National Register of Historic Places

For over 70 years the Deering Estate at Cutler remained the winter home of the Deering family. Incredibly, no major alterations were ever done to the historic structures, which remained exactly as they had been when built or remodeled between 1916 and 1922.

In the early 1980's, the Deering Estate at Cutler was offered for sale and targeted for development. Public outcry and pressure from environmental and historic preservation groups brought attention to the significance of the property and helped spearhead efforts by the State of Florida and Miami-Dade County for its public acquisition.

On August 9, 1985, the State of Florida, through its Conservation and Recreation Lands Acquisition Program, and Miami-Dade County purchased the Deering Estate at Cutler for $22.5 million. Miami-Dade County's Park and Recreation Department was designated to manage the sensitive natural, historical and archeological resources found on the Estate.

On March 16, 1986, the Deering Estate at Cutler was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For the first time, one of the most significant, unique and private sites of South Florida was opened to the public.

Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect our nation's historic and archeological resources. Properties listed in the National Register include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that are significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering and culture. The National Register is administered by the National Park Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.