Al Capone's Miami

Most have heard of Alphonse "Al" Gabriel Capone, also known as "Scarface," who rose to become the undisputed king of the Chicago outfit during the Prohibition era. Most know he became one of America's most infamous gangsters who earned the moniker Public Enemy Number One. His connection to New York and Chicago crime families along with his committing assorted murders and the running of gambling dens, whorehouses, and speakeasies is legendary and readily acknowledged in myriad books, documentaries, and TV shows. But few know the intimate details about his time in Florida, especially the greater Miami area. It was here he hoped to escape Chicago's cold and windy winters, gangland retaliation wars, and incessant harassment by the law. Capone longed for paradise, where sunshine was a daily commodity, boating and fishing could be easily enjoyed along a sandy coast lapped by azure Atlantic waters, nightlife consisted of high class entertainment clubs and gambling houses, and relaxing by the pool was as easy as stepping out your back door. And so, Capone settled in South Florida where he purchased a luxurious home on Miami Beach, spent time before and after his imprisonment, ran his illegal businesses, and entertained the famous and infamous alike. It is here he also died. This story is about that time.