Today, the most southern part of the mainland USA is a vibrant, laid-back paradise. It is palm trees, colorful buildings, the scent of saltwater in the air mixed with a rich history.

The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is a center for Japanese arts and culture in Delray Beach, Florida.

The current 528-room Breakers was rebuilt in 1926 by Flagler heirs, since Henry had passed in in 1913. The architectural firm of Schultze and Weaver modeled it after the Villa Medici in Rome.

The Lightner Museum was founded by Chicago publisher and collector Otto C. Lightner in 1947. Lightner was best known as the publisher of Hobbies, The Magazine for Collectors.

The Ponce de Leon Hotel was an exclusive luxury hotel built by Standard Oil co-founder and railroad magnate Henry Flagler and competed in 1888. This was the first major project for the architecture firm of Carrere & Hastings.

Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European American origin in the United States. The Downtown Historic District is where you will find the majority of the city’s activity.

Whitehall is the Palm Beach mansion built by Henry Morrison Flagler, 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 enjoyed during winters by the Flaglers, and they entertained constantly for 11 years until his death in 1913.