By the spring of 1889, flagler had extended his railroad south to daytona. This is a book that anyone will enjoy whether you are. He was also a key figure in the development of the atlantic coast of florida and founder of what became the florida east coast railway. Henry flaglers quest to build an overseas railroad has all the elements of a classic greek tragedy, and les standiford has captured both the man and his times with pitch perfect grace. In 1904, the brilliant and driven entrepreneur henry flagler, partner to john d. The railroad that henry flagler built dropped off guests at the doorway of the hotel. Probably since the late 1880s, henry flagler has been considering extending his railroad and hotel system all the way to key west. Henry flagler is a name that will be instantly familiar to florida history enthusiasts, and his influence is still apparent throughout the state. Browse available copies of flagler39s folly the railroad that went by bethel rod at. His father, a worker on henry flaglers oversea railroad, is thrown into jail for stealing the railroad payroll. This was the beginning of what would eventually become the florida east coast railway.
Flaglers folly florida oversea railroad to key west. In the winter of 188485 hundreds of northern visitors arrived in the region including thomas alva edison who decided to bring a prefab winter complete, complete with south floridas first swimming pool, to fort myers. The railroad that went to sea and was blown away bethel, rodman j. The intrusion of disstons huge dredges in the caloosahatchee valley was a warning to the cattlemen that the days of the homesteaders were beginning. In september 1895, flaglers system was incorporated as the florida east coast railway company and by 1896, it reached biscayne bay, the largest and most accessible harbor on floridas east coast. Henry flagler and the spectacular rise and fall of a railroad that crossed an ocean was a captivating book by les standiford of robber baron henry flagler, partner with john d rockefeller in the founding of standard oil. One of flaglers many projects in florida was the development of the railroad system which tied in to his interest in promoting and popularizing florida as a tourist destination. The railroad that went to sea traveled over a large number of bridges in the 127 miles from florida city to key west, the longest one spanning 7 miles. In may, the united states formally acquires the panama canal zone. Flaglers overseas railroad completion and its arrival in key west. Flagler and how he developed florida and built the railroad to key west.
The overseas railroad also known as florida overseas railroad, the overseas extension, and flaglers folly was an extension of the florida east coast railway to key west, a city located 128 miles 206 km beyond the end of the florida peninsula. The wreckage of an 11car passenger train is shown in the florida keys in september 1935 after the train was derailed by a hurricane that claimed the lives of more than 400 people. Henry flagler and the key west railway extension us. The railroad down the entire florida keys to key west was a monumental task.
Last train to paradise is a mesmerizing account of gilded age titan henry flagler and his extraordinary dream to build a railroad across the sea. Flaglers train is a one hour documentary, produced by wpbt2, which chronicles the imagination and achievements of henry morrison flagler, who spearheaded the development of the overseas railway connecting key west to the existing florida east coast railway. Do you need to book in advance to visit flagler station oversea railway historeum. Instead, henry flagler chose to spend the last 30 years of his life building a railroad line in florida and establishing floridas tourist industry.
Julia tuttle of fort dallas in a fever heat of excitement. Henry flagler and the spectacular rise and fall of the railroad that crossed. Flaglers train the florida keys oversea railroad pbs. Plan your road trip to flaglers folly overseas railroad remains in fl with roadtrippers. While it was fun to ponder, ive mentally filed it under aint never gonna happen.
Just like flagler s railroad, the soller railway was built in 1912, and it still runs everyday. Henry flagler and the spectacular rise and fall of a railroad that crossed an ocean was a captivating book by les standiford of robber. Flaglers folly railroad sea blown by rod bethel abebooks. The railroad served the keys well, but without flagler at its helm it declared bankruptcy in 1932. Flagler station oversea railway historeum key west. Finally, flagler accepted the deal, and on april 15, 1896, the first train arrived on the newly laid tracks. The old wood burning engine, with its big bell top, was spouting smoke and the whistle and the bell were going full tilt. Critics can say what they wish about the combustion engine on the train the fact remains that mr.
Railway preservation news view topic flaglers folly. In 1905, when the united states took on the panama canal project, flagler decided that it was finally time to extend the railroad to key west, adding 156 miles of track, mostly over water. During that time, surveyors and engineers work to provide flagler with data and information. Henry morrison flagler january 2, 1830 may 20, 19 was an american industrialist and a founder of standard oil, first based in ohio.
