In 1923, Coral Gables’ founders had a problem: an unsightly rock pit in the middle of the fast-growing community. The Venetian Pool — one of the first public pools in South Florida — was born in 1924. Founder George Merrick got the idea to turn the coral rock pit — where much of the rock for the community’s entrances was mined — into a lavish Venetian lagoon. Merrick and his chief designer and architect, Phineas Paist, created a picturesque cooling-off spot fed by an underground aquifer complete with mooring posts, bridges and a sandy beach.  The pool became the centerpiece of the planned community. Concerts were held there. It was drained so an opera could be performed on its floor. Swimming movie star Esther Williams and  Tarzan actor Johnny Weismuller took to its waters. During the hot South Florida summers today, you’ll still see families taking a dip and exploring the waterfalls and grottos.
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9/9/1979, Miami Herald Staff: Venetian Pool.

8/22/1986, Al Diaz/Miami Herald Staff: Raman Brito climbs the side of a rock Venetian Pool.

1/10/1986: Venetian Pool.

8/22/1986, Al Diaz/Miami Herald Staff: Kids jump of a rock cliff at Venetian Pool.

8/26/1960, Mike Freeman/Miami Herald Staff: Venetian Pool crowds.

8/26/1960, Mike Freeman/Miami Herald Staff: Venetian Pool crowd watches a show during a swim graduation party.

8/26/1960, Mike Freeman/Miami Herald Staff: Two girls watch the aqua show as mermaids perform precision maneuvers to the delight of crowds.

4/22/1947, Bob Verlin/Miami Herald Staff: Venetian Pool.

7/1/1979, John Doman/Miami Herald Staff: Venetian Pool.

7/1/1962, John Walther/Miami Herald Staff: Venetian Pool kicks off its summer swim program with the graduation of 90 mothers from life-saving courses. The mothers will teach youngsters, under the watch of water safety instructor Nancy Cameron of the Venetian Pool Aquatic Club. Some of the mothers use kickboards to demonstrate one of the basic swimming instruction techniques.

6/27/1989, Mary Lou Foy/Miami Herald Staff: The renovated pool opens Saturday. Last minute touches were being made this week. Here John Conroy, left, and Jerome Bergson paint details onto one of 15 Venetian poles at the pool. They are with Miami Artisans who did all the colorful beam painting and pole painting, some 30 beams on ceilings and 15 poles around the pool are in historical colors.

4/22/1947, Bob Verlin/Miami Herald Staff: Willie Diaz doing a swan dive.

1/21/1952, Steve Weber/Miami Herald Staff: Children, Kathy Tate and Vicky Hesson, enjoying the pool grounds.

8/3/1989, Albert Coya/Miami Herald Staff: JUST KEEPING COOL. Cap Hinckley, 9, left hold his brother Billy,center, with the help from friend Mark Walker, right.

Undated: Miami Herald Staff: Venetian Pool waters can be cool on even the warmest summer day, as evidenced by these chilly "intermediate" swimmers.

12/7/1988, Albert Coya/Miami Herald Staff: Fireman cleaning the debris after fire in the Venetian Pool building. The fire started in the men's locker room and spread to other wooden-roofed structures. Twenty-one firefighters had the fire under control 40 minutes later. No one was injured.

12/7/1988, Albert Coya/Miami Herald Staff: Fireman inspects the damages after fire in the Venetian Pool building. The fire started in the men's locker room and spread to other wooden-roofed structures. Twenty-one firefighters had the fire under control 40 minutes later. No one was injured.

7/7/1983, Miami Herald Staff: A child swims with his ducky in the kiddy pool.

Undated, Miami Herald Staff: Coral Gables - Venetian Pool

7/15/1954: Venetian Pool.

10/6/1967, Martin Aronow/Miami Herald Staff: Venetian Pool.

7/18/1960, John Walther/Miami Herald Staff: Venetian Pool.

1/1/1967: Venetian Pool.

4/22/1947, Bob Verlin/Miami Herald Staff: Underwater learning to blow bubbles. L to R. Patricia Daley, Patty Ebsary, Maerene Paddner, Terry Straing and instructor, Mrs H. Miller.

Undated: Six-year olds and under get their first taste of swim instruction in the shallow-water pool.

8/30/1977: Bill Terrell, lifeguard at the Venetian Pool.

6/30/1940: Youth jumping off coral at the Venetian Pool.

8/25/1985, Rick McCawley/Miami Herald Staff: Venetian Pool, Seye Ewedemi, 14, looks up as Ethan Perry, 13, does a back flip.

5/29/1961, Ron Wahl/Miami Herald Staff: Venetian Pool.

7/8/1984, Rick McCawley/Miami Herald Staff: Getting a drink at the Venetian Pool.

1/6/1986, Carol Guzy/Miami Herald Staff: Taking a swim in Venetian Pool.

Undated: Beginners and advanced beginners get a briefing before the in-the-water instruction begins.

8/6/1989: Venetian Pool.

9/21/1986, Al Diaz/Miami Herald Staff: State regulators are saying freshwater is being wasted filling and emptying Venetian Pool every night.

1925: Paul "Pops" Whiteman and his orchestra took to the water -- waves instead of the airwaves -- at Coral Gables' Venetian Pool in 1925 during opening ceremonies of the attraction. Whiteman is pictured at lower left leading the band.

Undated: Ladies lounging at the VenetianPool.

1/6/1986, Carol Guzy/Miami Herald Staff: Jo Jerome swims in deserted Venetian Pool.

6/5/1983: Venetian Pool

7/1/1979: Venetian Pool rules.

7/18/1960, John Walther/Miami Herald Staff: Venetian Pool.

5/29/1961, Ron Wahl/Miami Herald Staff: Coral Gables' Venetian Pool.

7/18/1960, John Walther/Miami Herald Staff: Venetian Pool.

9/4/1957, Bill Kuenzel/Miami Herald Staff: Venetian Pool.

8/14/1983: Access to the pool is gained through stone and cement archways.

8/19/1980: Raft on the wrong end at Venetian Pool.

Undated: An inexhaustible source of pleasure and health for thousands of greater Miami visitors and residents annually is the municipal Venetian Pool in Coral Gables.

11/8/1989, Al Diaz/Miami Herald Staff: Teri Spiegel and Annie Estevez dressed up as mermaids for the opening festivities of the Venetian Pool in Coral Gables. Renovation of the pool and recovery from a recent fire have just been completed.

8/2/1984: Exercise in the water at Venetian Pool. (L-R) Jean Ketchum and Mary Smet enjoy the fun of Aquasize.