Dinner Key
Encyclopedia
Dinner Key is a marina
complex in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, Florida
along the shore of Biscayne Bay
on South Bayshore Drive. 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. Dinner Key is accessible by public transit
via the Coconut Grove Circulator from the Miami Metrorail
at Coconut Grove
and Douglas Road
stations.
Naval Air Station
was established on Dinner Key in 1917. NAS Dinner Key, commanded by Lt. Cdr. Marc Mitscher
, was the second largest naval air facility in the U.S. and was used to train seaplane pilots. The Air Station was closed shortly after the end of World War I
and taken over by commercial operators. The Navy returned to Dinner Key during World War II
, operating there from 1943 until 1945.
Dinner Key served as a base for Pan American World Airways
's flying boat
s during the 1930s and 1940s. It was one of the world's largest airport
s 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
.
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
.
The former barracks and mess building were added to the U.S.
National Register of Historic Places
on August 10, 1995.
One of Pan Am's hangars was used for many years as an exhibition hall and auditorium, the Dinner Key Auditorium. It was recently renamed the Coconut Grove Convention Center. This was the site of the March 1, 1969 incident in which Jim Morrison
of the Doors was arrested for exposing himself to the audience. The Miami Floridians
professional basketball team played some of its games at the auditorium in the late 1960s and early 1970s. On December 19, 2002, it was added to the U.S.
National Register of Historic Places
.
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.
It was added to the U.S.
National Register of Historic Places
on February 20, 1975.
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
complex in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
along the shore of Biscayne Bay
Biscayne Bay
Biscayne Bay is a lagoon that is approximately 35 miles long and up to 8 miles wide located on the Atlantic coast of South Florida, United States. It is usually divided for purposes of discussion and analysis into three parts: North Bay, Central Bay, and South Bay. Its area is...
on South Bayshore Drive. 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
Miami River (Florida)
The Miami River is a river in the United States state of Florida that drains out of the Everglades and runs through the Downtown and the city of Miami. The long river flows from the terminus of the Miami Canal at Miami International Airport to Biscayne Bay...
and Snapper Creek
Snapper Creek
The Snapper Creek is a creek in the U.S. state of Florida that drains out of the Everglades into Biscayne Bay at Biscayne National Park. It is a long creek south of Downtown Miami, running through the suburbs of Kendall and Coral Gables in metropolitan Miami...
south of Miami. Dinner Key is accessible by public transit
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
via the Coconut Grove Circulator from the Miami Metrorail
Metrorail (Miami)
The Miami Metrorail, officially Metrorail and commonly called the Metro, is the heavy rail rapid transit system of Miami, Florida, United States, serving the Miami metropolitan area. The Metro is operated by Miami-Dade Transit, a departmental agency of Miami-Dade County...
at Coconut Grove
Coconut Grove (Metrorail station)
Coconut Grove is a Metrorail station on the western end of the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, Florida.The station is located at the intersection of South Dixie Highway and West 27th Avenue , opening to service May 20, 1984....
and Douglas Road
Douglas Road (Metrorail station)
Douglas Road is a Metrorail station just southwest of Coconut Grove, in the Miami suburb of Coral Gables, Florida.The station is located at the intersection of South Douglas Road and South Dixie Highway , opening to service May 20, 1984.-Places of interest:*Coral Gables**Village of Merrick...
stations.
History
A United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Naval Air Station
Naval Air Station
A Naval Air Station is a military airbase, and consists of a permanent land-based operations locations for the military aviation division of the relevant branch of their Navy...
was established on Dinner Key in 1917. NAS Dinner Key, commanded by Lt. Cdr. Marc Mitscher
Marc Mitscher
Admiral Marc Andrew "Pete" Mitscher was an admiral in the United States Navy who served as commander of the Fast Carrier Task Force in the Pacific in the latter half of World War II.-Early life and career:...
, was the second largest naval air facility in the U.S. and was used to train seaplane pilots. The Air Station was closed shortly after the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and taken over by commercial operators. The Navy returned to Dinner Key during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, operating there from 1943 until 1945.
Dinner Key served as a base for Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
's flying boat
Flying boat
A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...
s during the 1930s and 1940s. It was one of the world's largest airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
s and the main hub for air traffic between North and South America. After the technological advances of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the construction of suitable airports in South America made seaplanes largely obsolete, Pan Am transferred its operations to Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
.
The United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
operated an Air Station at Dinner Key from 1932 until 1965, when operations were transferred to the Opa-locka Airport
Opa-locka Airport
Opa-locka Airport , also known as Opa-locka Executive Airport, is a general aviation airport and joint civil-military airfield 10 miles north of Downtown Miami, primarily in metropolitan Miami, Florida, United States, with a portion within the city proper of Opa-locka.The airport's control tower...
.
The former barracks and mess building were added to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on August 10, 1995.
One of Pan Am's hangars was used for many years as an exhibition hall and auditorium, the Dinner Key Auditorium. It was recently renamed the Coconut Grove Convention Center. This was the site of the March 1, 1969 incident in which Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison
James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...
of the Doors was arrested for exposing himself to the audience. The Miami Floridians
Miami Floridians
The Miami Floridians, later in their history known simply as The Floridians, were a professional basketball franchise in the original, now-defunct American Basketball Association. The Miami Floridians played in the ABA from 1968 through 1970 when they became simply The Floridians...
professional basketball team played some of its games at the auditorium in the late 1960s and early 1970s. On December 19, 2002, it was added to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
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.
It was added to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on February 20, 1975.
Source
- Florida, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, 2004, pg. 83