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Don Boyd | all galleries >> Memories of Old Hialeah, Old Miami and Old South Florida Photo Galleries - largest non-Facebook collection on the internet >> Miami Area Tourist and Local ATTRACTIONS Historical Photos Gallery - All Years - click on image to view > 1950's - the Musa Isle Indian Village on the Miami River and 27th Avenue, Miami
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1950s Florida State Archives

1950's - the Musa Isle Indian Village on the Miami River and 27th Avenue, Miami

Musa Isle Indian Village, Miami, Florida


The Musa Isle Indian Village was a longtime tourist attraction in Miami. It was on the south bank of the Miami River just east of the NW 27 Avenue bridge.


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Henry Clifford 26-Jan-2025 00:25
For Jackie Purdy, the Jr. High is Citrus Grove, at 2153 NW 3 Street.
I didn't gp to that, or any school. I was 3-5 years old, a few houses south of Musa on 26 Avenue.
Jackie Purdy 09-May-2020 02:19
Can anyone tell me the name of the Jr. High School in that area. I am pretty sure we lived
in the area around there/ I know we would walk own to the river and watch the boats and I remember the Musa Isle Indian Reservation.
Dahlan Netsch 26-Dec-2018 05:01
Speaking of Toby Tyler's, one of the funniest things I ever saw was that church across the street with the giant letters that read JESUS IS COMING BE READY and that little bar just South of it with a sign in their window that read HAVE A COLD ONE WHILE YOU WAIT. I still laugh out loud every time I think about it.
Dahlan Netsch 25-Dec-2018 22:12
I grew up on 19th Terrace and 33rd Ave in the 50s and 60s. As kids, we often swam in the Miami River with the Indian kids from Musa Isle, being that we were as proficient as they were in the water and at running around everywhere in just Levis and no shoes. I also remember hurricane Donna, Toby Tyler's, Archie's store, and went to Kensington Park Elementry School. Sure wish life was a simple now as it was back then.
Cynthia Stacey 23-Mar-2017 16:26
I spent the first 8 years of my life at Musa Isle. My parents owned the Village, and my grandparents before that. My sister is Doreen Stacey who is mentioned below. This early exposure to Native culture and has enriched my life deeply. I would love to hear from any of you via email if you would like to share your stories with me. thea@theasummerdeer.com
David matthews 13-Sep-2015 16:55
I lived at musa isle from 1961 to 1963 my dad was a tour conductor there we went through hurricane Donna in the block house just up from the gift shop
Cheryl 15-Oct-2013 23:28
I grew up near 27 Ave and NW 3rd St. My dad had a friend that owned part of the peninsula that was near the 27th Ave bridge. As children my brother,sister and I would often watch the Seminoles from across the waterway. Toby Tyler was a name we often heard and would visit his bait shop with my dad. thanks for the memories!
Don Boyd16-Jul-2013 14:44
Mary, thanks for writing in with that great memory! Some things in life we never forget, especially when it comes to young love. : )

Don
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Mary 16-Jul-2013 14:01
My grandparents used to come down from Tennessee every summer and the first place we would go was Musa Isle. I fell in love at 12 with a 12 year old alligator wrestler named Joe Jimmy. I thought he was the handsomest boy in the world. I'm 70 now and still remember him.
Guest 02-Mar-2012 00:37
To the person looking for Bobby Tiger, unfortunately he passed away in 1992.
Guest 12-Jan-2012 05:19
I lived near the village and hung around as a young boy. Bobby Tiger gave me a baby pigeon and I raised it on bread and milk. I remember he took me into the gator pit one time and when I turned around he wasn’t there. I went up a coconut tree. He had a good laugh at that one. I use to dive off the dock when the tourist came up by boat and tossed money into the river. My brother in law and his dad owned the candy factory on SW 22nd ave and 6th street. Bobby Tiger is still alive and I’m trying to get in touch with him now. He taught me a lot.
Noel Desiderio (Sonny)
Charlie Buchholz 26-Oct-2010 13:29
Musa Isle was close to where I lived on N.W. 27 & 17th. in the late 40's & early 50's. My Mother owned Ione's Sundry store, Archie's fruit stand was across the street. I
went to Citrus Grove and remember 2 little girls who were my neighbor named Thelma & Evelyn. Still have photos, Indian dolls and a drum signed by "Buffalo Tiger".
Justine Davis 29-Sep-2010 22:53
I was friends with Doreen Stacy, her parents owned or operated the Musa Isle her house was very close to the village we hung around with Nellie Tiger a indian girl. when we got a little older Nellie started seeing a guy named Joe, funny I remember that, he had a 1950 lowered black mercury. I believe her brothers were Billy Tiger and I can;t remember th other one. Doreen started seeing a guy named Larry Lee, I believe she married him after they graduated. I lived on 30 ct near 16 st. Those were some fun days I am 69 now. I often wonder what happened to allthe kids I hung out with
Howard Watson 20-Aug-2010 16:51
I lived near the corner of 25th Ave and 14Th Street in 48 and 49 and attended Cirtrus Grove elementary school and played a lot at the PBA park. I used to go down to Musa Isle Indian Village a lot too and I remember playing with the kids back then. The picture really brings back memories.
Guest 05-Mar-2010 02:11
I was a senior at Miami High in 1951-52 and was the weekend guide at Musa Isle. I described the village, the chikees, and mostly, the alligator wrestling. My Seminole friend there was Petus. That experience has served me well in public speaking. I am now retired and living in Valencia, California
CHUCK ROSS 01-Aug-2009 14:28
I lived on NW 14th St about 2 blocks from Musa Isle in the mid 40's. My only play mates were the seminole boy my age. I always wanted to dive for the change that the tourists would throw into the river from the Seminole Queen! Afew years later I went to Citrus Grove With the Daughter of the folks who owned or maybe just ran Musa Isle. Ialso shoped at Toby Tyler bate shop. I lived on 27th ct.after leaving 14th St. and went to Kensington Park.
Guest 25-Sep-2008 21:21
I just read your comment regarding Toby Tylers's Tackle shop. I was about 12 years old and I used to frequent the tackle shop as a customer. I also would sell fresh live worms to your grandfather that I would dig for in the the heavily wooded area behind Kenssington Elelmentary School. I remember the shop fronting N.W. 27th avenue at approximately N.W. 10th street. There were always cane poles on the outside of the building. I lived less than a block from there. We would spend the entire summer fishing in the nearby canal.
Matthew 22-Jul-2008 03:00
@Rich, Toby Tyler?! Wow, that's a name I haven't thought of in years! I'm pretty sure I remember the sign in front of your granddad's place, although I was very young at the time.
rich 23-Jan-2008 20:22
My Dad had a house there just after the Indian Village. My Grandfather had a tackle shop across the street called Toby Tyler's tackle shop. Anybody ever hear of it?