Episode 20 - The Business
A colossus appears in Florida, and with stunning proficiency, conjures a brand new economic model out of the forgotten coast, reaching the very doorstep of Biscayne Bay.
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Episode 20 - The Business
Flagler’s luxurious Ponce de Leon Hotel in St. Augustine launched his project of carving a new American Riviera out of Florida.
Source: Library of Congress
Flagler’s Hotel Alcazar in St. Augustine.
Source: Florida Memory
Flagler’s Cordova Hotel in St. Augustine.
Source: Florida Memory
Flagler’s Ormond Hotel in Ormond Beach.
Source: Florida Memory
The ornate central parlor of the Ponce hosted America’s rich and famous for decades.
Source: Florida Memory
Guests at the Ponce dined in the lap of luxury.
Source: Florida Memory
A sample of the fare served at the Ponce.
Source: Florida Memory
The Alcazar boasted the largest indoor swimming pool on Earth.
Photo by William Henry Jackson. Source: Shorpy
Railroad builder Henry Plant was Flagler’s chief business rival in Florida.
Source: Wikipedia
The Tampa Bay Hotel was Henry Plant’s answer to the Ponce.
Source: Historical Florida
The approximate route taken by the Ingraham Expedition to investigate the possibility of building a Plant System railway through the Everglades.
Source: University of Florida Libraries
Citrus farming was the backbone of the emerging Florida economy, providing the critical freight clientele for Flagler’s railway.
Source: Florida Memory
As Flagler’s railway made its way down Florida’s coast, new communities popped up around the little stations along the way, such as this one at New Smyrna.
Source: Library of Congress
The short Jupiter and Lake Worth Railway linked disparate parts of the Plant System. It was made obsolete by Flagler’s train to West Palm.
Source: Library of Congress
The Royal Poinciana Hotel put Palm Beach and South Florida on the map, and became Flagler’s flagship resort.
Source: Florida Memory
The enormous edifice of the Royal Poinciana was at one point the largest wooden structure on Earth.
Source: Florida Memory
The oceanside Breakers hotel complemented the Royal Poinciana and overlooked the breaking waves of the Atlantic. This 5-star hotel still operates today.
Source: Florida Memory
A mule-drawn trolley carried guests between the Royal Poinciana and Breakers hotels.
Source: Florida Memory