Introduction to Miramar, Florida
The city of Miramar is located in Broward County, Florida, about 14 miles southwest of Fort Lauderdale and 20 miles north of Miami. Nearby municipalities include Hollywood, Sunrise, Plantation and Pembroke Pines.
Miramar History
Named by Robert Gordon, the city's first mayor, "Miramar" is Spanish for "View of the Sea." The city shares its name with a Cuban suburb of Havana. Incorporated in 1955, Miramar has seen its city boundaries grow over the years from their original size of 2.9 square miles to the present size of over 30 square miles. The city's motto is "Beauty and Progress," a phrase which is inscribed on the City Seal.
Things to Do in and Near Miramar
Miramar has 22 neighborhood parks and five community parks within its boundaries. Also in town is the Miramar Civic Center, site of yearly events such as September's Caribe Fest and October's Halloween Masquerade Dance. Presently under construction in Miramar is a Town Center which is expected to house a new City Hall and public library, with retail and residential components included in a park-like setting with waterfront views. This complex will include the Miramar Cultural Arts Center, a venue for artists, teachers and students to perform, rehearse and exhibit.
Broward County is rich in attractions and places of interest. Among its historical sites are Stranahan House, Broward’s first trading post and Bonnet House, an historic home and garden near Fort Lauderdale beach. Other points of interest in the county include the following:
- Art and Culture Center of Hollywood.
- International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame & Museum.
- International Swimming Hall of Fame.
- Museum of Art.
- Museum of Discovery and Science.
- Old Davie School Historical Museum.
- Old Fort Lauderdale Village & Museum.
- Young at Art Children's Museum.
Broward County sports fans have a state-of-the-art facility in Sunrise's BankAtlantic Center, home of the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers. The training camp for the National Football League's Miami Dolphins is also located in the county (in the city of Davie), and baseball fans who visit in the spring can catch Grapefruit League action in Fort Lauderdale, the Spring Training site of MLB's Baltimore Orioles. A half-hour drive south will bring visitors to the city of Miami, where more major league sports action can be found. The Dolphins play their NFL home games at Dolphin Stadium, which is also the home of Major League Baseball's Florida Marlins. Basketball fans can watch NBA games played by the Miami Heat at the American Airlines Arena, located in the city's downtown area.
