Origins of Coral Gables
Commemorating the 97th Anniversary of the City of Coral Gables

04/04/22

By: C. B.

In 1899, Reverend Solomon G. Merrick and his wife Althea Merrick purchased a 160-acre plot of land, which they turned from a rocky expanse with scattered trees to a thriving farmstead. In 1907, they expanded upon their original cabin and built a new house with an exterior made of native limestone, which they mistakenly believed to be coral. Upon its completion in 1910, they decided to call their home and surrounding land “Coral Gables.”

From these humble beginnings comes the story of the city of Coral Gables, which we honor today on the anniversary of its incorporation on April 29th, 1925. The Merrick’s eldest child, George Merrick, took over the estate after his father’s death in 1911 and had large dreams of expanding the family’s land to become a planned subdivision, based on the Mediterranean Revival architectural style. This influence can be seen throughout the city in many famous landmarks, such as the Venetian pools and the Biltmore hotel, which George helped found.

Miami Biltmore: Copy of dinner menu, for the opening celebration. (1926)       
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Miami Biltmore Hotel (1927)
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Venetian Pool and Bridge (1933)
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Venetian Pool Sand Beach (1933)
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By the time Coral Gables was incorporated in 1925, it contained over 600 homes and meticulously planned roadways and commercial areas. The city even contained an electric trolley system, which allowed commuters to quickly move around the bustling city.

Coral Gables Streetcar on Flagler Street (1927)
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Cars on Ponce de Leon and Coral Way (1930)
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