Miami Stories

The Miami Stories initiative collects stories about Miami’s past, present, and future. Through this oral history project, HistoryMiami Museum documents life in the Magic City through written stories, video submissions, and audio recordings, which are preserved in the museum’s archive, and shared online and through local media outlets.


Your Story Matters

HistoryMiami Museum accepts written stories and video submissions on a rolling basis. We welcome written stories between 500-1,000 words and video stories under 5 minutes about life in Miami. We encourage storytellers to submit a photo with their written story. To submit a written story, complete the Miami Stories Submission Form. To submit a video story, click on the video story link.

 

How did you or your family get to Miami?

When do you feel like a Miamian?

What would you miss if you left Miami?

What makes Miami, Miami?

What do you see for Miami’s future?


Click here to submit your story today!
or
Click here to create a video and share on social media

 


Mariel Stories

In collaboration with the Cuban Heritage Collection at the University of Miami Libraries and as a part of the program El efecto Mariel: Before, During, and After, HistoryMiami Museum is collecting stories related to the Mariel boatlift of 1980. Members of the community are encouraged to share their personal  memories, stories, and reflections related to Mariel. Stories will be collected virtually on a rolling basis and a series of prompts give participants ideas from where they can begin their story. Submitted stories will become part of the permanent collections of the HistoryMiami Museum and Cuban Heritage Collection and featured on both online platforms.

Learn more and share your Mariel Story

 


 

Miami Stories Recording Booth

 

 

The Miami Stories Recording Booth allows the museum to capture audio stories at local events.

 

For more information about booking the Miami Stories Recording Booth, see the Recording Booth Information Sheet or contact us at miamistories@historymiami.org.

 

 

 


Explore the Miami Stories Archives

 

VIDEO STORIES

Submit your video story

 

Click here to watch these videos with closed captioning.

10 Days of Connection Online Exhibit

As part of the 2020 10 Days of Connection, HistoryMiami Museum invited South Florida residents to share a story about an item that reflects an aspect of their cultural identity and build a community exhibit. We continue to collect these stories and invite you to share yours. Either by yourself or accompanied by your loved ones, submit a video explaining how this object represents your cultural identity. Feel free to submit your story in the language of your choice.

 

AUDIO STORIES

Click here to access the Miami Stories Audio Archive

 

 

WRITTEN STORIES

Gemma Santos

When I arrived in Miami in the early 1970s, I never could imagine that I would end up calling Miami home. Nor could I imagine that, years later, I would be one of eight individuals in this great nation tapped to create a new examination for immigrants applying to… Read More

Regina Jollivette Frazie

My maternal grandfather, Henry E.S. Reeves, arrived in Miami in the spring of 1919 on his way to New York to purchase printing presses for a newspaper he intended to establish in the Bahamas. While here, friends asked him to consider Miami as the site for his newspaper. He… Read More

Angela Albaisa Santos

Early in the morning on Nov. 18, 1961, my parents, my brother and I headed for the Havana airport, Rancho Boyeros, for I was to catch the morning flight to Miami. I was 16. The morning air seemed cooler than usual that day. Perhaps this was a physical reaction… Read More

Gina Guilford

This is the story of Josephine Louise Carnevale Smith of South Miami, born in 1920 in New York, as told to her niece, Gina Guilford, of High Pines. My parents were originally from Italy — mom from Siena, dad near Naples — but met in New York City, where… Read More

Eduardo J. Padron

In the early ’80s, Miami had the national reputation of a cultural wasteland, fueled in large part by films and television shows that glamorized the local crime scene. Longtime residents, like Mitch Kaplan and I, viewed our city through a different lens — one that witnessed intellectual conversation and growth… Read More