Our refrigerator give up the ghost recently. After limping along for about a year, the dishwasher decided its time ha come; it was finally replaced this week. After some on-line research, Constant Companion relented and we drove to the edge of town to the huge appliance plus emporium. It had been beyond donkey’s years since we’d made that onerous trip.

Upon turning from one crowded highway to another on our shopping adventure, we saw the looming arch along the side of the road that I’ve always called the Modernage Arch.

Modernage Furniture was a legendary South Florida retailer that was founded in New York in the 1920s. The company moved to Miami around 1940 to become a staple of Florida design. Its specialty was Mid-Century Modern (MCM) furniture.

In my current exploration of Miami history for a forthcoming walking tour, I found that Modernage established several showrooms around the county, including a large furniture building near the landmark arch. An expansive showroom on was established on Miami Beach’s iconic Lincoln Road during its heyday, when Lincoln was identified itself as the Fifth Avenue of the South.

The “Modernage Arch” at the intersection between NW 13th Ave. and NW 167th St., near the Golden Glades Interchange was at the entrance to the Sunshine State Industrial Park in Miami Gardens. It was designed by Walter C. Harry and completed in 1964. Our distinct archway structure is said to have been inspired by the Gateway Arch in St. Louis designed by the Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen. 

This 120-foot structure is officially named the Sunshine State Arch or Arch of Industry. The city of Miami Gardens included the arch on its city seal when it incorporated in 2003. In 2011, the Miami-Dade County Historic Preservation Board designated it as a Local Historic site, becoming the first historical landmark in the City of Miami Gardens. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014, making it a national historic site.

The Arch remains a landmark for travelers on the Palmetto Expressway and Northwest 167th St. It exemplifies Miami Modern or MiMo architecture ( m i d – c e n t u r y modernism). The post-World War II MiMo style has become recognized for its unique shapes, South Florida influence, optimistic, high quality style.