Form 10-300 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STA (July 1969) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Florida COUNTY:' NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Bade INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY
(Type all entries — complete applicable sections) liiiliii COMMON: Douglas Entrance (Doug laae) AND/OR HISTORIC: (La Puerta del Sol K The Ga^e of the Sun)I
STREET AND NUMBER: / Intersection of Douglas Rd. and S.W. 8th. St. (Tamiami Trail CITY OR TOWN: Coral Gables CODE COUNTY: Florida 12 Dade liillllillillilli CATEGORY ACCESSIBLE OWNERSHIP STATUS (Check One) TO THE PUBLIC
n District Public Public Acquisition: Occupied Yes: [~3r Restricted D Site Structure Private [~1 In Process Unoccupied Q Unrestricted D Object Both [~| Being Considered Preservation work in progress D No
PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate)
I I Agricultural | | Government D Pork I I Transportation I | Comments yi Commercial | | Industrial CX Private Residence D Other (Specify) I I Educational [~1 Military |~~| Religious I I Entertainment I| Museum Q Scientific lllliiilillllililiiii:: OWNER'S NAME: hj > ___Doualas Villagege Corpoyatj rm M STREET AND NUMBER: O rl Douglas Road and Tamiami Trail H- CITY OR TOWN: Oi PJ Florida ...... Coral ~i i.'. -.••.•.-.•.- -.•.•.•.•.•.-.v.Gambles:7-.-:-.-.i.-:'.'.'.'7v.-:vrr' 12
COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: Dade Crmn tv STREET AND NUMBER: 73 West Flaaler Street CITY OR TOWN:
Miam Florida
Tl TI-E OF SURVEY: N/A (Check One) Excellent D Good Q Fair Q Deteriorated Q Ruins D Unexposed (Check One; (Check One) Altered Q Unaltered Moved CX Original Site
PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL. APPEARANCE Begun in 1924, the entrance to the City of Coral Gables, led La Puerta del Sol (Gate"oF~th'e~"Siiiiy~w¥s"'''cb'']iTstructed'" in the Mediterranean style so popular during this era in South Florida. The'structure features a 90"foot_jbqwer_and a grac_efully_ curved arch 40-feet high. The tower, because of its~"height, belfry, and town clock, created an impressive structural appearance. Through the arch, on which a stone carving appeared, entry is gained to La Puerta del Sol. Passing under the arch and on to a central plaza, the visitor is surrounded by the atmosphere of a village square. In the_ cenj:e.r, of the 250 foot plaza stands a laxge fountain."""The interior courtyard with a circular stairway, and the tower which was Resigned to ho_ld_Jbhe; water supply for the imme (Number all entries) 7. Description Douglas Development Corporation purchased the property and surrounding acreage. Subsequently, the property was slated for sale and for construction of a supermarket and parking lot. This plan caused much controversy among the public, and, in 1964, the proposed action was fortunately blocked. A group of architects, engineers and professional men formed the Douglas Village Corporation, purchased the property, and began the necessary work of preservation of the building for its historic and architectural significance. Their plans pro ceeded, and as a result, the Entrance one again became a hub of cultural and commercial activity. As financial difficul ties beset the Douglas Village Corporation, they enlisted the aid of the firm of Ferendino, Grafton, and Pancoast, Engineers, Architects, and Planners, who purchased controlling interest in the corporation and scheduled the building for restoration and as headquarters for their firm. The building presently houses a variety of,,commercial offices including: a travel agency, a dress designer shop, a graphic arts firm, a doctor's office, several attorneys' offices, and a galerie of building products as a center for arts and crafts. PERIOD ("Check One or Afore as Appropriate) Q Pre-Columbian! Q 16th Century 18th Century 20th Century Q 15th Century CD 17tn Century 19th Century SPECIFIC DATE(S) (If Applicable and Known) 1925 AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Abor iginal I I Education rj Political || Urban Planning I | Prehistoric G Engineering Q Religion/Phi- n Other (Specify; | | Historic n Industry losophy [~~| Agriculture Q Invention Q Science [3 Architecture n Landscape rj Sculpture D Art Architecture Q Social/Human- [ | Commerce D Literature itarjan [~~| Communications D Military rj Theater [~1 Conservation I I Music | | Transportation STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE La Puerta del Sol (The Gate of the Sun) reflects the Mediterranean influence on the architecture of South Florida so prevalent during the 1920*3, The structure is CO a significant example of the elegance and affluence so Z ck?racterlstic of life on Florida's southeast coast during o this era. Over one million dollars was expended on the building by the pioneer developer of the City of Coral K- Gables, George Merrick, who envisioned the magnificant U gateway into the city. ID The Entrance- was planned on a style of grandeur and elegance in