Downtown Miami has had its ups and downs. Crowded sidewalks and empty condos have reflected the boom-and-bust cycle of Florida real estate. From the bustling ’40s through the moribund ’70s to the vibrant downtown of today, the city’s core has bounced back over and over again, shaped by by speculators, hurricanes and exiles.  Though the city’s skyline has changed dramatically over the years, look closely and you can still see Miami’s history in buildings that evoke its colorful past.

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2/20/1972: Miami Downtown - First Federal One Biscayne Tower First Natl Bank

12/18/1942, Verne O. Williams/Miami Herald Staff: Downtown Miami.

1/1/1962: Senate building on Second Avenue, once the site of Trinity Church.

12/22/1947, Bob Verlin/Miami Herald Staff: Traffic crowds in downtown Miami.

5/5/1944: Downtown Miami San Carlos Hotel and business block, N. E. Second Ave. and First St., was purchased for $ 317,500, establishing a new high property value for this location.

1/19/1975, Bob East/Miami Herald Staff: Downtown Miami map.

12/19/1975, Bob East/Miami Herald Staff: Dupont Plaza location in Downtown Miami.

1/29/1973, Dave Didio/Miami Herald Staff: "Wash Dry" Alley Scene Miami Downtown NE 2 Ave. and 2nd ST.

Undated: Downtown Miami.

6/24/1966, Eamon Kennedy/Miami Herald Staff: Where the Money Action is. Miami's Rapidly Growing Financial District, looking west on SE First St., home of the big banks and brokerage houses.

8/3/1973, W. O. Minor Jr/Miami Herald Staff: SE corner on 5th Floor looking at patio and downtown.

12/25/1974, Tim Chapman/Miami Herald Staff: Downtown Miami.

8/3/1980, Bob East/Miami Herald Staff: Manager Steve Sovinsky says he is going to put in a new strong, space age plastic in front of office, which has been robbed five times.

10/3/1971, Dave Didio/Miami Herald Staff: New benches, trees, etc. Miami Downtown 1st and Flagler.

10/13/1971, Bob East/Miami Herald Staff: New beautification of Flagler St is dedicated by Mayor David Kennedy.

10/1/1971, Marlin Levinson/Miami Herald Staff: Mrs. Josephine Guin blames poor Business on high parking fees.

3/8/1970, Battle Vaughan/Miami Herald Staff: People wandering empty streets at NE 2 Ave. at Flagler.

11/19/1976: Shaded areas of this over view of downtown in dicate the location of the planned City of Miami Convention Center. Currently owned by the City, the five-acre site is situated on the North Bank of the Miami River immediately west of the Brickell Avenue Bridge.

6/4/1979, Murry Sill/Miami Herald Staff: Miami Downtown Series. National Bank of Florida.

12/13/1977, George Kochaniec/Miami Herald Staff: Prison Dade Women's Detention Center NW 7th AVE & 14th St.

6/4/1979, Murry Sill/Miami Herald Staff: Miami Downtown series.

6/4/1979, Murry Sill/Miami Herald Staff: Harry Herman.

12/2/1973, W.O. Minor/Miami Herald Staff: Downtown Miami.

Undated, Miami Herald Staff: Christmas decorations on Flagler are seen up against Dupont Buildings (side).

6/2/1967, Miami Herald Staff: Print graphic of Downtown Miami.

11/3/1975, Bob East/Miami Herald Staff: NW 2 AVE at Flagler St, Tamiam Hotel that burned on Monday Morning.

5/20/1973: Miami Flagler St. & SE First AVE.

8/4/1980, Miami Herald Staff: Sleepworld at Downtown Miami.

11/1/1973, Battle Vaughan/Miami Herald Staff: Miami Downtown business dims hallways in order to conserve energy.

1/1/1971, Marlin Levinson/Miami Herald Staff: John Arnold - After dark, only prostitutes, junkies, drunks and weirdos.

12/2/1973, W.O. Minor Jr./Miami Herald Staff: Downtown Miami.

7/23/1946: Flagler Street

8/3/1980, Bob East/Miami Herald Staff: This location a couple of doors down Biscayne Blvd. from Dollar Rent-A-Car has been robbed 5 times in 6 days.

6/23/1952, Bill Sanders/Miami Herald Staff: Miami Skyline.

8/23/1947: Arcading. Downtown Miami.

8/20/1947: S.E. First ST at 2nd Ave.

8/20/1947: S. 1st ST at Miami Ave.

8/20/1947: Arcading. Downtown Miami.

10/1/1971, Marlin Levinson/Miami Herald Staff: Issy King -- Business is Down 15 to 20 P.C.

6/25/1966, Bill Kuenzel/Miami Herald Staff: Miami Downtown. The sidewalks aren't big enough to hold the People, just one more disease that weakens Downtown Miami.

4/7/1960, Miami Herald Staff: There are about four words, like peas in a pod, that always como along in tandem when applied to Miami: the first two are palms and paradise, which are the publicity man's favorite quiniela; and then come planned and proposed -the most overused and underdone twosome since Richard and Liz. The modelmaker continues his search for a glue that will come undone whenever he has to reroute the whole downtown expressway system because of the late discovery of an exotic engineering law resulting from the Jacksonville Effect, sometimes know as the High-Ball.

10/20/1955, Bill Sanders/Miami Herald Staff: Downtown Miami.

2/12/1974, W. O. Minor Jr/Miami Herald Staff: Something out of the 20's - no Downtown Miami during the peak of the "Wino" season with their daily treck to bayfront park.

Undated: Miami Skyline.

Undated: Miami Skyline,

9/23/1959: Miami skyline from Rickenbacker Causeway.

12/17/1957, Bob East/Miami Herald Staff: Miami Skyline.

10/18/1937: Miami Skyline.

8/5/1957, Bob East/Miami Herald Staff: Miami Skyline.

1982: The dynamic metropolitan Miami skyline.

7/21/1981: The Miami Skyline looking west from Dodge Island complex.

11/22/1966, Bill Kuenzel/Miami Herald Staff: Highway Downtown shot from Brickell Town House. Miami skyline.

11/4/1991: Dynamic booming growth of Miami, fastest in the Southeast, bursts into view in downtown where more than $2 billion in new construction is changing the skyline. From left, the convention/conference Hyatt Hotel complex, the Dupont Plaza Hotel and the Miami Center.

6/23/1960, Bill Kuenzel/Miami Herald Staff: Miami Skyline.

1991: Miami Skyline

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