Did you know that Miami was founded by a woman? Yep, while the rest of history was busy being run by men, Julia Tuttle was out here founding major American cities.

Back in 1874, Julia, originally from Cleveland (where she probably learned to survive harsh winters), decided to visit her dad in sunny Florida. Despite the swamps, mosquitoes the size of small birds, and humidity that can turn your hair into a science experiment, she thought, “You know what? This place has potential.”

After inheriting her dad’s land (probably along with a lot of bugs), she bought even more and had the audacity to talk Henry Flagler—millionaire and railroad tycoon—into extending his tracks down to her neck of the swamp...I mean, woods. After some back-and-forth, she was like, "Henry, just bring your train here, and I’ll throw in some prime real estate." He agreed, and the deal was done—probably over a handshake and a lot of mosquito bites.

So, on April 13, 1896, the first train rolled into what would soon be known as Miami. A few days later, in what I can only assume was the most epic pool hall meeting ever, Miami officially became a city. Oh, and Julia didn’t stop there. She kicked off the city's first laundry, bakery, and dairy. You know, just to make sure everyone had clean clothes, bread, and milk to go with their new city life.

By the 1920s, Miami was booming, all thanks to Julia and her gutsy decision to settle in a swamp. Fast forward to 2010, and a 10-foot statue of the "Mother of Miami" was raised in Bayfront Park—a fitting tribute to the woman who helped turn mosquito-ville into a metropolis!

Come visit Miami with Florida Meeting Services!

Our DMCs can assist with accommodation, (gala) dinners, meeting rooms, transport, team building and other options you need for your event