Childhood in the “Grove”: An Examination of Places and Spaces of Children in Coconut Grove from 1886–1926

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Nestled in a vibrant Miami neighborhood is the diverse and historically rich area known as Coconut Grove, or simply the "Grove." Today, visitors to this neighborhood encounter trendy restaurants and million-dollar homes at its core. Meanwhile, West Grove remains predominantly populated by descendants of Afro-Caribbean immigrants who were part of the area's founding. Whether in the "Grove" or West Grove, this neighborhood boasts a time-honored history. The preservation of historic houses, public buildings, and transformed properties into museums in the neighborhood today illustrates this rich heritage. With that being said, the comprehensive history of the early Miami neighborhood tends to lean toward a narrow narrative of the founders and their pioneering of the region. However, by examining the facets of children's lives during Miami's pioneering period, historians and archaeologists can better understand the spaces and places utilized by these children. This article aims to reveal how its youngest inhabitants influenced the physical and social environments of this early neighborhood of Coconut Grove. By concentrating on the places and spaces children occupy, valuable insights into their daily routines, beliefs, and material items can give a holistic view of childhood within this region.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 52445