Who was Miami’s first doctor?
That house was Dr. James Jackson’s office. To learn the history of the home and its distinguished owner, we spoke with Lucía Meneses, head of educational programs for Dade Heritage Trust, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Miami’s historic buildings and natural spaces through education. Its headquarters is located in this timeless Brickell house.
But where did Dr. Jackson, who was not born in Miami, come from? Where did he study and learn to treat patients? What was the doctor’s strange habit, which always left a mark on his patients’ homes, and which would ultimately lead to his death?
Where was the house before, and why did they move it? What is so mysterious about the medical instruments you can see today during a visit to the doctor’s office? We discuss all this in the podcast.
Dr. James Jackson (1866-1924) was a man ahead of his time and a warrior against germs. Looking around his office, you can learn not only what patient care looked like back then, but also how the city was changing.
Not far from there, on what was called Millionaire Row in Brickell, stood the house Jackson had built for his family.
One of the most important things about Jackson, who was the founder and president of most of the medical-related organizations in Florida, is that he treated all his patients with kindness and dignity. Meneses explains why the layout of his office indicates that the doctor treated everyone.
And if his life was interesting, his grave in the city’s oldest cemetery, Miami City Cemetery, is also fascinating. Hidden Miami dedicated a podcast to this cemetery.
You can watch all episodes of the Hidden Miami podcast on YouTube or on el Nuevo Herald website. Find all episodes of the Hidden Miami podcast on your favorite audio platform: Spotify Podcast, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, and Amazon Music.
Sarah Moreno