Back in the early 1900s, florida was a popular winter destination for the upper crust, and some of the floridas most extravagant works of architecture were. Who we are we are model railroad enthusiasts, from the greater flagler and volusia counties of east central florida, who want to share our love of model railroading. Details about jacksonville to miami florida east coast railway book 1945 flagler system. Overseas railroad and pigeon key big pine key, florida. Henry flaglers dream of a jacksonville to key west railroad had come true. It is believed that timucua indians were among the areas earliest inhabitants, who settled in northeast florida as early as 2000 bc. 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. 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. Popular henry flagler books showing 16 of 6 last train to paradise. Henry flagler and the spectacular rise and fall of the railroad that crossed an ocean.
Work on the line started in 1905 and it operated from 1912 to 1935, when it was partially. 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. Flagler also agreed to immediately start a large hotel and build water, electric and sewer public facilities for a new community, a contract was signed, and the railroad reached miami on april 15, 1896, with the first passenger train operating into the community on the shores of biscayne bay on april 22. New book traces history of flaglers black residents. This was the beginning of what would eventually become the florida east coast railway. Feb 12, 2020 the book takes a peek behind the curtain of flaglers history and recounts the overarching racial divide that was status quo for rural communities south of the masondixon line during the jim. He came back and built railroads and grand hotels along the east coast so that northerners could enjoy the beauties of the state. Flagler s railroad, renamed the florida east coast railway in 1895, reached biscayne bay by 1896. Building a railroad over 150 miles of water under the harshest of conditions was the vision of. Flaglers railroad, renamed the florida east coast railway in 1895, reached biscayne bay by 1896. 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. Last train to paradise audiobook by les standiford.
Standiford does an excellent job of providing the reader with an understanding of mr. Flagler county was created in 1917 from portions of southern st. Boxer irish bob murphy was born in flagler author hal borland moved to flagler at the age 15 when his father became publisher of one of the local newspapers, and attended high school in flager. Fkoht bow channel bridge monroe county, florida built ca. Instead, henry flagler chose to spend the last 30 years of his life building a railroad line in florida and establishing floridas tourist industry. Augustine and halifax railroad and built a bridge over the river thus creating a more efficient way to travel between the two cities. To further develop the area surrounding the fort dallas railroad station, flagler dredged a channel, built streets, instituted the first water and. Apr 11, 2014 over a hundred years ago, the first train to cross the overseas railroad, technically known as the key west extension of henry flagler s florida east coast railway, chugged into key west. Jacksonville to miami florida east coast railway book 1945. Along the route, the railroad visionary built a series of luxury hotels to accommodate train passengers. He could have been as rich and as famous as john d. Henry flagler and the spectacular rise and fall of the railroad that. The book combines a very good biography of mister flagler and his building of a railroad, primarily down the east coast of florida, and then through the florida keys. Bramson reveals how the key west extension of the flaglerowned fec became the greatest railroad engineering and construction feat in united states, and possibly world, history, an accomplishment that would cement flaglers fame and legend for all time.
Henry flagler and the building of the railroad that crossed the ocean by standiford, les. 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. The county was named after henry morrison flagler, a railroad and oil tycoon, who was a developer of the florida east coast railway during the 1880s and 1900s. If you have any interest in key west history and the flagler railroad it is very informative. The story behind the abandoned florida overseas railroad. Only industrial archeologist can find the remains of the railroad, but standiford brings the era, the money, the work, and the result to life for those interested today.
Book henry flagler last train to paradise the fastpaced and gripping true account of the extraordinary construction and spectacular demise of the key west railroadone of the greatest engineering feats ever undertaken, destroyed in one fell. Rockefeller, they created a corporation worth millions of dollars. Flagler station oversea railway historeum key west 2020. Henry flagler and the spectacular rise and fall of the railroad that crossed an ocean ebook written by les standiford.
