Coconut Grove: Bahamian Roots and Bayfront Pioneers

Coconut Grove is older than the city of Miami. While the mouth of the river was still a trading post, a community was growing on the bay to the south.

The Peacock Inn

In 1882 Charles and Isabella Peacock opened the Bay View House, better known as the Peacock Inn, one of the first hotels on the South Florida mainland. It attracted adventurous winter visitors, writers and sailors, some of whom stayed for good.

Bahamian builders

Much of the work at the inn and around the village was done by Bahamian immigrants, who brought skills in building, boating and farming in the region's thin, rocky soil. They established a community along what is now Charles Avenue in the West Grove, one of the oldest Black communities in South Florida, with its own churches, lodges and cemetery.

Ralph Munroe and The Barnacle

Yacht designer Ralph Middleton Munroe built a home on the bay in 1891, known as The Barnacle, now a state historic site and one of the oldest houses in Miami-Dade County still on its original site. Munroe helped found the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club and was a leading voice for protecting the bay's natural character.

Joining Miami

Coconut Grove was annexed by the City of Miami in 1925, during the land boom. It kept a distinct village feel, with shady streets, sailing clubs, and a strong arts scene.

Visiting

A walk through the Grove can include The Barnacle, the historic Charles Avenue district and the waterfront at Dinner Key. It's an easy add-on for groups staying in Miami before or after an Everglades trip.

Bahamian architecture

Bahamian builders brought designs suited to the tropical climate: raised wooden houses with porches, steep roofs and shutters that could be closed during storms. Some of these "conch-style" homes still stand in the West Grove, part of the historic Charles Avenue area.

Community institutions

Churches such as the historic Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church and lodges, schools and businesses formed the heart of the Bahamian community in Coconut Grove. The Charles Avenue cemetery contains graves of many early residents and is an important historic site.

Writers and artists

The Grove attracted writers, scientists and artists from early on. Kirk Munroe, a popular author of adventure books for young readers, and his wife Mary Barr Munroe were active community leaders. The Grove's tradition as an artists' enclave continues with the annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival.

A sailing tradition

Coconut Grove's sheltered bayfront made it a center for sailing from the 1880s on. Yacht clubs, regattas and marinas at Dinner Key keep that tradition alive. On a calm day the bay is dotted with sails, much as it was when Ralph Munroe raced his boats more than a century ago.