OLD IS THE NEW GOLD

By Carolina Bustillos

The dispute is open. There are two houses which claim to be “the oldest house in Miami”. Get to know them is an alternative plan to crowded beaches during the weekend or a little getaway during the week

We usually associate the word “old” with something that no longer serves, something decrepit, spoiled or even ugly. However, we can also associate it with other meanings such as wisdom, experience and even superiority.

The key is maintenance. For our body, wardrobe, cars or housing, the attention with which we take care of what we have makes the difference. The oldest houses in Miami are far from unpleasant. They are beautiful and part of a historical legacy we must know.

 WAGNER HOUSE

One of the first residents of Miami was William Wagner, a United States Army veteran who decided to settle down in South Florida after suffering war wounds.

The construction in the Miami River dates back to 1855 -164 years of "youth". Made in wood and carved by Wagner himself, it reflects a very particular architecture that makes Lummus Park attractive, as it is nowadays called the historic place that houses Wagner House, which was originally in Wagner Creek but was moved to Lummus Park in 1979.

Visiting this park in downtown Miami is travelling back in time and entering the first green space open for public enjoyment in 1909.

* Lummus Park Historic District - 404 NW 3^rd St, Miami, FL 33128 

THE BARNACLE

Although the Wagner House is older, The Barnacle still stands in its original location. Perhaps because of this and although it was built in 1891 (128 years of "youth"), many consider it as the oldest house in Dade County.