[Music] the Venetian pool of coral Gables is one of the few pools included in the US national register of historic places it is also the largest freshwater pool in North America displacing 820,000 gallons of fresh water every day the pool's originality lies in its history its tropical plants and its spectacular waterfall cascading from the top of a coral Cliff the remarkable bridge and colorful moing posts give insight as to what it feels like to be in the Mediterranean city of Venice Italy the unparallel beauty of its turquoise water and tropical Lush landscape is as rich as the history behind [Music] it at the end of 1921 the Limestone used in the construction of Mediterranean style homes entrances and plazas including the house of coral Gable's founder George Merrick were taken from an old for 4 Acres Coral Corey pit abandoned in the middle of the city in 1923 Coral Gable's Founders had a problem an unsightly rock pit in the middle of a fast growing Community founder George Merrick got the idea to turn the coral rock pit into a lavish Venetian Lagoon George Merrick with the help of his chief designer Denman Fin and architect Phineas Pace created a picturesque cooling off spot fed by an underground aquifer complete with moing posts Bridges and a Sandy Beach the Venetian pool of Coral Gables one of the first public pools in South Florida and a centerpiece of a developing Community was finally born [Music] much of the coral taken from the Quarry was also used to accentuate features of the pool including these two large historic Lookout towers with the view of the city beautiful in fact many of the houses in the surrounding neighborhood developed by George Merrick were built with rock from the same Quarry it wasn't until 1924 100 years ago when the pool was officially opened as the Venetian Casino the Venetian pool was originally named The Venetian Casino not because there was any type of gambling going on but because the term Casino referred to the idea of a small country house known for outdoor dining and entertainment the Venetian Casino went through several Renovations and historic Restorations a large additional Island including an arched Venetian style Bridge was created to allow ven style gondolas to dock alongside also a high diving platform was constructed above the grand waterfall in its early days the Venetian Casino was quite a destination for The High Society people designed as a place of Carefree Leisure the Venetian pool exemplified the atmosphere of opulence and invented historical Heritage envisioned for Coral Gables by the city's Founders and providing a site for spectacular [Music] entertainment the Venetian pool was also the host of swimming and diving competitions as well as synchronized swimming performances and when the pool hosted fashion shows a wooden Runway was installed across the water early in its history the pool was regularly drained to allow the Miami Symphony and big bands to perform in it taking advantage of the Cory's natural acoustic qualities this tradition continues to live on today in 2016 to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the City of Coral Gables the pool was once again drained for an orchestra performance [Music] on August 20th 1981 the Venetian pool of Coral Gables was added to the National register of historic places one of the few swimming pools in the United States to have such designation in 1981 the Venetian pool was which was then more commonly known as the Venetian Casino was entered into the inventory of the national register of historic places by the United States Department of Interiors National Park Service areas of significance that attributed to the designation were that of the building and pool's Mediterranean architecture which are credited to architect Phineas paste its landscape architecture recreational use and most importantly its age as it was built in 1923 opened in 1924 and turned over to the City of Coral Gables upon its incorpor operation in 1925 while it is no longer the only pool on the registry of historic places it was most certainly the first and has been preserved to remain unaltered on its original site to still function as a recreational facility 100 years later during the off seon the Venetian pool underwent significant Renovations and upgrades in preparation to celebrate the Centennial Milestone of this iconic Landmark the pools Rich history can now be observed as you walk through the entry Fountain and gaze upon the historical pictures of swimming and movie stars such as Esther Williams and Olympian Johnny West Mueller who made public appearances in this popular [Music] destination to address concerns of sustainability and water conservation the pool was retrofitted to recycle water back into the aquafer in 1989 injection Wells push the water through the Coral Rock and Limestone below which filters the water back into the biscane aquifer the Venetian pool holds over 820,000 gallons of fresh water and is one of the only facilities that fills and drains a pool daily staff starts the drainage process right after all guests leave this process takes approximately 3 and 1/2 hours to complete once the pool is completely empty then staff members clean all the sand and debris at the pool bottom with fire hoses and pressure cleaners when the bottom of the pool is completely clean recycled water from the bis Gan aquifer is pumped back into the pool at 2,400 Gall per minute and takes another 3 and 1/2 hours to fill the pool [Music] again as the day begins employees and lifeguards arrive early in the morning ensuring that every details per perfected for another day of enjoyment at the Venetian pool hi there and welcome to the pump room for Venetian pool I'm going to show you how we drain and fill and turn on the large Falls this is our panel which is set up to fill the pool to the exact right amount and we drain it every evening in the summer and over here I have the big button for the large Falls this is how we turn it on in the morning [Music] the Venetian pool has always been a popular destination for residents and non-residents alike a place where families couples and teens can relax and of course beat the summer heat with a refreshing swim in the cool water of the pool since the venan pool gets the water from the biscane aquafer the water temperature is consistently between 76 to 78° F the water always feels very refreshing not only is the water fresh pumped in Daily and chilly but it has less chlorine than regular drinking water with only one part per million chlorine levels this makes for a unique swimming experience in a beautiful historic facility like the Venetian pool [Applause] another special feature of the Venetian pool is The Grotto it has turned into a visitor's [Music] favorite mimicking Italy's natural Grotto it is nestled into the hillside of our small Falls this special attraction has become a cherished destination captivating guests from around the world with its mystical atmosphere and ser Beauty [Music] one of the most popular events we have here at the venician pool is our annual pause in the pool event we start the day with a morning session where small dogs have a chance to swim in the shallow section of the pool then in the afternoon we welcome our big furry friends larger dogs are allowed to swim in the big pool area another popular event is our annual pumpkin float event which takes place on Halloween families come around 7:00 in the evening to participate in the pumpkin carving contest once the carving is done all pumpkins are displayed on individual floating devices as they float on the water under the Moonlight then the crowd gathers along the poolside to have a final look at their favorite pumpkins [Applause] [Music] from the pages of newspapers to the screens of local and national television news the Venetian pool has made waves with its captivating charm tucked away in the Magic City looking to beat the heat check out this local Paradise the Venetian pool in the Miami suburb of Coral Gables with its unique blend of Mediterranean architecture and natural beauty The Venetian pool has become a beloved attraction for visitors of all [Music] ages for local artists the Venetian pool is more than just a place it is a source of [Music] inspiration as the sun sets on another day at the Venetian pool One Thing Remains clear its beauty and charm will continue to Captivate hearts and Minds for generations to come because the Venetian pool is more than just a place it is a Timeless symbol of coral Gable's Rich history and vibrant [Music] Spirit from its Origins as a limestone Quarry to its transformation into a picturesque Oasis the Venetian pool stands as a testament to human ingenuity and creativity [Music]