Historic Beginnings
Built in 1925 by aviation pioneer Glenn Hammond Curtiss, co‑founder of Miami Springs (originally “Country Club Estates”), the mansion was designed in striking Pueblo Revival style by renowned architect Martin Luther Hampton new.miamisprings.com+13new.miamisprings.com+13thebridecandy.com+13. Curtiss and his wife Lena made it their family home until his passing in 1930. Lena fondly referred to it as “Dar‑Err‑Aha”, or “House of Happiness” curtissmansion.com+2new.miamisprings.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2.
Surrounded by a lush 30‑acre estate—with a small lake populated by flamingos and swans—the mansion’s design included a porte‑cochère, central patio, arbors, and a barbecue area built from native limestone en.wikipedia.org+1new.miamisprings.com+1. It was more than a home—it was a model for the themed architectural community Curtiss envisioned.
Through the Ages
After Curtiss’s death, Lena married H. Sayre Wheeler (later Miami Springs mayor) and lived there until the late 1940s. The property then passed through various owners: the famed Miami Springs Villas resort in the ’50s and Forte Hotels in the ’70s en.wikipedia.org+2curtissmansion.com+2miamisprings-fl.gov+2new.miamisprings.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
Unfortunately, it suffered from neglect, vandalism, and destructive fires beginning in the late 1970s facebook.com+10en.wikipedia.org+10facebook.com+10. But a community resurgence was underway.
A Monument Restored
In 1998, the City of Miami Springs partnered with volunteer nonprofit Curtiss Mansion, Inc. (CMI)—a 501(c)(3) dedicated to restoring Glenn Curtiss’s legacy curtissmansion.com+1facebook.com+1miamiandbeaches.lat+13curtissmansion.com+13miamisprings-fl.gov+13. Thanks to grassroots efforts, state and county grants, and private donations, a full restoration was completed by 2012—including reopening for tours, events, and public engagement en.wikipedia.org.
Today, the estate is a designated historic site on both city and National Registers (NRHP, 2001), standing as Miami‑Dade’s architectural treasure facebook.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3caplinnews.fiu.edu+3.
The Mansion in Modern Life
Events, Weddings & Filming
Now managed by CMI, the mansion welcomes weddings, corporate events, life celebrations, film shoots, and tours caplinnews.fiu.edu+12curtissmansion.com+12uniquevenues.com+12. With capacity for up to 250 guests, its shaded lawns, courtyard, scenic lake, and elegant interior spaces are popular for stylish gatherings thebridecandy.com.
Education & Community Space
CMI is expanding the mansion’s mission with interactive, tech-based educational exhibits highlighting Curtiss’s innovations and aviation history en.wikipedia.org+15miamisprings-fl.gov+15facebook.com+15. Guided tours led by trained docents offer deeper insights into Glenn Curtiss’s impact on aviation and urban development.
Local Leadership
The mansion is embracing broader cultural programming, tourism outreach, and historical preservation curtissmansion.com+1curtissmansion.com+1. Her vision is for every resident to know Glenn Curtiss as “the fastest man on earth” and a local legend.
🌳 Why It Still Matters
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Architectural Landmark: A rare example of Pueblo Revival style in Florida, crafted by master architect Hampton curtissmansion.comen.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2facebook.com+2.
Curtiss Mansion Entrance -
Founding Heritage: The mansion stands as the centerpiece of Glenn Curtiss’s urban vision and Miami Springs’s first development en.wikipedia.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
Mansion Living Room Lavishly Furnished -
Community Anchor: Beyond events, it’s a hub for education, culture, and civic pride—open to all with tours, exhibits, and programming.
Curtiss Mansion and Gardens -
Symbol of Revitalization: A story of resilience—transformed from a decaying estate into a restored beacon of local history through community collaboration.
Curtiss Mansion and Gardens
✨ Visit & Connect
The mansion is open by appointment for tours, educational visits, and event bookings. Whether you’re planning a wedding, film shoot, or dive into local lore, it offers a magical blend of history and elegance.
The Curtiss Mansion isn’t just a building—it’s a living testament to Miami Springs’s origins, community spirit, and forward-thinking preservation. It’s a place where history thrives, and your next chapter might begin.
