Miami is no stranger to big name changes, with examples like the Kaseya Center (formerly FTX Arena) and FIU’s Pitbull Stadium, the first athletics venue to give naming rights to a musical artist. Some of the city’s better known landmarks may suddenly adopt new identities in honor of someone, a cultural shift or changes in ownership.
Now, the latest change in the game comes in the form of a vibrant cultural institution as it steps into a new era. After 86 years of chronicling the city’s vibrant past, HistoryMiami Museum has announced its transformation into the Museum of Miami.
The move marks a shift from a traditional museum model toward a “museum without walls,” bringing stories and exhibits directly into neighborhoods across Miami-Dade County.
Why the name change?
The rebranding effort came from a countywide listening process, where residents across communities like Homestead, Hialeah, Little Haiti, Liberty City and Miami Beach expressed a desire for a museum that reflects their diverse cultures and lived experiences.
Feedback indicated that the museum had outgrown its previous name, evolving beyond historical displays to include folklife, art, photography and community-centered experiences.
“This is more than a name change, it’s a shift in how this community experiences Miami’s Museum as a living, breathing archive,” said Museum of Miami CEO Natalia Crujeiras in a news release. “Museum of Miami perfectly reflects our strategy to embrace and present new experiences that provide everyone an opportunity to see themselves reflected in Miami’s past and active in its future.”
Taking exhibits to the streets
In celebration, the new Museum of Miami is launching several off-site programs. These include:
- “Wishes for America” interactive digital mural where residents can share their hopes for the country’s future.
- “Cafecito Stories” traveling ventanita and storytelling experience launching this fall to capture local voices.
- A new and improved CultureFest, moving from the museum’s main location to county parks, starting with Tropical Park in January 2027.
Freedom Plane National Tour
Alongside the news, the museum will also host the National Archives’ “Freedom Plane: Documents That Forged a Nation,” beginning June 20. Tied to the country’s 250th anniversary, the traveling exhibit brings incredibly rare artifacts like George Washington’s Oath of Allegiance, the Treaty of Paris and a draft of the Bill of Rights.
You can learn more about it here.
A new logo for a new era
In addition to the name change, the museum unveiled a new modernized logo with a prismatic “M” to represent Miami’s diverse perspectives and generations. This is followed by a new tagline to match: “Love the Story.”
The Museum of Miami, as we now know it, is located at 101 W Flagler St, Miami, FL 33130. It opens from Thursday to Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and you can learn more on their website.