We recommend booking flagler station oversea railway. The greatest railroad story ever told flaglers legacy. This would equate to about one third of the total florida evaluation. It became the largest wooden structure in the world in 1905. Henry flagler and the overseas railroad the iron road. While it doesn t go over seas, it travels through 30 tunnels deep in the serra detramuntana mountains, and the longest one takes over five minutes to pass through. The book goes on to document the hurricane of 1935, that destroyed the florida keys part of that railroad. Henry flagler and the spectacular rise and fall of the railroad that crossed an ocean by les stan. Later when he discovered florida, the historic and lovely st. He could have been as rich and as famous as john d. Henry flaglers railroad comes to miami miami heritage. Did you ever dream of hitting it rich and blowing all your money on your own dream railroad.
Augustine and halifax railroad and built a bridge over the river thus creating a more efficient way to travel between the two cities. How to build a hotel to meet the requirements of nineteenth century america and have it in keeping with. But flagler had built a tiny overseas railroad much earlier, right here in palm beach at the breakers hotel. Flaglers railroad survived until 1935, when a violent. Sails to rails at flagler station, key wests newest museum, takes visitors on a journey through the age of sail, a time when tail ships plied the treacherous waters of the caribbean and gulf of mexico from the 1500s to early 1900s and continues into the era of henry. Skeptics had ridiculed flaglers idea of bringing the railroad to key west as flaglers folly, but when it became a reality, the newspapers hailed it as the eighth wonder of the world. It was a railroad that, hopping from island to island, spanned an ocean to reach. How slave labor built the state of florida decades after. A daring adventure on henry flaglers oversea railroad. To further develop the area surrounding the fort dallas railroad station, flagler dredged a channel, built streets, instituted the first water and power systems, and financed the towns first newspaper, the.
Flaglers folly overseas railroad remains is an engineering marvel in big pine key. He lived to see the first train arrive in key west, then died soon after. Over a hundred years ago, the first train to cross the overseas railroad, technically known as the key west extension of henry flaglers florida east coast railway, chugged into key west. The new york jersey rail car float operation from nyc to new jersey duration. Lummus described the arrival in his book, the miracle of miami beach. She knew it would eventually open up all south florida to northern commerce and she was keenly aware of the boon it would be to the country once it. The virtues of standifords book include an ability to make us see both flagler and his railroad with fresh eyes. The key west extension was the dream and brainchild of henry flagler. Twelveyearold eddie malone is living a carefree life swimming and fishing in the florida keys in 1912 when suddenly his world is turned upside down. Sails to rails museum at flagler station tickets key. The railroad visionary who changed the keys forever posted on january, 2012 florida keys henry morrison flagler never lived in the florida keys, but he left a more lasting and valuable mark on the island chain than many lifelong residents. The key west historic memorial sculpture garden celebrates henry flagler, founder of standard oil, who leased black prisoners to build railroad lines throughout the state. He bascially built a railroad from miami to key west florida, 125.
Henry flagler and the spectacular rise and fall of the railroad that crossed an ocean. By les standiford a fastpaced and gripping account of the. We learned about flagler and his involvement with standard oil and his obsession with building a rail connection to key west. January 22, 2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of henry m. Convinced that he is responsible for his pas arrest, eddie sets out for key. The name flagler has become part of the florida landscape from st. Twofifths of his expenditures were for the key west extension. The florida east coast railway fec was developed by henry morrison flagler, an american tycoon, real estate promoter, railroad developer and john d.
The story of flaglers florida east coast railroad, which ran down the florida keys to key west, completed in 1912. Bramson reveals how the key west extension of the flaglerowned fec became the greatest railroad. About a month ago i read a new book that covers mr. The last train to paradise is a really good history book about henry flagler, who played a huge role in the development of modern day florida. I understand that a lot of these questions are just what if and generally the railroad version of hangar flying rather than any kind of a serious proposal. He is known as the father of miami and palm beach, florida. Flagler, and its final hours of operation before the labor day hurricane of 1935 destroyed much of it.
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