Miami was once a hippie hangout. See how the streets looked during the 1960s and ’70s

In the late 1960s, long-haired, beaded and tie-dyed flower children brought their drugs, incense, guitars and peace symbols to South Florida.

Hippies had finally reached Miami. Coconut Grove, known for its laid-back attitude, became the gathering place for the counterculture movement.

On any given day one could find hippies smoking pot in the park, exploring Indian religion at the Yoga Temple on Mary Street or listening to the Lovin’ Spoonful at the Gaslight on Grand Avenue.

Greynolds Park near North Miami Beach was the site for an Easter “love-in,” where 3,000 converged to protest the war in Vietnam and listen to the Grateful Dead.

The Miami Pop Festival in 1968 was touted as the first significant music festival on the East Coast. Organized by Michael Lang, of Woodstock fame, the festival drew thousands of fans from all over the country. Jimmy Hendrix was the headliner.

Police had their hands full during Miami’s hippie heyday, dealing with complaints about befogged young people camping out uninvited in vacant lots, stealing fruit from yards, littering parks, making love in public, urinating on trees.

As the Vietnam war wound down, so did the trappings of this brief cultural era.

Let’s take a look at what the time looked like through the photo archives of the Miami Herald:

Coconut Grove

In 1970, hippies gather at St Stephen’s in Coconut Grove.
In 1970, hippies gather at St Stephen’s in Coconut Grove.
Hippies gather in the Grove in the 1970s.
Hippies gather in the Grove in the 1970s.
In 1969, a Miami police office issues parking tickets hippie buses along South Bayshore Drive in Coconut Grove
In 1969, a Miami police office issues parking tickets hippie buses along South Bayshore Drive in Coconut Grove
Father Kingston of St Stephen’s views wares sold at a hippie gathering.
Father Kingston of St Stephen’s views wares sold at a hippie gathering.

Downtown Miami

Hippie types gathered for food from a free kitchen in Bayfront Park in downtown Miami on October 22, 1976.
Hippie types gathered for food from a free kitchen in Bayfront Park in downtown Miami on October 22, 1976.

Allapattah

A love-in at Miami Stadium in 1969.
A love-in at Miami Stadium in 1969.

North Miami-Dade

Peace symbol at Greynolds Park in 1970.
Peace symbol at Greynolds Park in 1970.
Large crowds of young people gathering at Greynolds Park in North Miami Beach on February 8, 1970.
Large crowds of young people gathering at Greynolds Park in North Miami Beach on February 8, 1970.
A Greynolds Park gathering in 1970 in Northeast Miami-Dade.
A Greynolds Park gathering in 1970 in Northeast Miami-Dade.

North Miami Beach

North Miami Beach council members hear from a hippie in 1967.
North Miami Beach council members hear from a hippie in 1967.

Hallandale Beach

In 1968, long-haired teenagers mingle with hippies as they listen to bands at a pop music festival in Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach.
In 1968, long-haired teenagers mingle with hippies as they listen to bands at a pop music festival in Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach.

Key West

A hippie wedding in Key West in 1968.
A hippie wedding in Key West in 1968.
In 1968., a Key West love-in.
In 1968., a Key West love-in.