Art Deco Welcome Center

The Art Deco Welcome Center is the official gateway to Miami Beach's famous Art Deco Historic District, run by the nonprofit Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL) at 1001 Ocean Drive in South Beach. Founded on the legacy of preservationist Barbara Baer Capitman, the MDPL was created in 1976 to save South Beach's 1930s architecture, and today the center serves as both a visitor hub and a small museum and gift shop dedicated to the district's pastel-hued heritage.

The Welcome Center is best known as the launch point for the city's signature walking tours. Guided two-hour tours depart daily at 10:30 a.m., led by knowledgeable docents who decode the Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival and Miami Modern (MiMo) styles found between 5th and 23rd Streets along Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue. Self-guided audio tours and private tours are also available for those who prefer to set their own pace.

Visitor tip: the center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and walking-tour tickets are limited, so book ahead in peak season. It is the perfect first stop before diving into Miami Beach's culture and architecture.