World War II in the Homefront: Miami, Florida

Many people who know Miami as a diverse vacation spot do not necessarily know that this very city was used as a hub for military training and recruitment during the Second World War. Soldiers who were present in South Florida during the 1940s were training to go overseas to fight in the European wing of the war. Due to this, Miami's unique environment and terrain offered numerous training advantages for many branches of the U.S. Army. There are many locations across South Florida that were used to serve the U.S. Army, such as Pratt General Hospital (The Biltmore Hotel), Miami Beach, and the Homestead Air Force base. To many Miami residents and visitors alike, all of these locations are just places in South Florida that we know exist but their histories are unknown to us. Often, the profound background of Miami and South Florida as a whole is overlooked due to the city’s more recent involvement with Cuba and its iconic image as a tropical vacation spot. In presenting this StoryMap, we hope to challenge Miami’s distinct historical narrative and educate people on a side of South Floridian history that is easily forgotten.

Miami's role in World War II, as mentioned, is something that is often overshadowed by its more recent historical involvement with Cuba and other Latin American countries. Since it can be difficult for viewers to put these images into geographical context, we have created an interactive map which pinpoints some of the locations presented in the photographs above.

Historical memory is a significant element of our project. Since historical narrative is often crafted by various individuals who had first-hand experience of an event, we want to present two varying accounts of World War II and Miami—a civilian's perspective and a solider's perspective.

This oral history, recorded by Miami Beach Visual Memoirs, offers the experience of Miami Beach residents during World War II.

This pamphlet created in 2005 offers soldier's experiences in Miami during the war effort. It also highlights how Miami was transformed for World War II.