Barbara Baer Capitman was a community activist who spearheaded the preservation of Miami Beach’s historic Art Deco district and helped found the Miami Design Preservation League in 1976. Through candlelight vigils, protests, and even confronting bulldozers, she and her supporters fought to save iconic buildings as they were being demolished for larger luxury hotels. Their efforts led to the district’s placement on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, sparking renewed interest and a revival of the Art Deco movement.