Miami museum opens a new exhibit that examines a century of swimwear and its connection to Florida

MIAMI (AP) — Just in time for bathing suit season, the HistoryMiami Museum is opening a new exhibit that examines the relationship between the evolution of swimwear and the growth of South Florida over the past century.

“Waves of Style: Swimwear Through the Decades” opened to the general public on Saturday and will run through Oct. 5. The exhibit showcases about 50 historic swimwear pieces from the museum’s extensive collection of more than 2,000 textiles.

The immersive, dynamic experience allows visitors to explore the history and evolution of swimwear, from the heavy wool suits that were still required by law in many places during the early 20th century to modern swimsuits that leave little to the imagination.

HistoryMiami CEO and Executive Director Natalia Crujeiras said Miami is the perfect place for an exhibit like this because it has both shaped beach culture and been shaped by beach culture like no other city.

“From efforts for social change to a playground for fun and exploration to inspiring style around the world, beach has always been part of Miami,” Crujeiras said.

Visitors can learn about Jane Fisher, the wife of early Miami Beach developer Carl G. Fisher. Jane Fisher became a trendsetter in the 1910s when she ditched her traditional bathing suit, which included a long skirt, stockings and cap, for one of Miami Beach’s earliest form-fitting swimsuits. The public was initially shocked, but the style quickly gained popularity. Her husband later used photos of “Bathing Beauties” to promote Miami Beach around the country.

Women weren’t the only ones expected to cover up in early 20th century. Topless swimwear for men didn’t become common until the 1930s, when Olympic swimmer Johnny Weissmuller bared his chest as Tarzan in 12 films between 1932 and 1948. Many of the movies were shot at least partially in Florida, and Weissmuller worked as a swim instructor at the Miami Biltmore Hotel before landing the iconic role.

“The design and the function of swimwear revealed different moments of change in perceptions of identity, gender, cultural expression and even freedom,” Crujeiras said.

Just in time for bathing suit season, a high-waisted swimsuit for men is shown at the Waves of Style Swimwear Through the Decades exhibit at HistoryMiami Museum Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in advance of opening Saturday in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Just in time for bathing suit season, the Waves of Style Swimwear Through the Decades exhibit is shown at HistoryMiami Museum Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in advance of opening Saturday in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Just in time for bathing suit season, a swimsuit made of terrycloth is shown at the Waves of Style Swimwear Through the Decades exhibit at HistoryMiami Museum Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in advance of opening Saturday in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Just in time for bathing suit season, a tank suit made of wool is shown at the Waves of Style Swimwear Through the Decades exhibit at HistoryMiami Museum Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in advance of opening Saturday in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Just in time for bathing suit season, a bikini is shown at the Waves of Style Swimwear Through the Decades exhibit at HistoryMiami Museum Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in advance of opening Saturday in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Just in time for bathing suit season, a bathing costume for women is shown at the Waves of Style Swimwear Through the Decades exhibit at HistoryMiami Museum Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in advance of opening Saturday in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Just in time for bathing suit season, the Waves of Style Swimwear Through the Decades exhibit is shown at HistoryMiami Museum Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in advance of opening Saturday in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its bloody crackdown on protesters, a move coming as activists said Monday the death toll in the nationwide demonstrations rose to at least 544.

Iran had no immediate reaction to the news, which came after the foreign minister of Oman — long an interlocutor between Washington and Tehran — traveled to Iran this weekend. It also remains unclear just what Iran could promise, particularly as Trump has set strict demands over its nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal, which Tehran insists is crucial for its national defense.

Meanwhile Monday, Iran called for pro-government demonstrators to head to the streets in support of the theocracy, a show of force after days of protests directly challenging the rule of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television aired chants from the crowd, who shouted “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”

Trump and his national security team have been weighing a range of potential responses against Iran including cyberattacks and direct strikes by the U.S. or Israel, according to two people familiar with internal White House discussions who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night. Asked about Iran’s threats of retaliation, he said: “If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.”

Trump said that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports of the death toll in Iran mount and the government continues to arrest protesters.

“I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States,” Trump said. “Iran wants to negotiate.”

He added: “The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate.”

Iran through country's parliamentary speaker warned Sunday that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.

More than 10,600 people also have been detained over the two weeks of protests, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous unrest in recent years and gave the death toll. It relies on supporters in Iran crosschecking information. It said 496 of the dead were protesters and 48 were with security forces.

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the toll. Iran’s government has not offered overall casualty figures.

Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran’s security services to launch a bloody crackdown. Protesters flooded the streets in the country’s capital and its second-largest city on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Online videos purported to show more demonstrations Sunday night into Monday, with a Tehran official acknowledging them in state media.

In Tehran, a witness told the AP that the streets of the capital empty at the sunset call to prayers each night. By the Isha, or nighttime prayer, the streets are deserted.

Part of that stems from the fear of getting caught in the crackdown. Police sent the public a text message that warned: “Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death, and the firm decision to not tolerate any appeasement and to deal decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers.”

Another text, which claimed to come from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also directly warned people not to take part in demonstrations.

“Dear parents, in view of the enemy’s plan to increase the level of naked violence and the decision to kill people, ... refrain from being on the streets and gathering in places involved in violence, and inform your children about the consequences of cooperating with terrorist mercenaries, which is an example of treason against the country,” the text warned.

The witness spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing crackdown.

The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, as the country’s economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran’s theocracy.

Nikhinson reported from aboard Air Force One.

In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, January. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran shows protesters taking to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.(UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran showed protesters once again taking to the streets of Tehran despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (UGC via AP)