Historic Landmarks
Welcome to Opa-locka, Florida — one of Miami-Dade County’s oldest incorporated cities and home to the largest collection of Moorish Revival architecture in the United States.
We’ve curated your visit by organizing the landmarks into two categories: Civic & Commercial and Residential. Take your time, relax, and enjoy your walk or drive as you step back into the vibrant spirit of the late 1920s.
View the Opa-locka Heritage Guide & Map
Opa-locka Company Administration Building
777 Sharazad Boulevard
Built at an estimated cost of $150,000, the Opa-locka Company Administration Building was the crown jewel of Glenn Curtiss’s vision and architect Bernhardt Muller’s talent. Conceived as the signature landmark of this ambitious new development, the building served both as a premiere sales office and as the intended home for civic and municipal functions, including the Opa-locka Chamber of Commerce.
Completed in August 1926, the three-story structure became Muller’s career-defining masterpiece — a stunning example of Moorish Revival architecture that blended Persian, Arabian, Chinese, and broader Middle Eastern influences into a dazzling, palace-like composition. Its design drew inspiration from the Arabian Nights tale “The Story of the Two Cadettes,” particularly Emperor Kosroushah’s palace, and featured a whimsical courtyard garden named for Princess Periezade, complete with references to her “three great rarities: the Talking Bird, the Golden Water, and the Singing Tree.”
Today, the building is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Opa-locka Historic Registry.
Opa-locka Fire and Police Hall
151 N. Perviz Avenue
The building served as the site of Opa-locka’s official chartering as a town on May 14, 1926. At the time, it was reportedly the largest structure available to accommodate the 28 residents who gathered to vote Opa-locka into incorporation as a municipality — a number sufficient to transform the development into an official town. It also holds the distinction of being the first civic structure completed in Opa-locka.
According to the Opa-locka Times of May 1, 1927, “Hugh Robinson was re-elected chief of the department, and three assistant chiefs were also named: Jack Chase, in charge of personnel; R. A. Sampson, in charge of fire prevention; and Carl Long, in charge of equipment.” Around this time, the station received new apparatus, including “a 350-gallon pumper and a 1,250-gallon chemical and ladder truck.” A siren was mounted on the roof, with the number of blasts used to signal the location of a fire.
Today, the structure is listed on the Opa-locka Historic Registry.
Seaboard Air Line Opa-locka Railroad Station
490 Ali Baba Avenue
Built by a 35-man crew from the Donathan Building Company of Miami, construction on the $50,000 reinforced concrete and masonry structure began on December 15, 1926, and was completed by April 1927. Its design drew inspiration from the Arabian Nights tale “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves” — a fitting choice for the city’s storybook theme.
Owned and constructed by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad Company, the station’s origins trace back to the company’s 1925 decision to extend its line south from West Palm Beach to Miami. This expansion helped solidify Opa-locka’s plans to incorporate as a development and break ground by January 1926. The passenger and freight station served residents and nearby industries for nearly four decades, until the rise of the Interstate Highway System and the growing popularity of automobiles led to its closure in the late 1960s.
Today, the structure is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Opa-locka Historic Registry.
Hurt’s Business Center
492 Opa-locka Boulevard
Recognized as the first apartment and commercial building in Opa-locka, this structure drew its inspiration from the Arabian Nights tale “The Stone City.” It was owned by Harry Hurt, a salesman and entrepreneur, whose building was designed and constructed by the Opa-locka Company. Completed in the summer of 1926, it originally housed a mix of apartments and local businesses, including the Aero Service Station (gas station), the Opa-locka Garage (auto shop), a sandwich shop, the Seaboard Barbershop, Michael & Wheeler Insurance and Home Real Estates, the first location of the Opa-locka Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S. Post Office, where P. B. Samson served as postmaster. The Opa-locka Market also occupied part of the ground floor.
The building featured a community center and social hall that hosted early gatherings of Reverend Harvey Ressler’s Episcopal Church. In later years, it was adapted for use as a hotel and other service-oriented purposes.
Today, the structure is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Opa-locka Historic Registry.
