City of Hialeah Centennial

About this episode

This episode explores the history and development of the City of Hialeah during its centennial celebration.

This podcast episode features the history of the City of Hialeah during its centennial. What was once swamp land became a thriving municipality during the boom years of the 1920s. Owned and then developed by a Missouri cattleman and an aviation pioneer, Hialeah quickly developed when James Bright and Glenn Curtiss established an area they named 'Hialeah' which was a native American term for high prairie. The two men began platting subdivisions for residential housing, as well as infrastructure and establishments of entertainment to attract buyers to the western suburbs of South Florida. A dog and horse racetrack was constructed and was later expanded by millionaire Joseph Widener to provide an institution that became synonymous with the city. The Hialeah Racetrack would become a popular attraction for dignitaries and tourists while it operated conducted thoroughbred racing from the early 1930s until 2001.

People in this episode

Host: Casey M. Piket

Topics covered

• history
• Hialeah
• municipality development
• thoroughbred racing
• Florida suburbs

Keywords

• Hialeah
• history
• James Bright
• Glenn Curtiss
• Joseph Widener
• racetrack
• Florida

Mentioned in this episode

Places: City of Hialeah

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