@visitlauderdale
TIMELINE OFBROWARD COUNTY
See Greater Fort Lauderdale transform before your eyes, from the breakout success of Where the Boys Are in the 60s and the peak of Spring Break in the 80s to the luxury hotels, booming downtown district and diverse community of the new millennium.
1950
Alligator Wrestling, Dania Beach
Alligator Wrestling, Dania Beach
1956
Spring Break Phenomenon
1956 Chevy Bel Air, Spring Break on Fort Lauderdale Beach
1959
Jai Alai, Dania Beach
Dania Jai Alai
1960
Elbo Room
World's famous Elbo Room packs in the crowds.
1960
Where the Boys Are
Filmed locally in Fort Lauderdale and premieres in December at the Gateway Theatre.
1961
Spring Break
50,000 college students invade local beaches in the "Spring Break" phenomenon.
1961
The Original Yankee Clipper
Marilyn Monroe visits the Yankee Clipper Hotel.
1962
Mai-Kai Mystery Girl
The Mai-Kai Mystery Girl serves Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show."
1963
Broward International Airport
Broward International Airport is renamed Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
1965
International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame aquatic complex replaces the Fort Lauderdale Casino Pool.
1965
Pier Sixty-Six Hotel
The Pier Sixty-Six Hotel's 66-spire tower is built.
1968
The Queen Elizabeth
The Queen Elizabeth comes to Port Everglades as a tourist attraction.
1969
Holiday Park
Holiday Park becomes a center of tennis activity, attracting the state's best players including a young Chris Evert.
1976
I-95
I-95 is completed and the population influx shifts west.
1978
Sawgrass Recreational Park
Sawgrass Recreational Park becomes a one-boat airboat attraction.
1979
Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse
Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse is added to the historical registry.
1980
Water Taxi
The Water Taxi arrives in Fort Lauderdale.
1980
The Galleria Fort Lauderdale Mall
The Galleria Fort Lauderdale Mall opens to the public adjacent from the beach.
1981
Winterfest Boat Parade
The Winterfest Boat Parade begins in Fort Lauderdale, gaining national television recognition.
1985
Spring Breakers
350,000 Spring Breakers invade Fort Lauderdale.
1986
Beach Wave Wall
Fort Lauderdale's famous Beach Wave Wall is constructed on A1A.
1986
Museum of Art
Fort Lauderdale's Museum of Art moves to a new building at Las Olas Boulevard and Andrews Avenue.
1990
Sawgrass Mills
Sawgrass Mills opens in Sunrise, eventually becoming the largest single-story outlet mall in the U.S.
1990
Riverwalk
First section of Riverwalk completed
1990
Butterfly Garden
Butterfly Garden and Tram Station at Flamingo Gardens
1991
Convention Center Opens
The Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center opens.
1991
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts opens with The Phantom of the Opera.
1991
Coral Springs Aquatic Center Opens
Coral Springs Aquatic Center Opens
1991
Hollywood Arts & Culture Center
Hollywood Arts & Culture Center in downtown Hollywood.
1996
Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines becomes a "hometown airline," moving to FLL.
1998
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers move to Broward County.
2006
Miramar Cultural Center
Miramar Cultural Center breaks ground, created to celebrate local creativity and diversity.
2006
African-American Research Library & Cultural Center
The African-American Research Library & Cultural Center opens as one of the only three of its kind in the nation.
2006
Goodyear Blimps "Spirit of Innovation"
Goodyear Blimps "Spirit of Innovation" takes its first flight in Pompano Beach.
2007
Westfield Mall
Newly renovated Broward Mall becomes "Westfield Mall."
2007
Central Broward Regional Park and Central Broward Stadium
Central Broward Regional Park and Central Broward Stadium opens in Lauderhill, drawing international cricket fans.
2011
Hollywood Beach Broadwalk
Broadwalk becomes part of Florida East Coast Greenway, which is part of the national East Coast Greenway, an urban trail network that extends from Key West to Maine.
2013
National Car Rental Center
National Car Rental Center becomes the BB&T Center in Sunrise.
2013
Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort
Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort breaks ground on the Hollywood Broadwalk.
2013
Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show celebrates its 62nd anniversary, Oct 27-31.
2014
South Runway at FLL
The South Runway at FLL opens, paving the way for more domestic and international carriers such as Emirates Airlines.
2015
Broward County Centennial Celebration
Broward County celebrates 100.
2016
Dr. Von D Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park
John U. Lloyd State Park is renamed for civil rights activists, becoming "Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park."
2016
Riptide Music Festival
The very first Riptide Music Festival comes to Fort Lauderdale beach, now a Broward County Signature event.
2016
FATVillage
The first FATVillage Artwalk takes place in Flagler Village.
2016
Hollywood ArtsPark at Young Center
The nearly twelve-acre Young Circle in the heart of downtown Hollywood has been transformed into a regional, interactive ArtsPark where all Broward County residents and visitors may partake in arts and cultural activities day and night.
2014
World AIDS Museum & Educational Center
World AIDS Museum & Educational Center opens first AIDS museum in the world in Wilton Manors.
2017
Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach hosts the first running of the Pegasus World Cup.
2017
Sistrunk Boulevard
Sistrunk Boulevard undergoes a revitalization period.
2017
Greater Together
The EMMY award-winning "Greater Together" campaign launches.
2018
Brightline/Virgin Train
The Brightline/Virgin Train opens to the public.
2019
Guitar Hotel
The Guitar Hotel opens at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood.
2019
Convention Center Expansion
The Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center Expansion begins.
2019
Diplomat Beach Resort
The Diplomat Beach Resort completes a $100 million renovation.