The Wolfsonian-Florida International University

Welcome, esteemed travelers and curious minds, to a truly unprecedented repository of human endeavor, the Wolfsonian at Florida International University. I am delighted to be your guide today as we navigate this extraordinary…

Before we delve deeply into the galleries, it is crucial to understand the physical and geographic context in which we stand. We are located in the heart of the legendary Art Deco District of Miami Beach. …

We now find ourselves in the main lobby and introductory gallery spaces. Take a careful look around you. …

We now approach an area that represents the intellectual core of the institution, the library. While the physical objects, the sculptures, the industrial design pieces often draw the immediate attention of visitors, the library…

As we transition into the gallery focusing on early twentieth century travel and leisure, we encounter a fascinating array of printed ephemera, specifically postcards and promotional materials. The Wolfsonian curators, such as…

Moving further into the exhibition on travel, we confront the reality of the American road trip. The turn of the century brought an increase in expendable income and the rising affordability of the automobile. …

We now arrive at one of the most mechanically fascinating aspects of the collection, the vintage travel trailers. These remarkable vehicles perfectly fuse the competing desires of the era, the urge to escape the city and go where…

As we conclude our tour and move toward the courtyard, I invite you to reflect on the sheer breadth of the human experience contained within the Wolfsonian. We have journeyed through an incredibly specific and turbulent window of…