Bernhardt E. Muller Collection, 1925-1960.

ArchivalResource

Bernhardt E. Muller Collection, 1925-1960.

The Muller Collectionʹs importance concerns its detailed documentation of the progress of Opa-Locka from a developerʹs dream to a constructed city. Opa-Locka was designed according to a specific theme: a combination of Arabic, Persian, and Moorish architectural styles. It is also the first known instance of a town developed from interpretations of a literary work, The One Thousand and One Tales of the Arabian Nights. Eighteen commercial buildings are found in the Muller Collection, including many stores and apartments, as well as an unbuilt Chinese hotel. Sixty-three private residences of various sizes and designs are included in these drawings. It is probably that most of the work Bernhardt Muller ever did for Opa-Locka is contained in the collection. The majority of these drawings and materials date from 1926 to 1927, with only three drawings dated later than 1927. The Muller Collection contains newspaper articles describing the hurricane that struck South Florida on September 17 and 18, 1926. The stormʹs direct effect was a loss of 372 lives and $159 million in property, but its long-term results included the onset of the land ʺbustʺ and an economic decline that preceded the Great Depression of the 1930ʹs. There are numerous articles and photographs of the hurricane's destruction.

910.00 Items (19.8 cubic feet).

Related Entities

There are 4 Entities related to this resource.

Bernhardt E. Muller (Bernhardt Emil Muller) 1878-1964.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6xm7cgw (family)

In 1925 Bernhardt Muller met Glenn H. Curtiss, the owner and developer of Opa-Locka, at the recommendation of Mr. Curtissʹ mother, Mrs. Lua Andrews Curtiss. In a 1927 article appearing in the Opa-Locka Times, Muller relates the story of how he visualized the new development. He decided that an opportunity was at hand to make an architectural theme for a new community from a literary work. One night the architect read a copy of The One Thousand and One Tales of the Arabian Nights. Muller was fasc...

Otto G. Richter Library

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dc25m7 (corporateBody)

Muller, Bernhardt E., 1878-1964.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64b40j6 (person)

Curtis, A. Wilgus 1898-1981.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61k87s7 (family)