Paradise Found

Few names are as intrinsically tied to Palm Beach County as Addison Mizner. The lauded architect—who famously strolled Worth Avenue with his pet monkey, Johnnie Brown, on his shoulder—is credited with popularizing the Mediterranean Revival style throughout the area. Beginning September 4, the Historical Society of Palm Beach County will explore Mizner’s work and background in a new special exhibition entitled “Building Paradise: Addison Mizner’s Legacy.” On view at the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum in West Palm Beach, this season-long show features exterior and interior photos of his most famous properties and exquisite society mansions, such as Casa Bendita and Playa Riente. It also dives into the factors that brought Mizner to Palm Beach and touches upon the company he established in order to make the materials needed to achieve his vision. Timed to coincide with the centennial of his first major local commission, the Everglades Club, “Building Paradise” is sure to illuminate and celebrate a figure whose influence can be seen all around us.