Steel Rails to Sunshine State ***SEE DETAILS FOR INFO***
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This presentation chronicles how Henry Flagler, co-founder of Standard Oil, helped transform Florida in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
After making his fortune in oil, Flagler turned his attention to Florida. He built the Florida East Coast Railway along the state’s east coast, connecting communities and helping turn small settlements into growing cities. St. Augustine, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and other communities expanded as the railroad moved south.
Flagler also built a series of grand hotels, including the Ponce de Leon in St. Augustine, the Royal Poinciana and The Breakers in Palm Beach, and the Alcazar in St. Augustine. His most ambitious project, the Overseas Railroad, eventually extended the railway from Miami to Key West.
But this story is not just about Flagler, his hotels, and the wealthy visitors who stayed in them. It is also about the thousands of men who built, maintained, and operated the railroad, often working in difficult and dangerous conditions. Their labor was essential to making Flagler’s vision a reality.
The presentation examines Flagler’s vision, the challenges faced by the people who built and ran his railroad, and the lasting impact his railway, hotels, and development projects had on the growth of modern Florida.
* Required Registration: https://tarponsprings.librarycalendar.com/event/steel-rails-sunshine-state-3655
After making his fortune in oil, Flagler turned his attention to Florida. He built the Florida East Coast Railway along the state’s east coast, connecting communities and helping turn small settlements into growing cities. St. Augustine, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and other communities expanded as the railroad moved south.
Flagler also built a series of grand hotels, including the Ponce de Leon in St. Augustine, the Royal Poinciana and The Breakers in Palm Beach, and the Alcazar in St. Augustine. His most ambitious project, the Overseas Railroad, eventually extended the railway from Miami to Key West.
But this story is not just about Flagler, his hotels, and the wealthy visitors who stayed in them. It is also about the thousands of men who built, maintained, and operated the railroad, often working in difficult and dangerous conditions. Their labor was essential to making Flagler’s vision a reality.
The presentation examines Flagler’s vision, the challenges faced by the people who built and ran his railroad, and the lasting impact his railway, hotels, and development projects had on the growth of modern Florida.
* Required Registration: https://tarponsprings.librarycalendar.com/event/steel-rails-sunshine-state-3655
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Where is it happening?
138 E. Lemon St., Tarpon Springs, FL, United States, Florida 34689
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherTarpon Springs Public Library
