About

Coral Gables Museum Corp. is a publicly funded, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It provides equal access and equal opportunity in employment and services, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation or physical ability, in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.); the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and Miami-Dade County ordinances No. 97-170, § 1, 2-25-97 and No. 98-17, § 1, 12-1-98. The Museum’s main facility located at 285 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida is fully accessible to the public as are all programs housed in or originating from this location.

Mission

Coral Gables Museum celebrates the 1920’s planned community of Coral Gables and presents exhibits and programs that examine the built  environment.

The Museum’s mission is to celebrate, investigate and explore the civic arts of architecture and urban and environmental design, and the visual arts, including fostering an appreciation for the history, vision, and cultural landscape of Coral Gables; promoting beauty and planning as well as historic, artistic and environmental preservation for a broad audience, including children, families, and community members, as well as local, regional, national and international visitors. The Museum optimizes its mission by cultivating effective partnerships, and providing programming that includes exhibitions, collections, educational offerings, lectures, tours, publications and special events.

History

In 2003, the non-profit Coral Gables Museum Corp. was formed under the leadership of the City of Coral Gables to direct and operate a museum in the Old Police and Fire Station. In 2008, work began in earnest on the restoration, renovation and expansion of the 1939 WPA building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The architect Jorge Hernandez together with Dooley Mack Constructors led the historic preservation project. On October 10, 2010 (10-10-10), Museum staff occupied the building and reopened it to the public. In November 2011, the Coral Gables Museum unveiled the inaugural exhibits and began its first year of full operation. In 2013, the Coral Gables Museum became the Official Visitor Center for the City Beautiful.

The Museum is a true public/private partnership between the City of Coral Gables and the Coral Gables Museum Corp., a private, not for profit 501.c.3 corporation operating an educational cultural institution within a City owned facility.  The Museum raises its own operating budget to fund the exhibitions and educational programs it provides, through memberships, private and government grants, admissions, earned income and, most importantly, with contributions from community members who believe in our mission.

The museum complex

Coral Gables Museum’s facility consists of the historic site of the Old Police and Fire Station, and additional galleries and outdoor spaces that were constructed in the 2010. New spaces include the 3,000 square foot Carole A. Fewell Gallery, a beautiful 5,000 square foot Museum Plaza and Courtyard off of the main lobby.

Visitors can explore the building’s history as the Old Police and Fire Station by viewing the photography exhibit in the lobby area, or scheduling a guided tour. Inside the building, visitors can see the former jail cells, courtroom and apparatus bay/fire engine room. The building’s exterior features WPA artworks, including firefighter busts, that add striking decorative features to the building’s architecture, which is a blending of “Depression-Moderne” and Mediterranean Revival.

The Museum is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, having been restored and constructed utilizing best environmental practices and materials. Additions to the existing building and new construction are sympathetic to the original design.

Land and Labor Acknowledgment

At the Coral Gables Museum, we humbly acknowledge that our operational and residential lands constitute ancestral territories of diverse indigenous peoples. These communities, including the Seminole, Taino, Tequesta, Miccosukee, and Mascogo, have long served as the original custodians of this area. We grasp the historical significance of pivotal treaties like Cession 118, profoundly impacting these groups. Moreover, we recognize the pivotal role of Afro-Bahamians, revered as ‘Wayshowers’, for their expertise in land clearing, planting, and tropical agriculture, serving as the primary workforce from the 1870s to the 1920s. Our dedication remains unwavering in honoring and respecting the rich cultural heritage of these societies and the diverse contributions that have shaped this region’s history.

CORAL GABLES MUSEUM

285 Aragon Avenue
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 603-8067

MUSEUM HOURS

Monday: Closed

Tuesday – Friday:  11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Board Of Trustees 2023-2024

CHAIR

Jose Valdés-Fauli

VICE-CHAIR

Eduardo Otaola

Raul R. Rodriguez

TREASURER

Joe Jackson

SECRETARY

Eric Gros-Dubois

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

Christopher Spuches

Diane Amado-Tate

Ivette Arango-O ‘Doski

Alexander Bucelo

Ernie Erdmann

Richard J. Heisenbottle

Adam Hlavaty

Adriana Meneses

Tere Shelton Bernace

Alirio Torrealba

Wayne Chip Withers

YOUNG ASSOCIATES LIAISON

Nicolas Cabrera

EX-OFFICIO

Mayor Vince Lago, City of Coral Gables

Anna Pernas, Historical Resources &Cultural Arts Director, City of Coral Gables

George Kakouris, Founding Chair & Chair Emeritus

HONORARY CHAIR 2012-2013 

Arva Moore Parks†

Staff

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Elvis Fuentes
elvis@coralgablesmuseum.org

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT & BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER

Susana Soria Chapur
susana@coralgablesmuseum.org

DIRECTOR OF CURATORIAL PROGRAMS

Yuneikys Villalonga
yvillalonga@coralgablesmuseum.org

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS

Gianna Riccardi
gianna@coralgablesmuseum.org

VOLUNTEERS, MEMBERSHIP SERVICES & COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Ellen Dyer
ellen@coralgablesmuseum.org

MUSEUM EDUCATOR

Ian Melgarejo
education@coralgablesmuseum.org

DIRECTOR OF EVENTS

Zorana Krstevski
events@coralgablesmuseum.org

COLLECTIONS AND EXHIBITIONS MANAGER

Fabian Peña
fabian@coralgablesmuseum.org

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Maylin Lara
maylin@coralgablesmuseum.org

FACILITIES MANAGER

Adrian Menendez
adrian@coralgablesmuseum.org

VISITOR SERVICES

Natasha Calderon

Dariel Gonzalez

James Fernandez
visitorServices@coralgablesmuseum.org

HISTORIC RESEARCHER & NEWSLETTER EDITOR

Patrick Alexander
patrick@coralgablesmuseum.org

CURATORIAL & PUBLIC PROGRAMS COORDINATOR

Sophia Ramirez-Peralta
sophia@coralgablesmuseum.org

*All staff can be reached at 305-603-8067

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