Miami-Dade County Courthouse

The history of the appearance of the district court in Miami

Miami-Dade County Courthouse is located at 73 West Flagler Street. Construction began in 1925 and was completed in 1928. Just at that time, a colossal skyscraper was built with a lighthouse on the roof on Biscayne Boulevard, which is now called Freedom Tower — 17 floors, elegant architecture, height 78 meters, including a lighthouse that floods Biscayne Bay at night with light.

The construction of the District Court building in Miami was a kind of response to the appearance of the first real skyscraper using modern technology that allows the rapid construction of colossal and durable structures. The height of the new most important skyscraper in Miami and Florida as a whole was 110 meters and 28 floors.

In fact, it is extremely interesting to look at the colossal buildings built about a century ago. It was at this time that a special American style was formed in architecture and design. European neoclassicism was diluted with elegant Italian baroque and increased by all dimensions several times.

The pile foundation had to be further strengthened with cement, which occupies a significant part of the Miami-Dade County Courthouse basement to this day. Nevertheless, the building was completed and quite successfully - for almost 100 years, the District Court building in Miami has been towering on Flagler Street.

Interesting facts, skyscraper, prison and secrets

Miami-Dade Courthouse is still being used as intended, as a central civil court. Initially, court hearings were held here and there were cells of pre-trial detention. The cameras were located on the upper floors. It was assumed that it was impossible to escape from such a height. But a series of high-profile shoots from Miami-Dade County Courthouse denied this claim. Prisoners escaped using a fire hose and other ingenious devices. In total, more than 70 shoots were recorded.

The Miami Dade County Courthouse, in addition to its impressive appearance, has a rich and interesting history. You can look at the high windows and try to understand how the prisoners managed to escape from the prison - a skyscraper. You can admire the engineers who managed to erect a colossal structure 100 years ago in difficult geodetic conditions.

• Legends and Ghosts of Miami-Dade County Court
  According to local stories, the corridors and courtrooms are home to ghosts of the past. Employees and visitors sometimes report strange noises, unexplained rustling noises, and even visions of ghostly figures. One of the stories tells of the ghost of a judge who is said to keep appearing in the courtroom where he once delivered his verdicts. There are also stories of a mysterious woman dressed in black who wanders the stairs and disappears into the fog.
• Historically significant court cases
  The Miami-Dade County Courthouse has been the scene of many historically significant court cases. During the 1950s and 1960s, at the height of the civil rights movement, the building handled cases involving segregation and discrimination. These cases were important steps toward ending racial segregation and strengthening civil liberties in Florida. The building also hosted high-profile criminal trials, including the trials of notorious mobsters and drug lords, which ultimately led to changes in federal and state organized crime and drug laws. These trials not only influenced public opinion, but also contributed to the development of the US judicial system.