Nature, History, Elegance… Simply Breathtaking
History
Located along the edge of Biscayne Bay, the 444-acre Deering Estate at Cutler is an environmental, archeological and historical preserve. From canoe rides to butterfly hikes and guided tours, the Deering Estate has diverse activities for the whole family that make learning fun. The Estate offers daily tours of the historic houses – dating from 1896 – as well as naturalist lead tours of the lush natural areas where fossil bones have been found from as far back as 50,000 years. The Park is part of the Miami-Dade County Park and Recreation Department, which manages the Estate on behalf of the State of Florida.
Charles Deering - Businessman, Philanthropist, Artist
 Charles Deering, son of William and Abbey Reed (Barbour) Deering, was born on July 31, 1852, in South Paris, Maine. His father, William Deering, was the founder of Deering, Miliken & Company, and later of Gammon & Deering - manufacturers of harvesters and the predecessor of the Deering Harvester Company, organized in 1880. In1902, a merger with McCormick Harvester Company created the well known International Harvester Company. Charles served as the first chairman of the very well known farm equipment company.
Charles grew up with a great appreciation of agriculture, a keen business mind, and developed a strong interest in the fine arts. Both Charles and his younger brother James (1859 – 1925) passionately amassed works by the Old Masters as well as painters of their own day. James collected 15th to 19th century art for his mansion, Vizcaya, also located in Miami, Florida. Charles preferred to fill his mansions in Sitges, Spain and also built the Stone House to house works of the Spanish masters, such as El Greco, Diego Velasquez, and Rembrandt. In total he amassed more than 4,000 pieces of art and had one of the largest collections of art in the world. His art collection was appraised at $60 million dollars in 1922.
As a connoisseur and art patron, Charles befriended and often supported financially the work of several key artists. He had close associations to important artists such as John Singer Sargent and Anders Zorn. In fact, Sargent encouraged Deering to pursue a career in painting. He often sketched and painted portraits of prominent individuals. A painting of William Denison Whipple, Brevet Major General, U.S. Army hangs in the library of the Stone House. This painting was completed by Mr. Deering in 1894.
Upon his death, Charles Deering gave his collection to his two daughters, Marion Deering McCormick (Mrs. Chauncey, 1886–1965) and Barbara Deering Danielson (Mrs. Richard, 1888–1987). The women donated many works to the Art Institute of Chicago in the decades following their father’s death. James Deering also left his collection to Charles’s daughters - his nieces. His influence on art, architecture, and natural preservation lives on at the Estates he built here and in Spain. The sea side home in Maricel still serves as an art museum and the Deering Estate at Cutler is growing in importance as a creative studio for local artists and art.
Plant Life/Natural Environment
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The Deering Estate is a unique natural environment unlike any other in Miami-Dade County with an incredible array of plant life, including orchids, bromeliads and over 40 species of trees. It is made up of over 115 acres of coastal tropical hardwood hammocks and 150 acres of pine rockland forests, one of the largest of this endangered species.
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The Estate boasts a Mangrove Boardwalk where guests can enjoy the natural beauty as they walk through the coastal wetlands and visit the mangrove forests, salt marshes and submerged sand dunes of Biscayne Bay.
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In addition to rare and threatened flora and fauna, the Estate is also home to a variety of birds, marine life and wildlife such as gray foxes, spotted skunks and squirrels. At certain times of the year the Estate is host to a variety of Florida Specialties, when avid birders can spot the Mangrove Cuckoo, Black Whiskered Vireo among others.
Archeology
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As an archeological gem, the Deering Estate is part of the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, which has a rich history dating back 100,000 years. Carbon dating has placed human fossils in the area as early as 10,000 years ago and suggests that the Paleo-Indians lived on the grounds.
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A Tequesta Burial Mound, one of a few remaining sites in Miami-Dade County, dates from the time period of 1500 – 1700 and serves as a resting place for 12 – 18 chieftains whose remains were laid face down in a radiating pattern, like the spokes of a wheel. This undisturbed archeological site, embedded in the hardwood hammock is a place of peace and quiet meditation.
Architecture
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Among the historical structures at the Deering Estate is the famous Richmond Cottage, which was built by the Richmond family in 1900 and was the first hotel between Coconut Grove and Key West.
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In 1922 Charles Deering built the Stone House, which served as a winter home and housed the family’s fine paintings, tapestries and furnishings. The structure took one year to complete and was designed and constructed in a Mediterranean Revival style.
