Henry Morrison Flagler is probably the person most responsible for development of the east coast of Florida. His railroad brought tourists and goods and his hotels gave the elite of the day a place to stay once they arrived.
Whitehall, as the home is known, was built as a wedding present for Flagler’s third wife, Mary Lily Kenan. We were just in time for a docent-led tour of the first floor. I recommend it. We were left to explore the second floor and grounds by ourselves.
There are twelve guest rooms, no two decorated the same. This one, wallpaper, bed and furniture fabrics were all in the same pattern. In the hallway, an interesting item. I don’t know if the Flaglers had pet birds in Palm Beach but…
Behind the main house is another Beaux-Arts building that currently houses the cafe and Mr. Flagler’s private rail car, beautiful, inside and out. It has a two-burner stove, just like our Airstream Interstate.
And if you wanted to be seen in Palm Beach on the bleeding edge of style, you would have chosen a white wicker pedicab with whitewall tires.
