Miami is the cultural, economic, major transportation, and business hub of Florida state. The United States took control of the area when Spanish sold Florida in 1821 for five million dollars, and Miami was officially incorporated as a city in 1896 with a population of just 300. At the beginning of the 20th century, the population of Miami was only 1681. Miami Beach was developed in 1913 and quickly transformed into one of the hottest tourist spots in the country. Hotels, shops, high-rise buildings, nightclubs were built, and authorities of Miami allowed gambling. The population of Miami doubled from 1920 to 1923.

The Miami Hurricane in 1926 disrupted the growth, and between 25,000 and 50,000 people were left homeless in the Miami area. After that, the Great Depression hit hard, in which more than 16,000 people of Miami became unemployed. By the early 1940s, when Miami was recovering from the shocks of the Great Depression, World War II started. The U.S. Navy took control of Miami’s docks, and Air Force also set up bases in the local airports in the Miami area.

Here below are some historical photos of Old Miami from the early 20th century that show streets, landmarks, beaches, and everyday life of Miami.