The City of HIALEAH

 

Hey everyone! Welcome back to the channel. Today’s vlog is a little different — I’m going to be reflecting on a recent class presentation I was part of, where we dove into the history and culture of Hialeah, Florida.

To be honest, before this project, I knew a little bit about Hialeah — mostly that it’s a city just northwest of Miami, heavily influenced by Cuban culture. But through our class presentation, I ended up learning so much more. I specifically focused on Hialeah during the 1970s, and how that era led into one of the city’s most iconic landmarks — Hialeah Park Racetrack. And trust me, the story is deeper than just horse races.

So let me set the scene. For this project, our class was divided into groups, and each group picked a different decade or topic to present about Hialeah — covering its history, social dynamics, important events, and how the city evolved into what it is today.

My group chose the 1970s, and I was excited because that time period was a huge turning point — not just for Hialeah, but for Miami-Dade County in general. We had to research, gather visuals, create a PowerPoint, and present our findings in class. But more than just completing an assignment, this experience really opened my eyes to how much history is packed into this city — and how important it is to preserve it.

So let’s talk about the 1970s. When you think of that decade in the U.S., you might think of disco, civil rights movements, or the aftermath of the Vietnam War. But in Hialeah, the '70s meant growth, cultural change, and the deepening of its Cuban-American identity.

After the 1959 Cuban Revolution, many Cubans fled to South Florida. By the 1970s, Hialeah had become a major hub for Cuban immigrants. The population grew quickly, and the culture of the city began to reflect this shift. Spanish became the dominant language, and the businesses, food, and politics in Hialeah started to mirror the values and traditions of the Cuban community.

But one of the most iconic symbols of Hialeah during this time was the Hialeah Park Racetrack. Now, I always heard people mention “Hialeah Park,” but I didn’t know much about it until I did the research.

Hialeah Park Racetrack is historic. It actually opened way before the 1970s — in 1925, to be exact — but it reached major popularity during the middle of the 20th century and remained a major attraction through the 1970s. In its prime, it was considered one of the most beautiful racetracks in the world, even referred to as the “Jewel of Hialeah.” 

What made it so unique wasn’t just the horse racing — although it did host some huge races — but also the Mediterranean Revival architecture, the lush gardens, and the famous flamingos that lived on the property. Yes, real flamingos. In fact, the flamingos became such a symbol of the park that their image was adopted as the logo of the Florida Lottery years later.

In the 1970s, Hialeah Park was at a cultural high point. It attracted big-name celebrities, politicians, and thousands of visitors. It became a gathering place for locals, especially among the growing Cuban-American population. It wasn’t just a place to bet on horses — it was a place to belong. It played a big role in Hialeah’s identity, and researching this helped me understand why so many people speak about it with such pride.

What I found most powerful in doing this presentation was seeing how a city can be shaped by immigration, culture, and even entertainment. Hialeah in the 1970s was going through so much transformation, and Hialeah Park Racetrack was like a reflection of that. It represented elegance and excitement, but also community and tradition.

I also learned how important it is to look beyond the surface. You can drive through a city like Hialeah and not even realize how many layers of history it has — how every building, every park, every business has a story behind it. This project pushed me to research more, ask questions, and think about the stories behind places I might have taken for granted before.

Plus, I loved learning about how the racetrack tried to adapt over time. Even though it closed for a while in the 2000s, it reopened later for casino gaming and has been going through revitalization efforts. That’s another big takeaway — cities evolve, but their roots matter.

The class presentation itself was a great experience. Hearing my classmates talk about different decades — from the early development of the city to the industrial boom to modern-day Hialeah — gave me a full picture of how the city has changed, grown, and adapted over time. Each group brought a different piece of the puzzle. Some focused on Hialeah’s agricultural roots, others talked about the rise of factories in the mid-20th century, and a few explored current challenges like affordable housing and traffic congestion.

What really stood out to me was how interconnected everything was. You could see how events in one decade influenced the next — how immigration in the '60s and '70s shaped the population, how economic growth brought both opportunities and obstacles, and how the city’s cultural identity kept evolving while staying true to its roots. It felt like we weren’t just talking about history; we were telling a story — a story about people, pride, and resilience.

Presenting my own part about the 1970s and Hialeah Park gave me a deeper appreciation for what local landmarks mean to a community. And seeing how invested everyone was in their research made me feel more connected — not just to the assignment, but to Hialeah itself. It was more than a class presentation — it was a learning moment that brought us closer to the city we live in or near, and maybe don’t always take the time to understand.

Samentha Bigot