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

Dec 30

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.

Henry Flagler: The Astonishing Life and Times of the Visionary Robber Baron Who Founded Florida

By Chandler, David Leon

Archie Mcphee Instant underpants. Just add water one pair

Accoutrements

Last Train to Paradise: Henry Flagler and the Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Railroad that Crossed an Ocean

By Standiford, Les

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

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

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

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

The Drawing Room ceiling

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

The Gold Room

The Louis XV Room

The Pink Room

The Blue Room

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.