Henry Flagler formed a partnership with John D Rockefeller in 1867 and together they built the powerful monopoly of the Standard Oil Company which made both of them very wealthy men. By 1885 at the age of 55 Flagler was ready for a new challenge. He moved to St. Augustine with his 2nd wife and began building the resort hotels and coastal railroad that made Florida a winter retreat for rich northerners.
Whitehall, now the Flagler Museum, was built in Palm Beach in 1902 as a wedding present for Flagler’s 3rd wife, Mary Lily. The house and it’s furnishings showcase the excesses of the Gilded Age when outdoing one’s neighbor was a common endeavor. An example of this is the aluminum leaf, which was more expensive than gold at the time, used to highlight the plaster molding in the Drawing Room. The house has been expertly restored after serving as a hotel for 34 years and many of the furnishing are original or close copies.
Visitors have the option of taking a docent led tour, an audio wand tour, a smart device tour, or a self guided brochure tour. The grounds are rather plain but don’t miss the huge kapok tree just outside the property along the South Lake Trail.
The house is accessible with the exception of the history room (step up) and the railcar. A wheelchair ramp is located on the left side of the house. Visitors will be guided to the Grand Hall to begin the tour.
RV parking spaces are along the road that accesses the parking lots. Museum 26.71364, -80.04222
No comments:
Post a Comment