Coral Gables Museum

The Coral Gables Museum is dedicated to the civic arts, integrating architecture, urban planning, environmental design, and local history to explain how cities take shape and evolve. Its home in the restored 1939 Police and Fire Station, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, highlights the institution’s commitment to preservation and to the interpretation of the built environment.

The Museum’s mission is to celebrate, investigate and explore the civic arts of architecture and urban and environmental design, and the visual arts, including fostering an appreciation for the history, vision, and cultural landscape of Coral Gables; promoting beauty and planning as well as historic, artistic and environmental preservation for a broad audience. The Museum also celebrates the 1920’s planned community of Coral Gables and presents exhibits and programs that examine the built environment and document its history in Coral Gables, Greater Miami, and beyond. The purpose is to foster an informed understanding of urban design and to offer cultural and educational programs that strengthen civic life. This mission guides a multidisciplinary operation that combines exhibitions, learning initiatives, community engagement, visitor services, and institutional development.

The Museum operates under a public–private partnership with the City of Coral Gables and is managed by the Coral Gables Museum Corp., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its work is supported by donations, grants, program revenue, sponsorships, fundraising campaigns, membership contributions, venue rentals, and visitor services. The institution continues to strengthen governance, collections management, documentation practices, and public service in alignment with American Alliance of Museums standards.

Within this structure, the Museum presents an exhibition program centered on the civic arts and the historical forces that shaped Coral Gables. For the City’s Centennial, it leads the official interpretive exhibition, offering a clear and accessible overview of the city’s urban development across its first century.

Educational initiatives extend this work to younger audiences. Kids Camps, school visits, and workshops introduce students to art, architecture, and urban history, while The Museum Project engages youth in Museum operations and public-facing programs, developing skills in leadership, collaboration, and cultural stewardship. Young Associates of Coral Gables Museum supports programming for young professionals and entrepreneurs. Its signature program is Gallery Night every first Friday of the month. 

Community programs further connect residents and visitors with the Museum’s work. Monthly Gallery Night opens the institution to the public through accessible cultural programming. Family Day on Aragon supports early learning, and Bike Tours and Walking Tours encourage direct engagement with the city’s architecture and urban design. Programs such as Art for Healing and thematic talks offer additional points of access for adult audiences.

The Centennial provides a cohesive framework for these initiatives. In addition to its exhibition leadership, the Museum advances historical and urban documentation projects and invites community participation through Brick by Brick: A Legacy Set in Stone, a commemorative campaign installed on Museum grounds that reinforces the relationship between civic identity and heritage. A 50-year Time Capsule will create a snapshot of our moment in history for future generations. 

Together, these efforts position the Coral Gables Museum as a center for civic learning and cultural engagement. Through exhibitions, education, community programming, and institutional stewardship, the Museum supports a deeper understanding of Coral Gables’ built environment and contributes to the cultural and social vitality of the city.