Mariah Brown Builds One of First Black-Owned Homes in 1890 Coconut Grove
Born in 1851 on the Bahamian island of Eleuthera, Mariah Brown immigrated to Florida in the 1880s seeking new opportunities. She began working at Miami’s first hotel, the legendary Peacock Inn, in the village of Coconut Grove.
Saving money from her job as a washerwoman, Brown purchased a small plot of land in 1889 from pioneer Joseph Frow for $50. The next year, she constructed a typical Bahamian-style wood frame vernacular house at 3298 Charles Ave, within walking distance of her workplace.
“This one-and-one-half story house was built by one of Coconut Grove’s first African-Bahamian residents and is thought to be one of the first with a black owner,” said a representative of the City of Miami.
The modest Brown residence reflected the architecture commonly seen in the Bahamas and Key West in the late 1800s. As one of the first black homeowners in the area, Mariah Brown became a pillar of the community.
Inspiring Creation of Miami’s Earliest Black Neighborhood
Mariah Brown was instrumental in establishing Coconut Grove’s small but thriving Bahamian population in those early days.
“It was Brown’s pioneering spirit that inspired the creation of churches, a school, a library and a Bahamian-style village that predates the City of Miami itself,” reads a proclamation from the City of Miami.
By welcoming other Bahamian immigrants to her home on Charles Ave, Brown encouraged friends and family to join her in building a new community. Before long, the neighborhood was flourishing with Black-owned businesses, education centers, and places of worship.
Lasting Legacy Honored as Historic Site
The Mariah Brown House still stands today as a monument to its trailblazing original owner and the incredible impact she had.
In 1995, the City of Miami designated Brown’s residence as a Historic Site due to its historical and cultural significance. The 1930s saw Charles Ave renamed Evangelist Street in her honor.
On March 16, 2022, the City commemorated Brown’s legacy by declaring the date Mariah Brown Day. A $5,000 scholarship was also established at Florida Memorial University in her name to support young female students.
Over 130 years since its construction, the Mariah Brown House continues memorializing this brave Bahamian immigrant who paved the way for Miami’s African diaspora community.
