Excursion, Saturday, July 25th 11:00 am

RSVP needed, contact Ed Slough at wildhybrid@aol.com

There will be carpools for those needing a ride. This event is wheelchair accessible.

Admission: $18 Adults, $16 Seniors

We grab lunch at a nearby restaurant.

Nestled along the southwestern edge of Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, the Deering Estate is one of South Florida’s most significant historic and environmental landmarks. The estate’s earliest structures date back to 1896, when Samuel H. Richmond built a pioneer home for his family. An addition completed in 1900 became the Richmond Hotel, the first hotel between Coconut Grove and Key West. Today, the estate is best known for its beautifully preserved historic buildings and rich natural surroundings.

Between 1913 and 1918, industrialist and art collector Charles Deering acquired the property and transformed it into a self-sustaining winter residence for himself and his wife, Marion. He renovated the Richmond Inn, added support facilities, and enlisted renowned botanists David Fairchild and John Kunkel Small to help restore the area’s native ecosystems. In 1922, architect Phineas Paist completed the estate’s iconic 13,000-square-foot Stone House, designed to showcase Deering’s extensive collection of art, antiques, and furnishings from around the world.

After Charles Deering’s death in 1927, the estate remained in family ownership until 1986, when it was acquired by the State of Florida and added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the Deering Estate is managed by Miami-Dade County and supported by the Deering Estate Foundation. Visitors can explore its historic homes, preserved tropical hardwood hammock, and pine rocklands; join guided tours and seasonal ghost tours; and enjoy the site as a venue for weddings and private gatherings.

We will meet at the entrance at 11:00 AM and join a scheduled narrated tour of the estate at 11:30 AM. There is also a nature tour at 12:30 PM.