Ponce de Leon gave the name ‘Cape of Florida’ to this region during his initial Spanish expedition to Florida in 1513.

The construction of the Cape Florida lighthouse was finalized in 1825, but it suffered damage during the Second Seminole War. The reconstructed tower, completed in 1846, stands as the oldest surviving structure in Miami-Dade County.

This island served as a clandestine meeting spot and harbor for runaway slaves and Black Seminoles awaiting rendezvous with sea captains or boarding dugouts for passage to safety in the British Bahamas.

While the lighthouse was erected to save lives and vessels, its unwavering light put an end to this path of escape.

In September 2004, Cape Florida was honored as a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site.