every respect, as evidenced by the imposing a: archway, with its stone overhead carving, its gracerul stairways, and prominent clock tower. Although sHorr of completion when financial disasters struck, the Entrance nevertheless remained an impressive reminder of the affluent 1920 ! s, and was eventually pre~ served and restored through the efforts of private citizens UJ and professional groups. LJ Today, the building is utilized to its fullest capacity- t/i housing a myriad of commercial and industrial enterprises, as well as providing a center for cultural and artistic activities in the community. (See Attached Sheet) ^\ %'T^ /5 LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY OF LESS THAN TEN ACRES LATITUDE LONGITUDE L ATI TUDE LONGI TUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds NW 25 45 49 80° 15' 2l" NE SE _SW_ APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: 4^5 clC!CeS ILIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE: CODE COUNTY COUNTY: COUNTY: NAME AND Tl TLE: Mary K. Evans, Historic ORGANl ZATION DATE Division of Archives , History & Records Mgt. Q/7/71 STREET AND NUMBER: Department of State - The Capitol CITY OR TOWN: Tallahassee Florida 12 As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na I hereby certify that this property is included in the tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion National Register. in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. The recommended Chief, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation level of significance of this nomination is: National n State Local ATTEST: State Liaison Officer Title 2/8/72 Date Date GP 0 9 0 1 .0 8 7 Form 10-300o UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE (July 1969) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Florida NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY Dade INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER (Continuation Sheet) 2 SEP (Number all entries) 9. Bibliography City of Coral Gables. Comprehensive Map of Coral Gables , January, 1924. Coral Gables Development Department, Coral Gables, Florida. Coral Gables City Directory and Street Guide, January 15, 1926 The George E. Merrick Collection, Historic Museum of South Florida and the Caribbean, Miami, Florida. Coral Gables, Miami Riviera. Coral Gables Corporation, 1925. University of Miami Library, Coral Gables, Florida. "Dedication, Coral Gables Library in Cathedral Room Douglas Entrance, Sponsored by Coral Gables Woman's Club," Miami Riviera, Coral Gables, November 8, 1927. Second Annual Progress Week Edition, Coral Gables Community Development Department, Coral Gables, Florida. Deen, James. "Douglas Village," The Florida Architect, American Institute of Architects, May, 1966. Douglas Village corporation. Douglas Village. A Prospectus Prepared by the Douglas Village Corporation. Coral Gables, Florida, n.d. Ferendino, Grafton and Pancoast. "Douglas Entrance: Architectural Keynote to Coral Gables." Draft of Report, Coral Gables, Florida, n.d. "La Puerta del Sol," National Trust for Historic Preservation, Historic Preservation, XXII, No. 4 (October-December, 1970), 37-39. The Douglas Entrance (undated, assumed date, 1926). The George E. Merrick Collection, Historic Museum of South Florida and the Caribbean, Miami, Florida Form 10-301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE (July 1969) , ^ NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Florida NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY Dade PROPERTY MAP FORM FOR NPSUSE ONLY (Type all entries - attach to or enclose with map) ENTRY NUMBER DATE f SEP iWfc z •^^^^^^^.^mmi^^^^^^i^im^^iM§ o COMMON: Doualas Entrance (Douglas Village) AND/OR HISTORIC: La Puerta del Sol (The Hate n-F +-ho Qlir^ STREET AND NUM BER: u ^. Intersection Of Douglas Road and S.W. ft+-h . Si- fTaini ami T => CITY OR TOWN: c_ Coral Gables H STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE uo Florida 12 Dade 0^1 SOURCE: A»-;' ; x. ^ Hialeah Quad £\ UJ SCALE: 73^ Minnt-.ft Se-r-i e.Q /-7 ^« ^ UJ DATE: 1965 /Th •*.-v. *8* ^ cn fclllllll^^ to TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS \$\ '^:, ^ /S7 1. Property broundaries where required. V^ <: "" x<^ 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference. ^Zrm^ f^Tvj 111 •• ^--^fV^bS / t >*c-,V . • -'i^l • V^Xl X-^^>^vi /...,..,.,L...... ____^————„'•f^—r-±" :- j•»••* -————JL-^^M_-T7*++*\'^"^ P^^rr^^TU^r.-nTr- —™™Br--iT-j I ~' Sr,,,,.-// /V x *J® ^Jeune O -S • f i-^^^j=i^2^^C2==^^^^feJ^^iUgJsJL=JI=4iiIil^=^^ iLJI|I2E5S ''••. ii il -4-. ^O^3^»=^^l^^d=^:^L====J^^ i i^llS^I^7"^ ^SiJL 17130". R.40E. R.41E ERIOR— GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WASHI . D C — t 97C 3.6 MI. TO u.s.i 575000™.— [ 80OnO 15C' LA PUERTA DEL SOL USC&GS T-8432 . CORAL GABLES, FL ROAD CLASSIFICATION ^leavy-duty ...... ,—————. Light-duty... ^edium-duty ..... Unimproved dirt = ==< . S. Route ( ) State Route FLORIDA] \ QUADRANGLE LOCATION ^i^^^^!i^^^^l^:^^^?«P^:;