Facts:
The Tamiami Highway is a massive and ambitious project that was and still is instrumental to the development of the region. Built around 1930, the project was a very ambitious one since there were so many hurdles that blocked its construction, be it the natural barriers such as swamps and other natural dangers as well as other matters such as in funding. However, all the sacrifice that was put in it had been all worth it. Also known as US Route 41, this 275 mile stretch of highway connects Tampa to Miami and has been the source of all manner of traffic that brought people and goods across the southern part of Florida. Thanks to the pioneer Baron Gift Collier and his partner David Graham Copeland, a retired naval officer and engineer, and all the hard working laborers who toiled the treacherous landscape and faced the dangers of both the construction and the harsh natural environment of south Florida (which included malaria and crocs) the Tamiami Trail became a monumental success for the people of south Florida.
History:
There was not a single mile of paved road in all of Naples, Florida back in those days in 1923. In fact, there wasn’t a single mile of concrete road in the entire Lee county. This created a serious logistical issue when navigating goods and people at that time. This was especially concerning for Collier, who already invested millions of dollars in developing the quite summer vacation town of Naples. He had bigger designs in mind for the city and he could not achieve this if Naples was isolated from cities like Miami and Orlando, during this time Naples was an “out of the way” small city, something you can only find off the beaten path. Collier recognized that the key to a city’s development lies in its accessibility and the mobility of its goods and services. The local government recognized this too so they began a construction of a highway that would address this issue. However, in an unfortunate turn of events, they went short on funding. This was when Collier stepped in and offered to help finance the project. He and his team embarked on this journey to bring Naples, Florida to new heights and this was something that Collier not only benefitted from but also the rest of the population in Naples area, and, true enough, the people still benefit from this project to this day.
Tips:
- While Tamiami is a busy highway, going through here immerses and gives you a glimpse of the flora and fauna of southern Florida. Deer and turtles may be occasionally spotted crossing the road and herons may be seen standing by the roadside.
- Big trucks and other heavy vehicles frequent this highway so best be careful when driving.
- Miami is now accessible thanks to this highway.
- Roadside attractions like the Skunk Ape statue or a massive panther statue can be found as you drive along the Tamiami Road. Some of these attraction are more than 50 years old.
