes and two movies starring Flipper were filmed at Miami Seaquarium, according to the park’s website.

Photo: Killer whales in the wild, San Juan Islands. Courtesy of http://sanjuanupdate.com

Resources:
http://www.orcanetwork.org
http://www.miamiseaquarium.com/visitor_info/history.asp
http://www.islandcam.com/orca_page.html

To Save Biscayne Bay Again

To save Biscayne Bay, Lloyd Miller battled oil magnates, rapacious developers, causeway proponents, chambers of commerce, newspaper editorial boards and lots of politicians touting progress.

In the course of things, his dog was poisoned, his job was threatened and, looking at the odds, it’s no doubt he also had to face down the fear that he would lose. And southern Biscayne Bay - which he knew as the most beautiful, serene, productive gem - would be forever ruined.

Fortunately, Miller won. He won on behalf of all of us who today gaze over the tranquil, vibrant waters of Biscayne Bay, and sigh with relief there’s not an oil refinery in the distance or causeways criss-crossing the emerald green islands of what is today Biscayne National Park.

In case anyone doesn’t believe just how close it all almost came to ruin, Miller, the “father” of Biscayne National Park, documented it in his book. “Biscayne National Park: It Almost Wasn’t.”

Fortunately, all schemes to pave over, dig up, channelize and fill in South Biscayne Bay fizzled for one reason or another but mostly because none of the promoters found a way to finance their projects. That our beautiful bay survived as well as it did for as long is part miracle, part bungled development schemes and partly because it remains a little remote. It certainly hadn’t been saved by an official awareness and concern for its fantastic value as a marine resource, economic engine and recreational wonderland for our ever-expanding population.

But Miller isn’t content just creating Biscayne National Park (and saving Biscayne Bay), Nowadays, this South Dade resident who is in his eighties, continues to fight for his beloved park. This time, his quest is to find a way to increase visitors to what is arguably one of America’s most beautiful and unique parks, but also one that is virtually inaccessible, especially to those without a boat. With the main visitor center near Homstead, few Miami residents even know Biscayne National Park exists.

Biscayne National Park is virtually unknown to our many visitors from across the nation and the world. Many who are aware of Biscayne Bay don’t know that the south half IS Biscayne National Park. This beautiful treasure should be made known and available...There are no mountains, no valleys, no geysers, no elk nor wolves. There are mangroves, beautiful barrier islands, clear water, sea life that doesn’t exist in any of our other parks and tranquility, blessed tranquility, and America’s only coral reef at our front door.

Miller’s fix: bring Biscayne National Park closer to Miami by opening a northern visitor center on Virginia Key.

Miller has been circulating a proposal for more than five years, hoping the political leadership will emerge to champion his vision.

Several sites have been identified, including the keyhole boat basin west of the Miami Seaquarium. Another site would be next to the Miami Marine Stadium, where Biscayne National Park tour boats could start their tour of Biscayne Bay at historic Stiltsville. Boca Chita, with its little lighthouse, would also be within easy reach.

Miller’s dream is not just about promoting Biscayne National Park - - it’s also about sharing our ecological and historic bounty with future generations.

“It is so important that we all learn of the magnificent heritage the National Park Services provides,” Miller writes in his proposal for a new visitor center on Virginia Key. “Our system is the envy of and the model for park systems around the world - and it belongs to the people.

2010 Copyright.@ All Rights Reserved
On Facebook: Friends of Virginia Key