Construction of the Little Haiti Cultural Complex began in 2006. The complex includes an art gallery, marketplace, theater, and several community spaces. The complex also serves as the home of several festivals that highlight the art and culture of Haiti and people of Haitian descent in Miami and around the world.
Also known as Mache Ayisyen, the nine thousand square foot Caribbean Marketplace is the largest space within the Little Haiti Cultural Complex. The Little Haiti area in Miami is a neighborhood which embodies a rich history concerning Haitian immigration to Florida. Museums and murals alike seek to develop new narratives about the transnational nature of the small neighborhood. The religious institutions have a history of activism and continue to participate in social justice programs that enhance the livelihood of their constituents.
Notre Dame D'Haiti holds a special place in the formation of the Little Haiti neighborhood and the subsequent steady settling of Haitian immigrants to that particular area, known as Lemon City at the time.
This monument park unveiled by the City of Miami in 2005 plays a role in continuing the victory against systematic oppression even in new spaces. The symbol and history of a revolutionary who ultimately freed slaves can be used as a way to fuse activism and history together in public spaces.
Villa Paula was built in 1926 and served as the first Cuban consulate in Miami. The mansion was named after Paula Milord, the wife of a Cuban consulate. The mansion is located in the neighborhood now known as "Little Haiti" and continues to serve as a reminder of the rich history of the area and the international communities that have called this section of Miami their home over the past century. The historic home is now the location of a museum and art gallery that includes works by Floridian artists as well as masters from Renoir to Picasso.
Many of the first Haitians who arrived in Miami joined existing congregations, but within a few years, Haitians also organized their own churches. Eglise de Dieu Sanctifiée Haïtienne (The Haitian Church of God Sanctified) was established in 1969. The First Interdenominational Haitian Church was established two years later. The church grew rapidly and in 1976 members purchased this building. This is one of the largest Haitian churches in Miami
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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This walking tour builds on the work of Sandrine Louis-Jeune and includes a variety of sites calculated to offer a diverse view of the culture and history of Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood. Many of the entries appear in both English and Creole.
