Henry Flagler Research Paper

“Henry M. Flagler became a self-made millionaire by collaborating with John D. Rockefeller in developing Standard Oil, and known for building railroads and luxury hotels.” (Henry M. Flagler Biography) Henry M. Flagler developed Florida’s East Coast. From building the Florida East Coast Railways, to the construction of the Ponce de Leon hotel. Flagler made significant inputs to Florida economy then and what it now is today. Henry Morrison Flagler born day was, January 2, 1830, in Hopewell New York. Henry moved to Ohio at the age of 14 with an eighth grade education. He found work within his cousins grain store L.D Harkness Company. By the age of 22, he became a partner at the grain company. Henry made phenomenal accomplishments,

Just after the wedding they traveled back to Florida, this time Saint Augustine. Flagler returns to Florida seeing that Saint Augustine lacks transportation and hotels. Being that Flagler sees how much tourist Saint Augustine could bring. Flagler’s vision was to aids Florida’s economy, that is the reason he brought his ideas to Saint Augustine. In 1885 he returned back to Saint Augustine and began constructing the five hundred and forty room hotel called Ponce de Leon. Realizing the importance of transportation to his hotel, he purchased the Jacksonville and Saint Augustine railroad. Just after the opening of the Ponce de Leon hotel, Flagler he constructed the hotel Ormond in Daytona, Florida, hotel Royal Poinciana in Palm Beach, (largest hotel in the world), Palm Beach Inn, now known as The Breakers, hotel Alcazar in Saint Augustine, and many other around Florida. The only way to developing Florida, was to have solid transportation and a hotel. As his oil interest was decreasing his Florida interest was rapidly increasing. The Flagler business world was booming. This is one of Flagler’s vocations. But Flagler did not stop there. (Doc. Henry Flagler-Steed

Flagler lost his second wife, Alice to a mental illness. In 1901 he courted his third wife Mary Lilly. As his wedding present to his new he built White Hall in 1902, located in West Palm Beach. Flagler most desired project was to get it to the Florida East Railways to reach Miami. which was reached. In 1905, Flagler was determined to get the railways all the way down to the Keys. Flagler was always thinking about extending the railways to the Keys since the 1980s. The route was called Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad. The track required one hundred and fifty miles of track, mostly over the water. By the year of 1912, the overseas track was completed. This project was consider the most ambitious engineering project overtaken by a citizen. Henry was 82 years old and just about blind, but he made it happen. In 1935 a hurricane sweep through and caused damaged to the Keys, and was never rebuilt. “A Century in the Sun”