Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Standing majestically alongside the scenic New River, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts is consistently ranked among the top ten theaters in the world by Pollstar magazine. This world-class venue features shows from the best of Broadway to award-winning local and international cultural programming. Year-round events include ballet and dance performances, opera, music, theater, family entertainment, teen programs and more.
The Broward Center supports a variety of cultural venues throughout the community, including Parker Playhouse, Miramar Cultural Center/Artspark, Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center and Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Within these venues, there are various theaters, courtyards and banquet rooms available to rent for special occasions.
Florida Grand Opera
Celebrating its 70th anniversary season of continuous performances, Florida Grand Opera stands as one of the oldest performing arts organizations in Florida. Fort Lauderdale performances are at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
In addition to the organization’s rich history of presenting internationally acclaimed artists, Florida Grand Opera is committed to training emerging opera professionals and educating young people about opera. The company’s Young Artist Studio is one of the most prestigious in the country, receiving over 700 applications annually from singers all over the world seeking the eight coveted positions in the program.
Fort Lauderdale History Center
The Fort Lauderdale Historical Society was founded for the purpose of preserving the history of Fort Lauderdale and Broward County and remains committed to expanding knowledge of the past. The Society’s various exhibitions and collections document local history and are available for researchers such as scholars, students, genealogists, preservationists, visitors and residents.
Historic buildings of the Society include:
- New River Inn, 1905 — Houses the Museum of History: The first building in Broward County to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located in Riverwalk Park, the New River Inn provides a beautiful and unique location for wedding ceremonies and receptions, anniversary parties and other special occasions.
- Philemon Bryan House, 1905 — Functioned as a boarding house during World War II and is now home to the Society’s administrative offices.
- Acetylene Building, 1905 — Was the site of an acetylene gas generator, which provided light to both the New River Inn and the Philemon Bryan House.
- King-Cromartie House Museum, 1907 — Fully furnished turn-of-the-century house museum.
- Replica School House, 1889 — A replica of the first Broward County schoolhouse.
- Hoch Heritage Center, 1949 — A public research facility and library.
Museum of Art | Fort Lauderdale
Nestled in the heart of Downtown Fort Lauderdale across from Huizenga Plaza and the New River, the Museum of Art has become one of South Florida’s leading cultural attractions. It is home to a collection of more than six thousand works that is international in scope, strongly reflecting the creative expression of the cultures of South Florida and the Caribbean. Additionally, the Museum has become well known for its touring exhibitions, which have ranged from A Celebration to Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, to the highly regarded Artist in Residence Program, which broadens the sphere of conversation about contemporary art.
There are several facilities within the Museum, including an expansive auditorium and a lavish sculpture garden that can be rented for special occasions such as rehearsal dinners, weddings, anniversary parties, or Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. The Museum also supports education of the arts within the community, with programs such as its Studio School, which offers courses in painting, drawing, design and other disciplines taught by professional artists.
Historic Stranahan House Museum
Built by Frank Stranahan as a trading post for settlers and the Seminole Indians in 1901, the original structure that is now known as the Stranahan House is the site most closely associated with the founding of the City of Fort Lauderdale and its economic and social development. Over the years, it served as the city’s post office, community center and town hall.
Today, Stranahan House is the eastern anchor of RiverWalk, the waterfront park connecting Fort Lauderdale’s historic district with the Arts & Entertainment District. Visitors can journey through time with a guided walk of the house, which has been restored to its 1913 configuration, and enjoy fine examples of period Victorian furniture and decorative pieces.
Throughout the year, visitors can enjoy a variety of events that highlight Fort Lauderdale’s unique history through innovative and family-friendly programming. Come and discover historical Fort Lauderdale.
