The History of The Addison

The rich history behind the Addison is a large part of what makes the venue such a special and enchanting place. Designed by famed architect, Addison Mizner in 1926, this exquisite venue is considered one of the most important pieces of architecture in South Florida.

A renowned painter, wood carver, miner, interior decorator, prize fighter, writer and most importantly, an architect, Addison Mizner found his original inspiration during a trip with his father to Guatemala, where he fell in love with the Spanish art and architecture.

Arriving in South Florida in 1918, Mizner was commissioned to construct a series of buildings including The Everglades Club and The Boca Raton Resort and Club, as well as residential villas for many patrons willing to pay the price for the "bragging rights" to live in one of Mizner's creations.

Initially created as the focal point of real estate operations for the Mizner Development Corp., Mizner designed the Addison to serve as a visual example for his prospective clients and to house his sales offices, drafting rooms and a small apartment for himself as well as a restaurant, which opened for lunch, afternoon tea service and "al fresco" dinner. Mizner lavished his talents on the design of the estate and hosted movie stars, industry giants and national politicians within its walls. Modeled after the El Greco's house in Toledo, Spain, The Addison was known to have been one of his favorite buildings.

Less than 2 years after the completion of his beloved headquarters, like many other land developers at the time, Mizner became a victim of the economy, and his dream of further development in Boca Raton was brought to an abrupt halt when the stock market crashed in 1929. Mizner died a year later and the his beautiful Boca Raton masterpiece spent the ensuing decades as a dorm space for the Boca Resort staff before being abandoned all together.

When the breathtaking venue was revived and restored, many felt it was a miracle that so much of its original beauty had survived. Today, the estate is fully restored as the Addison, one of South Florida's premier wedding and event venues and retains the breathtaking décor and unique design features that made the property Addison Mizner's final masterpiece

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