Most People in Miami Have No Idea This House Exists — And That’s Exactly Why It Matters. In a city obsessed with the new — sleek towers, flashy lights, and the next big thing — there’s one place that quietly refuses to move with the times. No TikTok tours. No glossy plaques. Just an old wooden house standing stubbornly in the middle of South Dade, like it’s guarding a secret. The Lee-Cunningham House isn’t just “historic.” It’s the kind of place you feel before you fully understand. A creaking porch. Weathered siding. The smell of aged pine and stories buried in the floorboards. It’s been here since 1910 — watching Miami grow, change, and sometimes forget where it came from.
The History Behind the Lee-Cunningham House
Every old house has a past — but few wear it as proudly as the Lee-Cunningham House.
Built in 1910, this unassuming home was once the residence of Preston Lee, a farmer with calloused hands and big ideas. He wasn’t just tending fields — he was helping shape the bones of early Miami as a County Commissioner, laying down roads (including stretches of the now-famous Tamiami Trail) and building the kind of quiet infrastructure that cities are built on.
But the story doesn’t stop there.
Over the years, the home passed through the hands of people who understood its value — not just as a house, but as a time capsule. While the city around it stretched upward and outward, this place stayed grounded. No flashy renovations. No gutting of its soul. Just gentle upgrades and careful preservation.
And thanks to that, walking through the Lee-Cunningham House today feels a bit like flipping through a well-loved photo album: personal, vivid, and surprisingly moving. It’s not just about who lived there — it’s about how the house itself lived through Miami’s transformation.
Why was it designated as a historic building?
The Lee/Cunningham House was designated a historic site in 1982, when the Historic Preservation Board recognized its architectural and cultural significance within Dade County.The structure is an excellent and well-preserved example of the early 20th-century wood-frame vernacular style, a typology that was once common in Dade County but is now rarely seen outside the early settlement areas in the southern part of the county. The preservation of historic sites like the Lee/Cunningham House represents a key interest for the community and the county, ensuring that future generations can appreciate its historical and architectural value.Thanks to preservation efforts, the house has retained its original design, showcasing the intricate craftsmanship and construction methods of its time. Without this designation, the house might have faced demolition or drastic alterations that could have erased its unique character.
Architectural Design and Style
Tucked away from the main road and surrounded by swaying trees, the Lee-Cunningham House doesn’t shout for attention — it whispers with grace. Its design speaks of a time when homes were built to breathe with the land, not compete with it.
At its core, the house is a sturdy two-story square structure, crowned by a simple gable roof that runs from end to front. Its facade, facing a dirt driveway, feels more like an invitation than a presentation — modest, grounded, and deeply Floridian. Off to the north, a single-story wing gently extends outward, creating an asymmetry that adds character rather than complexity.
Clad in horizontal wood board siding and topped with composite shingles, the house stays true to its early 20th-century roots. The windows, though likely replaced over time, remain faithful to the original design with their classic four-over-four sash layout — a subtle nod to the past that doesn’t feel forced.
But perhaps the home’s most charming feature is its one-story wraparound screened porch. Stretching across the front and curling along the sides, it’s the kind of space made for iced tea, rocking chairs, and long conversations at dusk. This is classic Florida vernacular architecture — practical, breezy, and built for shade and comfort in a humid climate.
Structural Characteristics and Renovations
Part of what makes the Lee-Cunningham House so remarkable isn’t just how it looks — it’s how well it’s held together through more than a century of Florida weather. Built with a traditional wood-frame structure and clad in horizontal weatherboard siding, the home was crafted with durability and climate in mind. Its gabled roof, now covered in composite shingles, still mirrors the original form, offering both resilience and historical continuity.
While the home has undergone necessary updates — modern electrical and plumbing systems among them — every change has been made with respect for the past. Skilled restoration specialists have focused on preserving original architectural elements rather than replacing them. From the wooden floors to the exposed beams, the materials reflect early 20th-century craftsmanship that has stood the test of time.
Property Details and Current Use
The Lee-Cunningham House, located at 21690 S.W. 138th Avenue, sits on a generous plot, offering ample outdoor space that complements its historic charm. Currently, the house serves as a residential property, maintaining its original function. Through careful maintenance and respect for its original design, the home remains a cherished link to the past while continuing to serve as a comfortable and functional living space.Its preservation ensures continued appreciation of its significance in Miami’s history
Why the Lee-Cunningham House Still Matters
In a city where history is often bulldozed in favor of condos and parking lots, this house stands as proof that not everything needs to be replaced to be relevant.
It matters because it reminds us where Miami came from. It matters because someone cared enough to preserve it. And it matters because places like this don’t just survive on their own — they need to be seen, valued, protected.
Maybe you’ve never heard of it before. Maybe you’ve passed it without a second thought. But now that you know it’s there, maybe — just maybe — you’ll see Miami a little differently.
Because history doesn’t live in textbooks. It lives in homes like this.
© 2025 Eastern Engineering Group wrote and published this article. All rights reserved.
I’M THE GRANDSON OF PRESTON H. LEE AND RUTH STRICKLAND LEE AND THIS ARTICLE ABOUT THEIR HOUSE IS VERY NICE. THE HOUSE HAD NO RUNNING WATER INSIDE UNTIL AFTER WWII WHEN 4 OF THE LEE SONS CAME HOME FROM ARMY DUTY IN EUROPE AND AFRICA. MY FATHER WAS ONE ON THOSE BOYS. THE FIRST THING THEY DID WAS ADD A BATHROOM AND TOILET ON THE BACK SIDE NEXT TO THE KITCHEN. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN THE 1950’S THE OLD 3 HOLE OUTHOUSE STILL STOOD ABOUT 40 FEET FROM THE BACK OF THE HOUSE. BIG FAMILY DICTATED A LARGER THAN USUAL OUTHOUSE HENCE THE 3 HOLES. THERE WERE NO DIVIDERS BETWEEN THOSE HOLES EITHER. MY MOTHER WAS AN ENGLISH WAR BRIDE AND WHEN SHE FINALLY GOT TO THE USA SHE AND MY DAD LIVED IN THE UPSTAIRS FRONT BEDROOM. THEN I CAME ALONG AND WAS ALSO IN THAT ROOM. THERE WERE 2 OTHER BROTHERS WITH WIVES AND A SINGLE BROTHER ALSO LIVING THERE AS WELL AS GRANMA. MY GRANDFATHER DIED IN THE 1930’S. THAT HOUSE WAS THE CHRISTMAS MORNING MEETING AND BREAKFAST FOR THE “ENTIRE FAMILY” AND FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. USUSALLY 40-50 FOLKS AND KIDS. A TRADITION THAT IS STILL BEING CARRIED ON IN ANOTHER AREA OF FLORIDA AS THERE ARE NO FAMILY MEMBERS LEFT IN DADE COUNTY. THERE ARE SO MANY STORIES SURROUNDING THE HOUSE THAT TIME AND SPACE WON’T PERMIT. MY GRANDFATHER WAS THE 1ST COUNTY COMMISIONER FOR SOUTH DADE. ALSO THERE ARE QUITE A FEW MISSTATEMENTS MADE ABOUT THE GOULDS AREA. THE ADDRESS THAT IS ASSIGNED TO THE HOUSE NOW IS NOT THE ORIGINAL AS THE ORIGINAL SHOWED IT ON “HAINLIN DRIVE” OR SW 216 ST AS HIS PROPERTY EXTENDED NORTH TO SW 216 ST FROM THEN A NON EXISTENT 137TH AVE WEST TO ABOUT 140TH AVE.