Part I of the book chronicles the emergence of Greater Miami as an international city, growing from a Tequesta camp site to a colonial settlement of the Spanish and British and homesteaded by pioneer settlers by the end of the 19th century. After the city of Miami was founded in 1896 many others followed until they merged to become a metropolitan area in the late 20th century and eventually a cosmopolis. The foundation and development of over twenty cities is described and outlined are the factors that enabled Greater Miami to grow – fresh water, the tropical climate, the railroad, drainage of the Everglades, the influx of migrants, and influential developers. Part II begins with a review of the ten historic and modern styles of architecture evident in Miami with four chapters devoted to detailed depictions of the most notable private and public buildings of each style with a total of 253 illustrations.