In 1925, James Deering died onboard an ocean liner returning to the United States from France. His nieces, Barbara Deering Danielson and Marion Deering McCormick, acquired ownership of Vizcaya and its 180 acres of land. In the 1940s, the family transferred the southern gardens and grounds to the Archdiocese of Miami, and in 1952, they conveyed the main house (with its collections and furnishings), the village, and the remaining 50 acres of grounds to Dade County. Today, Vizcaya is an accredited museum and National Historic Landmark owned and operated by Miami-Dade County and governed by the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust. The Museum receives substantial support from The Vizcayans, its fundraising support group, and the Vizcaya Volunteer Guides, a corps of dedicated volunteers who conduct daily tours of the estate.

Each year, Vizcaya welcomes 140,000 local residents and visitors from across the globe to enjoy the site. The Museum's programs feature guided tours, musical concerts, site-specific art installations commissioned through the Contemporary Arts Project, and more. The site is a popular venue for weddings and other special events, and is a magnet for both amateur and commercial photographers and filmmakers. Over the years, numerous dignitaries have visited the estate, including Queen Elizabeth II, Pope John Paul II, Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, and King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain.

Maintaining Deering's collection of fragile artwork, furnishings, elaborate gardening schemes, and historic architecture has proven an ongoing challenge for Vizcaya's museum staff. Work has begun on the most comprehensive restoration in Vizcaya's history, funded in part through a $50 million general obligation bond from Miami-Dade County. Capital initiatives include restoration of the main house, village buildings, and gardens, including the conservation of the Museum's outdoor sculpture and fountains funded by grants from The Tiffany & Co. Foundation and Save America's Treasures, a federal grant program. The Museum will adaptively reuse the village buildings for exhibitions, public programs, staff offices, and conservation studios, and will also construct new facilities such as a visitor center to better serve our guests. The visitor experience at Vizcaya will become increasingly more dynamic through the rehabilitation and interpretation of these historic facilities in the coming years.

If you would like to visit or learn more about Vizcaya, please visit the Museum's website at www.vizcayamuseum.org.