Opa-locka Bank
940 Caliph Street
As part of Glenn Curtiss’s grand vision for Opa-locka, he envisioned distinct thematic sections within the city that would challenge architect Bernhardt Muller to design entire worlds inspired by the Orientalist movement of the era. One such theme was Egyptian Revival, realized in just a single structure — the Opa-locka Bank, completed in late 1926. Its design was tied to the Arabian Nights tale “The Story of Zayn al-Asnam.”
Due to the economic downturn and the rapid decline in property sales soon after, the building was never used as a bank, earning it the local nickname “The Bank That Never Was.” Despite this, it did include a functioning vault. Muller’s original concept was for a structure resembling a prince’s temple from Luxor, complete with grand columns, palm motifs, and intricate Egyptian detailing.
Shortly after its completion, the First Baptist Church of Opa-locka purchased the building, and it has been used for religious purposes ever since.
Today, the structure is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Opa-locka Historic Registry.
Single Family Homes
While not a complete inventory of all registered and non-registered historic sites still standing, the following list—organized alphabetically by street name—highlights the original property owners, available drawings or archival photographs, and the dates of the elevation renderings, most of which were created by Muller associates Carl Jensen and J. Lieske.
Out of respect for current property owners, specific addresses have been omitted. We kindly ask that you honor their privacy and enjoy these historic homes from a respectful distance.
Dunad Avenue
Harry Hurt House
Original design unknown, circa mid-1926
Maj. Henry W. Baird House
Original design unknown, circa early 1926
Walter and Frieda Tooker House
Original design dated November 29, 1926
H. S. Wheeler House
Original design unknown, circa early 1926
Walter and Florence Griffith House
Original design dated May 25, 1927
Robert McMullin House
Original design unknown, circa early 1926
B.J. and E. Retta Fryatt House
Not a Muller design, built in early 1926
Oliver and Dora Sumner House
Not a Muller design, built in early 1926
Jann Avenue
Walter and Carrie Dove House
Original design dated November 16, 1926
C. E. Etheredge Home Collection
Several homes on this block, with available original designs dating back to August 20, 1926
S. K. Haislip House
Original design dated August 23, 1926
Peri Street
William and Kathleen Tinsman House
Original design dated October 20, 1926
A.E. and May Wagner Sackett House
Original design unknown, circa early 1926
J.W. and Jennie Crouse House
Original design dated August 27, 1926
W. H. Helms House
Original design dated August 12, 1926
Frank Bush Family House
Original design unknown, circa early 1926
Sesame Street
Fred and Isabelle Helms House
Original design unknown, circa late 1926
Lew M. Taber Duplex
Original design dated November 16, 1926
Higgins Duplex
Original design dated November 26, 1926
Lew M. Taber Duplex
Original design dated November 27, 1926
Frank Bush Apartments
Original design dated November 26 1926
W.F. and Ursula Orman House
Original design dated August 30, 1926
Sharar Avenue
Carl E. and Hazel Long House
Original design unknown, circa late 1926
George Gough and W. Webster House
Original design unknown, circa late 1926
R. D. Logan House
Original design dated November 18, 1926
Roy and Alice Helms House
Original design dated November 12, 1926
Clarence and Marie Etheredge
Original design unknown, circa late 1926
Etheredge Collection (Cont’d)
Original design dated September 30, 1926
George Cravero House
Original design dated September 14, 1926
W.H. and Mildred Kendrick House
Original design dated August 24, 1926
E. W. and Lillian Bostik House
Original design dated August 26, 1926
John F. and Bessie Shuck House
Original design dated August 5, 1926
R.C. and Mildred Wilkins House
Original design unknown, circa late 1926
Opa-locka Company Foreman House
Original design unknown, built in late 1926
Superior Street
Rue M. and Mamie Griffiths House
Original design dated December 20, 1926
Charles and Ada Akers Home (1/2)
Original design unknown, circa late 1926
Charles and Ada Akers Home (2/2)
Original design unknown, circa late 1926
W.H. and Mildred Kendricks
Original design unknown, circa late 1926
George A. Rose House
Original design dated December 22, 1926
York Street
George C. and Jessie Van Kessel
Original design dated February 11, 1927
