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United States Senate
Washington , DC

 May 10, 1999

The Honorable Bruce Babbit
Secretary
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street Northwest
Washington, D.C. 20240

Dear Mr. Secretary:

We are writing to encourage your review of the National Register of Historic Places’ recent decision not to list the Stiltsville structures off the east coast of Florida. As you may be aware, Stiltsville consists of seven wood frame houses resting on steel reinforced pilings that rise above shallow water about a mile from Miami’s shoreline.

We have heard from many constituents who note Stiltsville’s contribution to the aesthetic beauty of the region. The Stiltsville area has a rich history, dating back to the establishment of a bait shack by "Crawfish" Eddie Walker in the 1930’s and followed by decades of semi-legal activity at such colorful establishments as the infamous "Bikini Club". Since that time, Stiltsville has stood as a reminder of South Florida’s exotic allure.

The community support for recognizing the structures is mounting, and local organizers have managed to collect thousands of signed petitions from citizens who appreciate and recognize the value of these homes. It is because of this broad community support that we respectfully ask for your assurance that the proper process for listing on the Register has been followed. Additionally, we asked that any new information provided by petitioners be reviewed to again determine if this site qualifies for National Register listing. As you may be aware, both the State Historic Preservation Officer and the Miami-Dade County Historic Preservation Board have unanimously recommended Stiltsville’s inclusion in the National Register.

Recognition of Stiltsville is important to our constituents and has been the subject of resolutions passed by numerous Florida government bodies. We appreciate your time and attention to this request.

Sincerely,
(Signature)                                         (Signature)
 Bob Graham                                   Connie Mack
United States Senator                         United States Senator