Historic downtown Homestead is compact enough to see on foot in an hour or two. The core is Krome Avenue and the blocks around the old town hall, most of it inside the Homestead Historic Downtown District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. Start at the 1917 town hall, walk to the Seminole Theatre, then loop through the side streets to see the early commercial buildings and houses. This page gives a suggested route, what to look for and how to plan the visit.
Why downtown looks the way it does
Downtown grew around the Florida East Coast Railway station that opened in 1904. Stores, a hotel, banks and the town hall went up along the road that ran beside the tracks, which became Krome Avenue. The result is a classic small railroad-town main street: two-story masonry buildings set close to the sidewalk, with a mix of styles that the city's historic preservation page describes as Masonry Vernacular, Art Deco, Mission Revival, Italian Romanesque Revival and Neoclassical Revival.
For the bigger picture of how the town developed, read the Homestead history timeline before you go.
A suggested route
- Historic Town Hall. Begin at the two-story town hall on North Krome Avenue. It was designed by H. Hastings Mundy, built under a contract signed in February 1917 and finished that August. A one-story addition was completed in 1924 by the Redlands District Chamber of Commerce and later joined to it. The building served as town hall until 1975, survived a 1980 plan to demolish it for parking and was listed on the National Register in 1997. It now houses the local history museum, which counts the city's original 1924 American LaFrance fire truck among its most popular exhibits.
- Krome Avenue storefronts. Walk south and look above the ground floors. Many storefronts have been changed, but the upper stories often keep their original window openings, parapets and brickwork.
- Seminole Theatre. The theater opened in 1921. After a fire in 1940 it was rebuilt in the Streamline Moderne style, which is the facade you see today. It closed in 1979, was damaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and was donated to the city in 1993. After a long restoration funded in part by a 2014 city bond for downtown revitalization, it reopened on October 28, 2015.
- The 1904 hotel building. William D. Horne, the first person to buy a lot in the new town in October 1904, put up the first privately owned building here. That building still stands as the historic Redland Hotel.
- Losner Park. The small park downtown is a good place for a break.
- Side streets. Several individually listed buildings sit just off the main avenue, including houses and a former bakery described below.
Buildings to look for
Besides the district listing, a group of Homestead buildings was added to the National Register individually. These are the ones in or near downtown:
| Property | Street | Listed on the National Register |
|---|---|---|
| Homestead Public School–Neva King Cooper School | Northwest 1st Avenue | December 4, 1985 |
| Thomas Faust House | Northwest 4th Street | September 27, 1996 |
| Fuchs Bakery | South Krome | November 15, 1996 |
| Lindeman-Johnson House | North Krome Avenue | November 15, 1996 |
| Homestead Town Hall | North Krome Avenue | November 7, 1997 |
| Homestead Historic Downtown District | Krome Avenue area | November 19, 2007 |
| Seminole Cafe and Hotel | South Flagler Avenue | July 10, 2008 |
Most of these are private property. View them from the sidewalk and respect owners and tenants. The full list of listed places in the wider area, including the parks, is on the page about National Register sites in South Miami-Dade.
Things to notice as you walk
- Building materials. South Florida builders of the era often used local oolitic limestone, and later concrete block and stucco. Look for rough-faced stone in walls and foundations.
- Storefront rhythm. Narrow storefronts, recessed entries and transom windows are typical of the 1910s and 1920s.
- Date markers. Some parapets carry names or dates. They are useful clues when you try to match a building to old photos.
- Hurricane repairs. Many buildings were damaged in 1992. New roofs, shutters and replaced windows often date from the rebuilding after Andrew.
Planning your visit
| Question | Practical answer |
|---|---|
| How long does it take? | One to two hours for the walk; add time for the museum |
| Best time of year | November through April, when it is drier and cooler |
| Best time of day | Morning or late afternoon; midday sun is strong year-round |
| Museum hours | Have been listed as Tuesday to Saturday afternoons; confirm before you go |
| Printed guide | The city has published a self-guided "Homestead Then & Now" walking tour brochure |
| Combine with | Everglades National Park's main entrance and Biscayne National Park are both a short drive away |
Bring water, a hat and sunscreen. Summer afternoons often bring heavy thunderstorms, so plan the walk early in the day from June through October.
How downtown has been preserved
Downtown's survival was not automatic. The town hall itself was nearly demolished in 1980 before residents raised money and the state contributed a restoration grant. The theater sat empty for decades. Today the city has a Historic Preservation Board whose stated mission is to recognize and preserve sites of significant events and the unique architectural character of Homestead, and a downtown Main Street program. For what local and national designation mean for owners, see the guide to historic preservation in Homestead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is historic downtown Homestead?
It is centered on Krome Avenue near the old railroad line, around the 1917 town hall and the Seminole Theatre. The National Register district, listed in 2007, takes in the surrounding blocks of the early commercial core.
Is the Homestead town hall museum free?
The museum has listed free admission and hours on Tuesday through Saturday afternoons. Policies can change, so check with the museum before visiting.
When did the Seminole Theatre reopen?
The restored theater reopened on October 28, 2015, after decades of closure. It had shut in 1979 and was damaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992 before the city took it over in 1993.
How long does a walking tour of downtown take?
Plan on one to two hours for an easy loop, plus extra time if you visit the museum or stop to eat. The area is flat and compact.
Can I go inside the historic houses?
Most individually listed houses and commercial buildings are private property, so view them from the sidewalk. Public buildings such as the town hall museum and the theater can be visited when open.