The History of Brickell Miami
Brickell is one of Miami’s most dynamic neighborhoods — its Financial District, high-rise residential core, and evolving cultural and economic center. Its evolution from indigenous settlement through family homesteading into the dense urban neighborhood it is today is a story of land, development, and transformation.
Early Inhabitants: The Tequesta
- Before European settlement, the area now known as Brickell was inhabited by the Tequesta people. Archaeological evidence shows they lived along the Miami River and Biscayne Bay for over 2,000 years.
- One of the key sites is the Miami Circle, located at the opening of the Miami River to Biscayne Bay at Brickell Point. It is an archaeological site of a Tequesta structure (a hut) with post holes and is associated with a burial mound.
William Barnwell Brickell and Mary Brickell
The Arrival of the Brickell Family & Early Development
- The Brickell neighborhood is named after William Barnwell Brickell and Mary Brickell (née Mary Adelaide “Mama” Bulmer). William Brickell purchased over 600 acres in what would become Brickell in 1870.
- In 1871, the Brickells moved to the mouth of the Miami River, establishing a home, trading post, and acquiring large land holdings that stretched south toward Coconut Grove. Their land included current Brickell and surrounding areas.
- William Brickell died in 1908; Mary Brickell then managed and developed their extensive real estate, including areas known as Millionaire’s Row and Brickell Hammock.
Millionaire’s Row & Early 20th Century
- In the early 1900s through the 1910s, Brickell Avenue was lined with large winter estates owned by affluent northerners. This stretch became known as Millionaire’s Row.
- Among notable residences were estates belonging to William Jennings Bryan and others. Many of these mansions were built for seasonal use. Over time, most of them were removed, replaced by denser residential and commercial structures.
- The Brickell Apartments, built and opened in January 1917 by Charles Brickell, are an example of early denser housing. The building was designed in the Moorish style; it offered modern conveniences of the time (private baths, electric lights, elevator) and occupied land that had been created by shoreline fill.
Mid-Century Changes
- After World War II, many of the single-family mansions and estates on Brickell Avenue and adjacent areas were gradually replaced by denser development—apartments, offices, retail. The area began to transition away from the exclusive winter homes toward more permanent, mixed uses.
- Some historic structures were demolished during this time. For instance, the Brickell Apartments (1917) were eventually razed in 1961 after being sold and left vacant.
The Modern Era: Financial District & High-Rise Boom
- Beginning in the 1970s and accelerating in the 1980s, Brickell evolved into a major financial district. Tall office towers, banks, international finance companies, and corporate headquarters brought increased commercial presence. In the 1980s, Atlantis on Brickell – known for its glass façade and 5-story palm court cut out of the building – became one of the most recognized condo buildings in Brickell thanks to hit TV show Miami Vice, which debuted in 1984.
- Simultaneously, residential towers, mixed-use complexes, hotels, and retail spaces multiplied, especially south of SE 15th Road (Broadway) and along Biscayne Bay.
- Major mixed-use developments include Mary Brickell Village (opened mid-2000s), and Brickell City Centre, which opened in 2016, spanning over 9 acres with shops, restaurants, lodging and residential components.
Preservation & Archaeology
- The Miami Circle and associated Tequesta archaeological sites remain important. They provide confirmation of ancient habitation and have been the subject of preservation and sometimes of controversy as urban development presses up against them.
- The Brickell Mausoleum (located at 501 Brickell Avenue) is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Brickell Today: Density, Identity, and Urban Growth
- Brickell is now one of the densest neighborhoods in Miami.
- It is anchored by high finance, foreign consulates, international business, luxury residential tower developments, and strong retail/restaurants.
- Newer office towers like 830 Brickell (completed in 2023) are evidence of ongoing growth.
Key Dates & Timeline
| Period | Key Events in Brickell History |
|---|---|
| ~2500+ years ago | Tequesta inhabit the area; Miami Circle site established. |
| 1870 | William Brickell purchases large land parcels in area. |
| 1871 | Brickell family establishes trading post at south bank of Miami River. |
| 1896 | Florida East Coast Railway extension to Miami; greater growth begins. |
| 1910-1920 | Development of Millionaire’s Row; early apartment buildings like Brickell Apartments. |
| Mid-20th century | Mansions give way to more dense residential and commercial uses. |
| 1970s–1980s | High-rise boom; Brickell emerges as financial district. |
| 2000s-2010s | Mixed-use developments; retail, restaurants, and large residential towers. Mary Brickell opens in May 2006; Brickell City Centre opens in November 2016. |
| 2020-Present | Completion of Class-A office tower 830 Brickell brings relocating major financial, legal, and tech firms. Branded luxury condos launch sales (St. Regis, Baccarat, Mercedes-Benz). |
Why Brickell Matters
- Brickell’s evolution illustrates the transformation of Miami from a frontier settlement to a modern global city.
- Its geography—on Biscayne Bay, immediately south of the downtown core—made it ideal for early estates, then for financial and commercial investment.
- It also encapsulates tensions common in cities: preservation vs. development; ancient heritage (Tequesta, Miami Circle) vs modern vertical growth.
It will be exciting to see what the next 20 years have in store for the Brickell neighborhood!
