Ten Super Bowls in Miami

No event captivates the nation's attention like the Super Bowl. This year's big game is to be played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens on February 7th, and will pit the Indianapolis Colts against the New Orleans Saints.

The Super Bowl and South Florida have a long history together. Super Bowl XLIV will be the tenth Super Bowl played in South Florida; it is the fifth at the Miami Dolphins' current home, and five were played at the Orange Bowl in Miami. After February 7th, more Super Bowls will have been played in South Florida than anywhere else, though New Orleans is slated to catch up in 2013. The Orange Bowl hosted the championship game three of the first five years it was played, and is the only venue to have hosted it for two consecutive years, 1968-1969.

Miami is also no stranger to the Pro Bowl. The NFL's all-star game began to be played in Honolulu in 1980. Before that, it moved venues just as the Super Bowl does. The Orange Bowl was the Pro Bowl's home once, in 1975.

South Florida attracts the Super Bowl for much the same reason that it attracts many tourists. Come January or February, when the temperatures don't get above freezing in the northern part of the country, the sun and surf are welcome for a weekend. Or a week. Or two. The added incentive must be very motivating for the Colts. The franchise has been to four Super Bowls over the course of its existence, including 2010. All four of them have been played in South Florida.

-- Robert Harkins, Assistant Curator

This photo: Super Bowl in the Orange Bowl, 1968. City of Miami Collection, Historical Museum of Southern Florida, CM-11384

To Bequeth

The dictionary meaning of "bequeath": 1) to leave (property, etc.) to another by one's will; 2) to hand down, to pass on.

Bequeath--now there's a word I definitely don't think about often. I can't imagine that I have even said it twice in my whole life. I had to look it up to be sure I had it in the right context.

What made me look it up? Let me tell you.

Recently, this unusual word came to light due to two generous bequests that came to the Historical Museum from unexpected sources.

Often in the world of cultural organizations, museums and not-for-profit organizations, emphasis is placed on reaching out for support to the usual suspects: the big players, the heavy hitters, the proverbial movers and shakers in the "right" socioeconomic limelight.

Well, I learned that this limelight is not always the right place to look.

Two of our long-time individual members, Martha Lou Bradley and Mary G. Beazel, remembered the Historical Museum in their wills.

These ladies were members for decades. They renewed their $35 Individual memberships each year and quietly loved the museum. I was not fully aware of the extent of their dedication, except for the fact that they supported us as members, year after year. They were faithful friends to the end.

I had no idea that before their passing, Mary and Martha Lou took the time to provide for us, planning for the day when they would be gone; when the museum could no longer count on their yearly renewals. Their diligence and thoughtfulness in giving could not have come at a better time.

The Historical Museum and I wish to thank these two ladies who have clearly defined giving to me and for bringing into sharp focus where organizations like us need to look for our real support base, to those who love us, to our members.

-- Hilda Masip, Membership Officer