Restoration Ramps Up for Vizcaya's Swimming Pool Grotto Thanks to $750,000 Save America’s Treasures Grant

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is proud to have been awarded a $750,000 grant from the National Park Service’s Save America's Treasures grant program, funded through the Historic Preservation Fund. This significant grant will support the conservation of Vizcaya’s Swimming Pool Grotto, including the preservation of the historic ceiling mural by renowned American artist Robert Winthrop Chanler.

"Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a cultural gem of Miami-Dade County, and the preservation of this historic site will be invaluable," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

"Protecting Vizcaya’s legacy centers on conservation efforts and addressing the challenges posed by climate change. This significant grant from the National Park Service offers vital funding that allows us to preserve our heritage, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy this extraordinary historic estate."

Preserving a Unique Cultural Treasure

The Swimming Pool Grotto, a jewel of the historic Vizcaya estate, represents one of the most significant conservation challenges in the overall preservation of this National Historic Landmark. Designed to suggest an underwater fantasy, the grotto is an immersive, site-specific space that merges the grandeur of European design precedents with a twentieth-century approach to art and decor—uncannily located in a subtropical indoor-outdoor environment, just steps from Miami’s Biscayne Bay. The ceiling mural, crafted by Chanler in 1916, is a vibrant display of marine life, reflecting the distinguished American artist’s distinctive and playful style.

For media photos and more information, please visit vizcaya.org/pool-grant

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