Located in Palm Beach, Florida, Flagler museum is a culturally rich and visually inspirational place to visit. Its 75 luxurious rooms, railway pavilion, beautiful grounds as well as lace and antiques collection are amazing and worth your visit. First, a beautiful home, then a luxury hotel, and finally the museum – Whitehall will pleasantly surprise you. Built as a wedding present for his wife, it used to be a winter home for the Flaglers between 1902-1913, attracting the wealthy into the area who were thoroughly entertained in the house.
The Gilded Age Splendor: Flagler Museum review
Who was Henry Flagler (1830-1913)?
The earliest land developer of Florida, Henry Flagler was a founding partner of Standard Oil corporation who also built luxury hotels across the state and a railway, linking the east coast of Florida from St. Augustine to Key West.
The rooms
John Carrère and Thomas Hastings designed Whitehall inspired by the Greek temples to Apollo. Symmetrical white marble columns, grand staircase, and the marble entrance hall evoke feelings of ancient beauty. Such visual architectural balance continues with the interior spaces. The New York firm designed the interiors of a 2-storied house. These rooms have designs and decorum of various epochs, including styles of Louis XIV, Louis XV, Louis XVI, the Italian Renaissance, and Francis I.
In these pictures you can find some of the most beautiful rooms but not all! Novel steel beam construction, cast plaster ceilings, central heating, plumbing and electricity made the house a standout back in 1902.
Henry Flagler’s Railcar in the Flagler Kenan Pavilion
Built in 1886 for Flagler to travel across the state, you can find the original railcar in a special sunlit pavilion inside the museum. Flagler museum acquired and restored the Railcar No. 91 in late 1960-s. It’s a lot of fun to walk through its cozy rooms.
I hope this visual review encourages you to visit this historic museum soon! To learn more, please visit the official website of the Flagler Museum.
Contact: Open Tuesday-Sunday. https://www.flaglermuseum.us/
You can also buy a combined ticket for the house and the Breakers hotel, Henry Flagler’s second hotel in Palm Beach.