National Treasures

If Seats Could Talk: Pulling Off A Pageant At Miami Marine Stadium

Posted on: April 25th, 2013 by Katherine Flynn

Miami Marine Stadium in 2012

Although the Miami Marine Stadium sits empty today, it still echoes with the shouts and cheers of audiences that gathered to watch everything from speedboat races to Easter Sunday sunrise services at the waterfront venue. The stadium served as an entertainment hub of the Miami community, and sometimes, a launching pad for careers in the entertainment industry.

In part four of our “If Seats Could Talk” series, compiled by the Friends of Miami Marine Stadium in an effort to increase support for restoration of the venue, we focus on the story of Frank Mercado-Valdez, who, along with some of his fraternity brothers, took on the task of putting on the first Miss Collegiate Black America Contest in 1985.... Read More →

Katherine Flynn

Katherine Flynn is an editorial assistant at Preservation magazine. Her work has appeared online at the Washington Post and in Consequence of Sound, a music and culture blog.

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If Seats Could Talk: Richard Nixon and Sammy Davis Jr. Share the Stage at Miami Marine Stadium

Posted on: April 18th, 2013 by Lauren Walser 1 Comment

In July 1971, President Nixon appointed Sammy Davis Jr. to his National Advisory Council on Economic Opportunity.

Though it’s been closed for 20 years, the 6,566-seat Miami Marine Stadium has seen its share of excitement since it was built in 1963. You’ve read about the boat races, concerts, and boxing matches held there in both the Spring 2013 issue of Preservation magazine and in the first two parts of our “If Seats Could Talk” series, a collection of stories compiled by the Friends of the Miami Marine Stadium to raise awareness and increase support for the venue’s restoration.

In part three, Stuart Blumberg shares his experience attending a political rally at the stadium -- and witnessing an embrace that went down in history.... Read More →

Lauren Walser

Lauren Walser is an assistant editor at Preservation magazine. She enjoys writing and thinking about history, art, architecture, and public space.

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[Slideshow] Bridges of Yosemite Valley: A Photographer’s Personal Account

Posted on: April 15th, 2013 by Guest Writer 2 Comments

North side of Sugar Pine Bridge. Half Dome is viewed through the trees at left rear.

Last year we added the bridges of Yosemite Valley to our 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list and our National Treasures portfolio out of concern for how the National Park Service’s plan to manage the Merced River would impact the historic Rustic-style stone bridges that span the river. Despite our ongoing advocacy efforts, earlier this year the National Park Service released a draft plan calling for the demolition of the beloved Sugar Pine Bridge and 100 other historic structures in the Yosemite Valley Historic District.

Photographer Brian Grogan generously agreed to share with us some of his gorgeous photos of Yosemite’s bridges and his thoughts about their importance to the park’s landscape. Take a minute to be dazzled by these bridges’ rustic simplicity, and then send a message to the National Park Service that urges their stewardship of these precious structures.... Read More →

Although we're always on the lookout for blog content, we encourage readers to submit story ideas or let us know if you've seen something that might be interesting and engaging for a national audience. Email us at editorial@savingplaces.org.

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If Seats Could Talk: Johnny Reed’s Death-Defying Boat Race at Miami Marine Stadium

Posted on: April 11th, 2013 by David Robert Weible 3 Comments

Scene from the 1975 Champion Spark Plug Regatta

Since 1963, Miami Marine Stadium was not only an iconic piece of Modernist architecture, but a entertainment venue unlike any other. The setting for countless boat races, concerts, and even religious services, the stadium brought life to the Miami community -- even though sometimes the activities it held nearly took it away.

In part two of our “If Seats Could Talk” series, compiled by the Friends of Miami Marine Stadium in an effort to increase support for the restoration of the venue, we highlight the experience of race boat driver Johnny Reed, who remembers the stadium from a rather different perspective.... Read More →

David Robert Weible

David Robert Weible is an assistant editor at Preservation magazine. He came to DC from Cleveland, Ohio, where he wrote for Sailing World and Outside magazines.

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If Seats Could Talk: Mark Fried Remembers “Who” He Saw at Miami Marine Stadium

Posted on: April 4th, 2013 by Gwendolyn Purdom 1 Comment

Spectators watch a twilight concert on Biscayne Bay at the Miami Marine Stadium, 1967.

It was the site of speedboat races, rollicking concerts, beauty pageants, and countless floating family picnics and fishing trips, but today, the distinctive Miami Marine Stadium sits empty -- with the exception of decades of memories lingering in the salt-tinged oceanfront air.

In an effort to drum up support for the stadium’s revitalization, the Friends of Miami Marine Stadium have been collecting locals’ recollections of the stadium during its heyday. Today we kick off our “If Seats Could Talk” series with memories of music and merriment from Mark Fried.... Read More →

Gwendolyn Purdom

Gwendolyn Purdom is an associate editor at Preservation magazine. A Chicago native, Gwendolyn is passionate about the people and stories behind historic places – the quirkier the better.