Image Placeholder
The Great City of Opa-locka was founded in 1926 by aviation pioneer, Glenn Curtiss based on his dream for a city with an “Arabian Nights” theme. Opa-locka holds the distinction of having the largest collection of Moorish Revival Architecture in the Western Hemisphere.
The nomination form submitted to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 states: “It was the manifestation of the dreams of Glenn Hammond Curtiss. The challenge was to escape the realities of the larger, unimaginative society. The result is not important, nor the fantasy. The importance is in the trying. That is why these buildings are significant.”
Although it was originally designed with a creative theme, that is not what usually comes to mind when Opa-locka is mentioned now. It has been labeled on the news and in many publications as a “struggling community” and “crime riddled.”
Despite these challenges, the City is being revitalized and regaining the spirit upon which it was originally founded. Officials, in conjunction with the Opa-locka Community Development Corporation, have vowed to turn the city around and this has generated an increased sense of community pride and a major drop in crime.