One of the Miami’s most beloved historical artifact has been permanently installed at Miami Worldcenter. The $4 Billion, 27-acre mixed use development underway in the heart of Downtown Miami.
The 6,500 pounds; painted steel Pan Am globe greeted generation of patrons who visited the former Miami Science Museum for 55 years until the museum closing in 2015. When the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum opened its new building in Downtown Miami, the institution sought a local partner to take ownership of the piece due to the complexity and cost of relocating the globe from its previous position in the museum’s lobby. In 2020, Miami Worldcenter’s ownership, acquired the Pan Am globe as a public asset. In January 2021, the Miami Worldcenter developers successfully removed the globe from the former museum building, place it aboard a flatbed truck, and relocated the sphere to a secure location for and extensive restauration by international artist Franz Ackerman. Miami Worldcenter has invested over $700K in the relocation, restoration and weatherproofing of the globe, ensuring this pilar of Miami history will be publicly accessible to generations of residents and visitors.
“Miami Worldcenter is poised to become the heart of Downtown Miami, so made perfect sense for the iconic Pan Am globe to stand out as a centerpiece of our city within a city. We are honored to have led the restauration efforts for the important piece of Miami history and give it proper stage where Miamians can continue to admire it for generations.” Notin Motwani, management partner of Miami Worldcenter said.
The globe, manufactured by Rand McNally, was originally commissioned in the 1930s by Pan American Airways to serve as the centerpiece of its Dinner Key Seaplane Terminal. Before it became a museum piece, the globe with a circumference of 31 feet, five inches, was initially in the center of Pan Am’s Art Deco Terminal that opened in 1934 at Dinner Key. That building eventually become Miami’s City Hall. “The Pan Am globe is an iconic piece of our history. For almost a century it was witnessed first-hand Miami’s growth & transformation. I am glad to see such an emblematic piece of our city be installed in Downtown as we embark on our journey to become the global capital for innovation, technology, and opportunity.” Said Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.