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Museum · Miami Beach, Florida
The Wolfsonian–FIU
Museum of design and decorative arts in the heart of South Beach’s Art Deco district, housed in a former 1927 warehouse. The collection shows how objects, posters and buildings from 1850 to 1950 served industry, advertising and everyday life.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About The Wolfsonian–FIU
The Wolfsonian occupies the former Washington Storage Company building, a warehouse built in 1927 with Mediterranean-inspired style on the corner of Washington Avenue and 10th Street. Collector Mitchell Wolfson Jr., born in Miami Beach, stored his collection there until he bought the entire building in 1986. The museum opened to the public in 1995 and, two years later, became part of Florida International University (FIU).
The collection comprises about 180,000 items, including objects and works on paper, almost all from the period between the late 19th century and World War II. There are furniture, stained glass, posters, books, ceramics and models that show how design followed industrialization, transportation, world’s fairs and also the political propaganda of the era.
The exhibition rooms occupy the upper floors of the building, and temporary shows change throughout the year, always drawing from the collection. The façade, with its ornamented entrance at street level, is worth pausing for if you’re walking along Washington Avenue between the Art Deco hotels.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
1 to 2 hours.
Best time
Around midday, as a break between the beach and a walk through the Art Deco district. The museum is open only on certain days of the week: check before you go.
How to get there
It’s on Washington Avenue at 10th Street in South Beach. City buses and the trolley stop a few blocks away; shared bikes also make it easy to get there.
Tip
Combine the visit with a stroll along nearby streets: many of the façades the museum explains are just a few blocks away on Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about The Wolfsonian–FIU
What’s at the Wolfsonian?
A collection of design, decorative arts, posters and books from 1850 to 1950, focused on the relationship between objects, industry and the propaganda of the time.
Where is the Wolfsonian?
On Washington Avenue at 10th Street, in the Art Deco district of South Beach, Miami Beach.
How long does a visit to the Wolfsonian take?
Between one and two hours, depending on the exhibitions on display.