Art
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Charles Deering, and his younger half-brother James Deering (1859 – 1925), passionately amassed works by the Old Masters as well as painters of their own day. Mr. Deering filled his mansions in Stiges, Spain and also built the Stone House to house works of the Spanish Masters, such as El Greco, Diego Velasquez, and Rembrandt. In total he amassed more than 4,000 pieces of art and had one of the largest collections of art in the world. His art collection was appraised at $60 million dollars in 1922. In the Stone House Ballroom hangs an oil on canvas painting, “Procesión de Miércoles de Cenizas en Barcelona,” painted in 1866 by Ramón Casas Carbó. Other artwork and historic artifacts are on display in the Stone House and Richmond Cottage.
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Mr. Deering’s influence on art, architecture, and natural preservation lives on at the Estate. The Artist Village includes traditional American Craft exhibits and artisans working out of studios on the Estate. The Deering Estate at Cutler Artists in Residence are considered part of the Estate’s esteemed volunteer corp. These artists are able to access and work in a secure artist studio, produce art in a natural and historic setting, sell art out of their studios, and participate in the Art on Loan Program.
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Through the Deering Estate’s rotating Art on Loan Program, fine artists, curators of historic documents and photographs, and traditional collectors of craft are able to display collections in the Richmond Cottage. Each exhibit is curated for guests and tours are available through the Exhibits and Collections Program.
Education
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The Deering Estate has an outstanding educational curriculum for all ages – offering programs for school age children, adults, teacher training and research.
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Miami-Dade County public and private middle schools can participate in the Deering Estate’s program, which integrates cutting-edge technology through the Internet into an interdisciplinary program in the areas of fine arts, language arts, math, science and social studies. The curriculum is based on Florida's Sunshine State Standards, helping students and teachers of sixth, seventh and eighth grades fulfill academic requirements and combines classroom exercises as well as a field exercises during a field trip visit to the estate.
Canoe Tours
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The Deering Estate offers guided canoe tours along the shores of Biscayne Bay and to the Chicken Key Bird Rookery, which lies one mile off shore to groups of 4-12 members. Tours are offered every Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and cost $25 for adults and $15 for children ages 9-14. Price of the tour includes admission to the Estate.
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Moonlit Canoe Tours are also offered from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on evenings with a full moon. The cost is $35 and includes a light snack and admission to the Estate. Reservations are required. For more information please call 305-235-1668 ext. 233.
Pontoon Boat Tours
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Pontoon Boat Tours are offered on the “Pelican Island Skipper,” a 45-foot Corinthian Catamaran. The boat will depart from the Deering Estate and will explore the waters of Biscayne Bay. The vessel complies with Coast Guard regulations and is ADA accessible. Weather and water conditions are closely monitored prior to departure. Trips may be cancelled and rescheduled due to weather conditions. Cost: $35. For more information please call 305-235-1668 ext. 233.
Bike Tours
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The Estate offers bike tours where riders can explore the trails and scenic landscapes of the Deering Estate while learning about the Estate’s historic past. Tours are offered on the fourth Saturday of the month from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. The cost is $15, $10 ride your own bike. Please note that the smallest bike available is 16 ½ “, which can accommodate a guest no shorter than 60” (5 feet).
Kids' Camp
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The Deering Estate offers day camps throughout the school year for children ages 6-13 to attend during teacher planning days and certain holiday breaks, including winter, spring and summer breaks. Among the camp’s activities are: nature hikes, educational environmental projects, a canoe trip and lunch at Chicken Key, and participation in an exciting archeological dig. Camp hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at $30 a day. Registration is required as no walk-ins are accepted.
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Saturday Kid’s Camp is held from 9 am to 12 noon every week. The program includes hands-on activities related to nature, archeology, arts and science. Kids will enjoy a different topic each week. Ages 6-10. $30 per child; $10 one-time annual registration fee. For more information please call 305-235-1668 ext. 233.
Rentals
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Rental facilities are available and open to the public for weddings, special events and business functions. All facilities are subject to a 20% rental deposit – with the exception of the Auditorium, which is available for business functions only. Deposit is refunded by Miami Dade County approximately four to five weeks after the event.
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The Estate has several birthday party packages to choose from that incorporate all the great features the Estate – and South Florida – have to offer for a unique birthday party experience! Available during the weekends only.
Foundation
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The Deering Estate Foundation, Inc., is a private, member based, non-profit entity and the philanthropic arm of the Deering Estate at Cutler. Its members and the Board of Directors, a diverse group of business and community leaders who are dedicated advocates of the Estate, actively support the education, research, cultural arts, restoration and preservation of the Estate. For more information on becoming a foundation member, please call 305-235-1668 ext. 263.
Location/Hours of Operation
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Tickets for access to the Estate are sold from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Estate closes at 5:00 p.m. daily. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children 4-14 year of age.
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The Deering Estate at Cutler is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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Price of the ticket includes tours of the historic buildings and the Hardwood Hammocks. Reservations are not necessary but are recommended for groups. Tours in Spanish are available by request 48 hours in advance and all last approximately one hour.
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Tour Times
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