By Coral Gables Gazette staff

An evening of architectural illustrations launches a fund for Coral Gables preservation. The Coral Gables Community Foundation will host Inking History – Preserving Our Historical Landmarks at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables on Friday, September 26 at 6:30 p.m.. The event will feature a curated collection of hand-drawn illustrations depicting Coral Gables’ signature architectural landmarks, all rendered in a unified medium. More than an exhibit, the evening is structured as a call to stewardship — a way for residents, donors and civic groups to support ongoing preservation efforts through directed giving.

The Biltmore itself is a fitting venue: designed in 1926 by Schultze and Weaver with Mediterranean and Spanish Revival influences, it stands today as one of Coral Gables’ signature landmarks.

Drawing a legacy: Illustrations as civic tools

The show centers on a series of meticulously hand-drawn landmark illustrations, each capturing the architectural breadth of George Merrick’s Mediterranean-inspired vision. In presenting these works in a consistent visual style, the exhibit offers coherence—and a reminder that these landmarks belong to the same visual language that underpins Coral Gables’ identity.

But Inking History is more than aesthetic contemplation. The selections have been leveraged to generate directed donations toward historic preservation efforts in the city. All sponsor contribution, art sale proceeds and event revenue will support the Inking History Fund, a donor-advised fund housed by the Community Foundation.

The Foundation positions this not merely as a retrospective, but as an opportunity for alignment: “corporate sponsors and civic-minded individuals” may publicly associate themselves with preserving the architectural legacy of the “City Beautiful” in its centennial era.

Architecture, memory & risk

Coral Gables was born out of a bold plan by George E. Merrick to evoke Mediterranean charm, plazas and a unified aesthetic across villages. Over time, though, those architectural treasures have faced pressure—from neglect, redevelopment, and shifting municipal priorities.

The event’s framing asks the community to imagine the loss of any of those landmarks—not as abstract ruin, but as a fracture in the city’s cultural DNA. That “call to stewardship” is central: these drawings are not just documents but invitations to act.

Moreover, this event arrives at a moment when many American cities are rethinking how they fund preservation. Inking History’s model—tying artistic representation directly to a philanthropic fund—offers a localized demonstration of how art can activate community support for architectural care.

What to expect on the evening

• A walking gallery of the illustrations, framed and displayed within the hotel’s historic spaces
• Remarks by Coral Gables Foundation leadership and possibly guest speakers (architects, preservationists)
• Opportunities for guests to engage: purchase original or limited-edition prints, pledge directed donations, or sponsor individual landmarks
• A welcome reception or light refreshments (depending on final programming)

While the publicly available event listings do not yet detail every speaker or artist, the Foundation has consistently promoted Inking History as a marquee fall event in its lineup.

A Foundation with context

The Coral Gables Community Foundation—established in 1991—serves as a philanthropic conduit for the city, managing donor funds, endowments and grant programs. The Inking History Fund – Preserving Our Cultural Landmarks is one of its donor-advised funds, listed among its active funds on its “Current Funds” page.

In recent years, the Foundation has highlighted its role in catalyzing public-private partnerships, cultural investments and philanthropic strategy for Coral Gables.

By centering this event during the city’s centennial era, the Foundation seems to intend Inking History not as an isolated gala, but a prologue to longer-term preservation initiatives.

If you go…

What: Inking History – Preserving Our Historical Landmarks
When: Friday, Sept. 26, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Miami Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables
Purpose: Art exhibit + fundraising for historic preservation
Hosted by: Coral Gables Community Foundation
More info / Tickets: via the Foundation’s events page