Miami Design Preservation League

The Miami Design Preservation League is an organization based in South Beach dedicated to protecting and documenting the Art Deco architecture that defines the neighborhood. It operates a visitor center offering guided tours, exhibitions, and access to historical records about the building heritage of the area.

The organization was founded in 1976 to protect the threatened Art Deco buildings in the neighborhood from demolition. In 1979, it successfully secured the district's listing on the National Register of Historic Places, establishing legal protection for the structures.

The organization hosts the annual Art Deco Weekend festival, drawing thousands of visitors who explore architectural history through exhibitions and events across the neighborhood. During these celebrations, the streets become a gathering place where people discover how buildings reflect the design aspirations of an earlier era.

Visitors can join guided walks to learn about the history and details of the buildings, and access the archive with historical records about the area. The center also provides guidance for property owners interested in restoration or preservation of their structures.

The district was the first historic designation composed almost entirely of twentieth-century buildings, making it a distinctive case for preserving modern architecture. This recognition helped protect the design legacy of that era from being overlooked or demolished.