In 1904, the brilliant and driven entrepreneur henry flagler, partner to john d. New book traces history of flaglers black residents news. He masterminded the plan that transformed standard oil into the most successful monopoly of the nineteenth century. 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 love this silly little ritual in our ride down the overseas highway, and each time i imagine what it must have been like to take this incredible trek on henry flagler s railroad down to key west from 1912 to 1935. I recently finished reading an extremely engaging and revealing book about the flagler railroad expansion from miami through the keys and eventually to key west. Popular henry flagler books meet your next favorite book. Henry flagler and the overseas railroad the iron road book. It is a wellresearched and documented history of an exciting time in the exploration and development of florida that reads like a novel. European settlement in flagler county began during the time of the spanish occupation of st. The railroad that went to sea and was blown away bethel, rodman j. The story behind floridas abandoned overseas railroad will boggle your mind if you live in florida, youre probably familiar with some of oil tycoon henry m.
Flagler, the development of the fec, and the trials and tribulations of the massive undertaking of building a railroad out across the ocean to key west. Building a railroad over 150 miles of water under the harshest of. Henry flagler s 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. Henry flagler and the overseas railroad the iron road. The florida east coast railway fec was developed by henry morrison flagler, an american tycoon, real estate promoter, railroad developer and john d. Lavington came to kit carson county by railroad and developed flagler, colorado along with w. Henry flagler and the spectacular rise and fall of the railroad that crossed an ocean paperback. In 1885, flagler took a trip to jacksonville, florida that would change his focus. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read last train to paradise.
Flagler county, named after the famous railroad builder. The overseas railroad also known as florida overseas railroad, the overseas extension, and flagler s 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. Henry flagler and the making of modern florida duration. The virtues of standifords book include an ability to make us see both flagler and his railroad with fresh eyes. Henry flagler and the spectacular rise and fall of the railroad that crossed an ocean by henry morrison flagler and les standiford 2003, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. When the town incorporated in 1896, its citizens wanted to honor the man responsible for its growth by. Less than a decade later, under flaglers direction, the line renamed the florida east coast railway had been extended down the coast to west palm beach. Johns river, he was captivated and built his first hotel. Very informative tour of the history of key west and of henry flagers railroad running along the east coastline of. Flagler s forward thinking vision of connecting the dots of the florida keys to the mainland was an astonishing engineering feat. Island ghost town detailing flaglers folly in building the overseas railroad. Henry flagler and the spectacular rise and fall of the railroad that crossed an ocean les standiford, author. Discover overseas railroad and pigeon key in big pine key, florida. Henry flagler first visited florida in 1878, and he liked what he saw.
In september 1895, flagler s 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. This book by novelist les standiford did the trick. H e was unique in the history of the united states. Henry flagler was best known for being a cofounder of standard oil. Flagler county, named after the famous railroad builder henry flagler, was incorporated in 1917.
Miami was the next destination reached, but flagler didnt stop there. The book takes a peek behind the curtain of flaglers history and recounts the overarching racial divide that was status quo for rural communities south of the masondixon line during the jim. Jan 09, 2020 i recently finished reading an extremely engaging and revealing book about the flagler railroad expansion from miami through the keys and eventually to key west. Later when he discovered florida, the historic and lovely st.
Last train to paradise is a nonfiction account of the construction of the railroad connecting key west to the florida mainland, a project headed by henry flagler. Flagler s 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. Henry flagler and the spectacular rise and fall of the railroad that crossed an ocean by les standiford online at alibris. 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 book goes on to document the hurricane of 1935, that destroyed the florida keys part of that railroad. The little engine academy, 499 south nova road, ormond beach, florida 32174. Henry flagler 183019 was a selfmade millionaire and industrialist who cofounded the standard oil company. Island ghost town detailing flagler s folly in building the overseas railroad. Work on the line started in 1905 and it operated from 1912 to 1935, when it was partially destroyed by the labor day hurricane. Oct 16, 2016 this video is about flaglers railroad. By les standiford a fastpaced and gripping account of the.
During the second half of his life, he developed land and built railroads in florida, establishing agriculture and. The name flagler has become part of the florida landscape from st. Actually, the book is the nonfiction story of hm flagler who developed florida as a vacation destination. By the end of his long and productive life, he had built a railroad all the way to the very end of the keys. Flagler station oversea railway historeum key west. The fastpaced and gripping true account of the extraordinary construction and spectacular demise of the key west railroadone of the greatest engineering feats ever undertaken, destroyed in one fell swoop by the strongest storm ever to hit u.