Dinner Key, Miami, Florida

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Pan Am's terminal at Dinner Key in 1944
Pan Am's terminal at Dinner Key in 1944

Dinner Key is in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, Florida, adjacent to Biscayne Bay, at 25°43′41″N, 80°14′05″W. It was originally an island, but was connected to the mainland in 1914 by filling in the intervening space. An early source attributes the name to the fact that the island was a convenient place to stop to eat while traveling by boat between the mouth of the Miami River and Snapper Creek south of Miami.[1]

A United States Naval Air Station was established on Dinner Key in 1917. The Air Station was closed shortly after the end of World War I and taken over by commercial operators. The Navy return to Dinner Key during World War II, operating there from 1943 until 1945.[2]

Dinner Key served as a base for Pan American World Airways' flying boats during the 1930s and 1940s. It was one of the world's largest airports and the main hub for air traffic between North and South America. After the technological advances of World War II and the construction of suitable airports in South America made seaplanes largely obsolete, Pan Am transferred its operations to Miami International Airport.[3]

The United States Coast Guard operated an Air Station at Dinner Key from 1932 until 1965, when operations were transferred to the Opa-locka Airport.[2] The former barracks and mess building were added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on August 10, 1995.[4]

One of Pan Am's hangars was used for many years as an exhibition hall and auditorium, the Dinner Key Auditorium. This was the site of the incident in 1969 in which Jim Morrison of the Doors was arrested for exposing himself to the audience.[5][6] On December 19, 2002, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.[4]

Today, Dinner Key is used primarily as a marina. Three of Pan Am's original four hangars remain in use for boat storage. The old Pan Am terminal building has served as the Miami City Hall since 1954.[7] It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on February 20, 1975.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Munroe, Ralph M. and Gilpin, Vincent. The Commodore's Story. (New York): Ives Washburn, 1930. p. 119
  2. ^ a b NAF Dinner Key - URL retrieved June 18, 2006
  3. ^ Pan American Seaplane Base and Terminal Building at Dinner Key - URL retrieved June 18, 2006
  4. ^ a b c National Register of Historic Places - Dade County listings - URL retrieved October 24, 2006
  5. ^ Mary Werbelow, Jim Morrison and the Doors - URL retrieved June 18, 2006
  6. ^ Miami City Hall - URL retrieved October 24, 2006
  7. ^ Miami City Hall history - URL retrieved June 18, 2006

[edit] Source

  • Florida, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, 2004, pg. 83

[edit] External links

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