An Illustrated History of Palm Beach — From Wilderness to Wonderland in 150 Years
with Russell Kelley
11 a.m. The Pioneer Era and the Flagler Era (1872-1913)
Palm Beach was first settled in the 1870s. In 1894, Henry Morrison Flagler built the vast Royal Poinciana Hotel on Lake Worth, and a railroad down the east coast of Florida to transport his guests to it.
2:30 p.m. The Land Boom and Bust of the 1920s Through Today (1909 – Present)
The 1920s ushered in Palm Beach’s golden age, when architects designed mansions for wealthy patrons. Post-war development led first to the demolition – and then to the preservation – of many of those mansions.
Russell Kelley was born in Palm Beach and is co-author with the Historical Society of Palm Beach County of An Illustrated History of Palm Beach (Pineapple Press, 2020).
Presented in partnership with the Historical Society of Palm Beach County
