Miami Shores theater in the main business district.
Albert Coya
Miami Herald File
The story of Miami Shores, founded in 1932, began in the years after the devastation of the Civil War.
In the postwar era, William Gleason served as Florida’s lieutenant governor, and in the early 1870s, he settled in the area that would become Miami Shores. Gleason named the community Biscayne, and in those days the new community temporarily served as the home of the Dade County Court and County Commission.
In the early 1920s, developer Hugh Anderson decided it was the perfect place for a planned community.
Anderson’s company, Shoreland Co., advertised the area as ”America’s Mediterranean” and managed to sell 400 acres of land for more than $22 million.
In 1931, Miami Shores Village filed papers to incorporate but there was a problem. Another area had already incorporated as the town of Miami Shores.
There was some dispute over the name, but the more heavily populated village won. With that obstacle cleared, Miami Shores Village was incorporated on Jan. 2, 1932, covering an area of 1,500 acres.
With incorporation came the Miami Shores Country Club, the Chamber of Commerce, several schools, its own police department, churches and a Women’s Club.
In the decades that have passed since those early, formative years, the village has not visibly changed much.
Take a look at Miami Shores through the Miami Herald photo archives:
Businesses 
Bakery Saleswoman Louise Peters behind the counter in one of the few places to eat in downtown Miami Shores. Andrew Innerarity Miami Herald 
The front door of the Man Trap beauty salon in Miami Shores. John Pineda Miami Herald File 
In this 1989 photo, equipment operator James Bradley puts up new downtown signs in Miami Shores. The downtown area of the village was getting a facelift with new busineses, landscaping and more pedestrian-friendly sidewalks. Miami Herald File Homes 
Filming going on for a Dutch comercial at the Pink House in Miami Shores. Robin Shields Miami Herald File 
A home on Northeast Second Avenue in Miami Shores decorated for the holidays. John Walther Miami Herald File 
Inside of a home in Miami Shores. Miami Herald File 
Apartments on Grand Concourse in Miami Shores. Robin Shields Miami Herald File 
A home in Miami Shores. Miami Herald File Churches 
St. Martha’s Catholic Church, 9301 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami Shores, on the same campus as Archdiocese of Miami headquarters. Miami Herald File 
A manger scene presented by Miami shores Presbyterian Church as a Christmas gift to the South Florida community. Miami Herald File 
Miami Shores Presbyterian Church. Joe Schuppe Miami Herald File Street scenes 
A police crime lab truck at a scene in Miami Shores. Miami Herald File 
Brockway Memorial Library in Miami Shores Bob East Miami Herald File 
A commercial building in the Miami Shores business district. Robin Shields Miami Herald File 
Miami Shores City Hall, and police and fire station on Northeast Second Avenue. Bob East Miami Herald File 
The Shores performing arts theater in Miami Shores. Jon Kral Miami Herald File .JPG "9-10042012-10000642AA (1).JPG")
People mingle outside the grand opening of the Shores Theater. Miami Herald File 
Lorne Salzer instructs a water-walking class at the Miami shores pool. C.W. Grffin Miami Herald File 
Cars line up at a Miami Shores auto inspection station. Bob East Miami Herald File
This story was originally published September 15, 2026 at 12:15 PM.