Training Time on Miami Beach

When you think of people training on Miami Beach, you might think of people jogging along the shore or doing sit-ups in the sand. However, back in the 1940s, during the height of World War II, Miami Beach was the training ground for soldiers preparing to go to war, including movie star Clark Gable.

Soon after the United States entered WWII, German U-boats were torpedoing freighters in the Gulf Stream off the Florida coast. The Miami Beach city government leased $2 million worth of municipal properties to the war department and the U.S. Navy took over Miami’s port and established air stations, making Miami a prime area for war preparation.

The tourism industry sharply declined, but the military put hot tourist spots to use. Hotels were converted into barracks, restaurants and clubs became classrooms, and golf courses and beaches turned into training fields. Miami Beach’s Million Dollar Pier was turned into a Servicemen’s Pier, where soldiers could take a break. At the height of training, there were more than 600,000 soldiers in South Florida, making it one of the largest centers and officer candidate schools during the war. ↵

Information for this feature is courtesy of the HistoryMiami Archives & Research Center, which is open to the public and contains more than 1.5 million images of southeast Florida, the entire state and the Caribbean from 1883 to the present. For more information or to visit HistoryMiami, visit historymiami.org.

You May Also Like
Notary Tops the List of Florida’s Dream Jobs 

Notary work surges in Florida as real estate dominates nationwide.

Read More
La Boulangerie Boul’Mich Celebrates Its New Kendall Location

Bringing its signature Latin-European flavors to Kendall, the beloved bakery and café marks the occasion with a grand opening celebration on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

Read More
CityPlace Doral Debuts Three New Retailers 

CityPlace Doral welcomes Escapology, OAKBERRY and Petricor.

Read More
Escapology, OAKBERRY, and Petricor have recently opened at CityPlace Doral.
The Best States for a Fresh Start in The U.S.

Cost of living, job opportunities, and quality of life impacted Florida’s ranking.

Read More
Cost of living, job opportunities, and quality of life impacted Florida's ranking.
Other Posts
Back at the Helm: Let’s Do This!

What’s old is new again.

Read More
Gary Press
Fiorucci Joins Winterfest for Joyful Holiday Celebration

Celebrate the event with family and friends.

Read More
Winterfest
Editor’s Letter: Seasonal Relief Is On the Way

The rebirth of Pier Sixty-Six Resort and Marina will pay dividends to the local economy.

Read More
Kevin Gale
David Posnack Jewish Community Center and Sam Berman Charitable Foundation Partner to Launch Overlap Program

The two-year initiative aims to combat hate and discover common ground through culture and community.

Read More
Jewish Community Center