Under the leadership of the Trust and Executive Director Dr. Joel M. Hoffman, Vizcaya is enhancing its commitment to 1) the preservation and care of its historic collections and facilities, and 2) providing enhanced educational experiences for Miami-Dade residents and visitors

Mission Statement: "Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a National Historic Landmark that preserves the Miami estate of agricultural industrialist James Deering to engage our community and its visitors in learning through the arts, history and the environment."

In December 2002, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust engaged professional master planning consultant Lord Cultural Resources and Richard J. Heisenbottle Architects to advise on the interpretation and development of Vizcaya with the goals of advancing Vizcaya as a premier heritage site, strengthening Vizcaya’s standing as a vital community resource, expanding and improving visitor services, and supporting and promoting Vizcaya’s professional museum functions. The Trust unanimously approved the consultants’ development concepts in the summer of 2005.

Short-Term Plan

Restore and enhance Vizcaya’s Main House, Gardens, and grounds, including:

• Critical structural repairs;
• Upgrades of security, mechanical, electrical and lighting, plumbing and irrigation, roof, climate control, hurricane protection, life safety, accessibility, and other systems or programs;
• Restoration of historic architectural, decorative and other artistic, and landscape elements, including historic waterways and hammock trails;
• Restoration and interpretation of historic staff quarters and historic staff beach;
• Creation of new ticket booth to better serve visitors; and
  Improvements to service area for general visitor experience, with conversion of Firehouse to catering kitchen for better site use for events.

• Restore the Vizcaya Village and its grounds, and establish program of adaptive reuse as follows:
  • Heritage goal to be advanced by exterior and site renovations, interpretive programs, and exhibitions on aspects of Vizcaya’s history: automotive and other technologies in Garage, staff life in Superintendent’s House, and agriculture and horticulture in Mule Stable.
  • Community goal to be advanced by multipurpose learning spaces and diverse programs in the Garage in the immediate term, and in the Dairy Building, Mule Stable, Wagon Shed, and in garden to rear of Superintendent’s House thereafter; by artist’s studio(s) in Mechanic’s and Blacksmith’s shops; and by free admission to Village grounds.
  • Visitor Services goal to be advanced through additional restrooms and through the availability of refreshments on the patio behind the Superintendent’s House.
  • Professional goal to be advanced by creation of offices in Dairy Building, West Gate Lodge and Gate House; renovation of East Gate Lodge for continued use as offices; and restoration of Staff Residence for archives, library, collections storage, and related staff offices; Mechanic’s Shop to be used in short term as meeting space.
  • Maintain admission fees and ticketing on east side of road; and provide free admission to Village grounds with ticketing only for special exhibitions and programs there.

On November 2, 2004, Miami-Dade County voters overwhelmingly supported the County’s General Obligation Bond program. Through this program, Vizcaya will receive critically needed funding to undertake the restoration and enhancement of its Main House, gardens, and the
Vizcaya Village.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is supported in part by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners. Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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