In the late 19th century, William and Mary Brickell opened the first trading post on the southern bank of the Miami river.  The Seminoles paddled their boats to the trading post, becoming part of the business, trading their products with the Brickells.  Today Miami’s port ranks among the  top 20 ports of North America, the largest passenger port in the world and one of the largest cargo ports in the United States, the past and the present fuse on this piece.