A Granddaughter Saved It From Demolition - The Flagler Museum, Palm Beach, FL

Whitehall, the Palm Beach mansion built by Henry Morrison Flagler (age 72) and his third wife Mary Lily Kenan (age 34) was designed by the architectural firm of Carrere and Hastings and was completed in 1902. Flagler was one of the founding members of Standard Oil and a leading developer of Florida as a tourist destination. The 75-room, 100,000 square feet home was equipped with a heating system to get rid of the humidity, and a full basement, which is unheard of in a private residence in Palm Beaches. The Gilded Age estate was enjoyed during winters by the Flaglers, and they entertained constantly for 11 years until his death in 1913.

Henry died at Whitehall in 1913, and his wife only opened the estate once after her husband’s death. She remarried and died in 1917 under suspicious circumstances at age 50. She left the house to her niece, Louise Clisby Wise Lewis, who sold the estate to a group of investors who added an 11 story tower and other additions. The hotel operated from 1925-1959. In 1959, the building was in danger of being demolished. Jean Flagler Matthews, Henry’s granddaughter, formed a non-profit to purchase the property.

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The front facade of Whitehall

The grounds were only partially formal with a palm tree grove

This is the addition added to the mansion when it became a hotel. Above it, but removed in 1963, stood the ten-story tower.

Decorative bench outside the main entrance

The mansion had two floors and a basement

Guests were received in the Grand Hall

The Grand Hall floor is made up of seven different marbles.

The elaborately decorated plaster ceilings in the Grand Hall.

The grand double staircase

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The masculine library Flagler used as a reception area for business associates

Molded and painted cast plaster and fabric ceiling in the Library, to make them appear like wood and leather.

Library

A portrait of Henry Flagler hangs above the fireplace in the Library

The Library

The Music Room ceiling lighting

The Music Room doubled as a gallery, displaying Flagler’s acquisitions

Music Room

Music Room

A resident organist was employed each season to play this 1,249 pipe organ in the Music Room

The coffered barrel ceilings in the South Hall

The Grand Ballroom

Billards Room

Another view of the hotel addition

The centerpiece of the Courtyard is this statue of Venus by Giovanni da Bologna for the Bobble Gardens in Florence.

The Breakfast Room the Flaglers used each morning

Dining Room

Dining Room

Like the Library, the Dining Room ceiling was also painted to resemble wood

The Drawing Room was primarily used by Mary Lily and her guests.

Drawing Room

Drawing Room

The Drawing Room ceiling

Drawing Room

Drawing Room

Another view of the Courtyard

The grand staircase where Flagler fell and died from injuries sustained in the fall.

The second floor contained twelve guestrooms. This is the Colonial Room

The Colonial Room

The Green Room

The Heliotrope Room

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The Gold Room

The Louis XV Room

The Pink Room

The Blue Room

Primary Bedroom

Primary Bedroom

Primary Bathroom

Walk-In closets

The Silver Maple Room

Yellow Roses Room

Morning Room

House servants rooms were on the the west side of the second floor and in the attic

Servant’s Room

Second floor hallway

A painting of Henry Flagler, done in 1899, and a Louis XV-style rosewood and bronze clock In the Grand Hall. The clock was made by Linke and shown at the 1900 Paris Exposition.

Hanging opposite Henry Flagler’s painting in the Grand Hall is his granddaughter, Jean Flagler Matthews’ portrait. Jean was the founder of the Flagler Museum.

Another view of the Grand Hall

Inside the beautiful Flagler Kenan Pavilion which was opened in 2005 and was the first addition to the property since 1925.

The Pavilion houses private Flagler’s Railcar No. 91

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Built in 1886 for Flagler, it has been restored to appear when he used it

Inside Flagler’s private railcar, which is on display in the Flagler Kenan Pavilion.

South-facing facade

Another look at the front facade

Today, Whitehall is a house museum and is a National Historic Landmark

What you should know:

• Tickets can be purchased online or in person.

• One price includes mansion tour, parking and access to the grounds.

• There is a cafe on the grounds.

• There are docent guided or self-guided mansion tour options.

• You can download the Bloomberg Connects App and view the museum’s free interactive guide during your visit for enhanced content throughout the Museum.

• Restrooms are available.

• You could spend a couple of hours here.

• Picnicking is allow in the palm tree grove.

Location: One Whitehall Way, Palm Beach, FL 33480

For more information: Flagler Musuem