In December of 1924 the superintendent of the St. Louis Zoo, a personal friend of James Bright, shipped two 750 pound Canadian Black Bears to the Curtiss-Bright Hialeah Zoo.
The zoo had just been relocated from the north bank of the Miami Canal in Hialeah to the Country Club Estates development (now known as Miami Springs) on the south side of the canal at what is now Hook Square. The photos were taken in 1925 by Hialeah pioneer C.T.
McGee on the outside of the bear enclosure and the bears on the inside of the enclosure. C.T. McGee was an accountant for Glenn Curtiss, the father of Hialeah/Miami Springs pioneer veterinarian Dr. Harold McGee and grandfather of retired Metro Dade Police Department Major and lifelong Miami Springs resident, Randy McGee.
Visit the Miami Springs Historical Society and Museum The Miami Springs Historical Society is located at 501 East Drive in Miami Springs.
Miami Springs Historical Society Museum
Address:
501 East Drive
Miami Springs, FL 33166
Directions:
From the Palmetto, exit at NW 36th Street and head East on NW 36th Street. Continue East on NW 36th Street and make a left hand turn (North) on East Drive. Continue North until you reach 501 East Drive.
From I-95, take I-95 to State Road 112 Westbound. Exit State Road 112 at NW 36th Street. Continue west on NW 36th Street until you reach East Drive. Make a right hand turn at East Drive (North). Continue North on East Drive until you reach 501 East Drive.
From Hialeah, take Okeechobee Road until you reach East 4th Avenue. Turn south on East 4th Avenue and cross the bridge into Miami Springs. Take the center lane and continue south onto East Drive. You’ll see Stafford Park on your left hand side and then the entrance to the Museum Parking lot at 501 East Drive.
Map to the Miami Springs Historical Society
Miami Springs Historical Museum Hours
The Museum is open each Saturday (except Christmas & New Years) from 12 Noon to 4 pm.
Entrance is FREE!
Donations are welcome.
