A visit to the Dunns-Josephine Hotel in Miami
- sahpmailbox
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Kathy Perlman, Chair of the Events, Education, and Programming Committee (EEP)
With the Colson Hotel top of mind for the Sarasota Alliance, I decided to stop by and visit a success story of a restored historically Black hotel: the Josephine Dunn in the Overtown section of Miami.
Like the Colson, the Josephine Hotel—constructed in 1938—and the Dunn Hotel—constructed in 1947—were hotels that provided accommodations to Black entertainers who were not permitted to stay in hotels on Miami Beach. Many notable entertainers stayed there, including Josephine Baker, Duke Ellington, and Billie Holiday.
The two hotels existed side by side and had been non-operational. Entrepreneur Kristen Kitchen and her group purchased the two structures and created one unique boutique hotel that reflects and reminds residents of the cultural heritage of the area.
I walked into the hotel lobby, which had beautiful deep blue walls and polished floors. It was amazing. Beautiful art made from recycled materials was displayed on the walls. My immediate thought upon seeing the space and the art was how a visionary—either a hotel entrepreneur or an artist—can take something old, see its value, and restore it into something new that tells an interesting story.
The two hotels are joined by an artful breezeway that connects both spaces while allowing each to stand on its own. When you enter, you are reminded of the pedigree of entertainers who walked through those doors, thanks to the memorabilia placed around the hotel lobby.
The current hotel has 15 unique guest rooms. While I was unable to see them, I was told that each one has a distinctive design that tells a story of African American history and culture.
I was struck by the similarities between the Colson and these structures. My hope is that this success story of the Josephine Dunn becomes the future story of the Colson.
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