Henry M. Flagler's Influence On The Florida History Project
Xavier Johnson
AMH 2010 03C
Professor Amy Rieger
4/24/14
Florida History Project Henry M. Flagler's name may have gotten less acknowledgement than the man of the Standard Oil business, John D. Rockefeller, but even with the lack of recognition Flagler’s power was just as strong in the oil industry in the 1870s and 1880s,. Though Flagler was born in Hopewell, New York, in 1830 he left a lasting mark on the state of Florida and his influence easily reached the 20th century. Flagler’s greatest achievements came in the 1870’s and the 1880’s and his life encompassed the period of time that is discussed towards the end of the term in AMH 2010 O3C. Flagler’s journey to Florida encompassed several decades and a civil war but in the end the …show more content…
On Flagler’s second trip to Florida in 1882, he visited St. Augustine. He was delighted by the city and the weather but unsatisfied by the lack of hotels and transportation. Flagler recognized Florida’s potential to attract out-of-state visitors and decided to pour his oil fortune into the state’s development. In 1885, Flagler began construction on the 540-room Hotel Ponce de Leon hotel in St. Augustine. After realizing the need for transportation to his hotel ventures, Flagler began purchasing existing railroads. This was the start of Flagler’s extensive railroad system. About two years later, Flagler built a railroad bridge across the St. Johns River that granted access to the southern half of the state. Flagler then purchased a hotel, just north of Daytona, and extended his railroad and hotel empire to Palm Beach. Flagler’s hotels and railroad established Palm Beach as a winter resort for the wealthy members of American society. Flagler later built a palace, which was named Whitehall, as his residence in Palm Beach. Henry Flagler envisioned his next expansion, West Palm Beach, to be the end of his railroad system, but during 1894 and 1895, severe freezes hit the area. To convince Flagler to continue the railroad to Miami, Flagler was offered land in exchange for laying tracks. Flagler’s railroad, was named the Florida East Coast Railway, and it reached Biscayne Bay by 1896. Flagler dredged a channel, built streets, instituted the first water and power systems, and funded the Miami’s first newspaper. When the town united, its citizens wanted to honor the man responsible for its development by naming it Flagler. He turned down the honor. He persuaded them to keep the old Indian name, Miami (Famous Floridians Henry M. Flagler Citation
AMH 2010 03C
Professor Amy Rieger
4/24/14
Florida History Project Henry M. Flagler's name may have gotten less acknowledgement than the man of the Standard Oil business, John D. Rockefeller, but even with the lack of recognition Flagler’s power was just as strong in the oil industry in the 1870s and 1880s,. Though Flagler was born in Hopewell, New York, in 1830 he left a lasting mark on the state of Florida and his influence easily reached the 20th century. Flagler’s greatest achievements came in the 1870’s and the 1880’s and his life encompassed the period of time that is discussed towards the end of the term in AMH 2010 O3C. Flagler’s journey to Florida encompassed several decades and a civil war but in the end the …show more content…
On Flagler’s second trip to Florida in 1882, he visited St. Augustine. He was delighted by the city and the weather but unsatisfied by the lack of hotels and transportation. Flagler recognized Florida’s potential to attract out-of-state visitors and decided to pour his oil fortune into the state’s development. In 1885, Flagler began construction on the 540-room Hotel Ponce de Leon hotel in St. Augustine. After realizing the need for transportation to his hotel ventures, Flagler began purchasing existing railroads. This was the start of Flagler’s extensive railroad system. About two years later, Flagler built a railroad bridge across the St. Johns River that granted access to the southern half of the state. Flagler then purchased a hotel, just north of Daytona, and extended his railroad and hotel empire to Palm Beach. Flagler’s hotels and railroad established Palm Beach as a winter resort for the wealthy members of American society. Flagler later built a palace, which was named Whitehall, as his residence in Palm Beach. Henry Flagler envisioned his next expansion, West Palm Beach, to be the end of his railroad system, but during 1894 and 1895, severe freezes hit the area. To convince Flagler to continue the railroad to Miami, Flagler was offered land in exchange for laying tracks. Flagler’s railroad, was named the Florida East Coast Railway, and it reached Biscayne Bay by 1896. Flagler dredged a channel, built streets, instituted the first water and power systems, and funded the Miami’s first newspaper. When the town united, its citizens wanted to honor the man responsible for its development by naming it Flagler. He turned down the honor. He persuaded them to keep the old Indian name, Miami (Famous Floridians Henry M. Flagler Citation