A free outdoor exhibition honoring Miami Beach Ocean Rescue's 100-year history opens Thursday, Nov. 5, at Galería Ocean Drive in Lummus Park.

The "Miami Beach OCEAN Heroes" show will be unveiled at 4 p.m. at the outdoor gallery between 11th and 12th streets on Ocean Drive. The exhibition celebrates the Ocean Rescue Centennial and honors the city's "Coastal Guardians," according to a city announcement posted Oct. 30.

Miami Beach Fire promoted the event on Oct. 15, inviting residents to the Lummus Park site for the ceremony. The unveiling is free and open to the public.

The Ocean Rescue Division traces its roots to July 9, 1926, according to the city's America 250 page. The division started as the Miami Beach Patrol with 30 lifeguards. It has since grown into a team of EMT-certified lifeguards who watch over more than 20.4 million beachgoers each year, the Miami Beach Fire Department said in a Facebook post.

The centennial is one of several milestones the city is marking in 2026. Miami Beach is also celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Venetian Causeway and 150 years of U.S. Coast Guard presence along its shores, according to the America 250 page.

Promotional materials for the exhibition list the University of Miami, the Surfrider Foundation and Miami-Dade County Parks as partners, though the city has not detailed their specific roles.

Galería Ocean Drive serves as a year-round exhibit space with rotating displays that highlight Miami Beach history and culture, according to a city press release for an earlier exhibition at the same site. The gallery sits at 1101 Ocean Drive.

Upcoming community events

  • Nov. 2–10: Letters of Gratitude, part of the city's America 250 celebration
  • Nov. 7–10: Bugle Retreat
  • Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day Parade on Ocean Drive at 11:11 a.m.