When The Flagler Family stepped foot into Miami, and the broader Florida region, this "old money" dynasty there was little but untamed wilderness.

Yes, co-founder Henry Flagler - yes, the right hand man of none other than John D. Rockefeller himself - turned Miami and South Florida into a blueprint for what would become one of America's most dynamic and enjoyable destinations.

---------------------------------------------

The "Old Money" Family Who Built Malibu: The Ringes: [ Ссылка ]

---------------------------------------------

The "Old Money" Family Who Built Orange County: The Irvines: [ Ссылка ]

---------------------------------------------

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Introduction
1:14 Chapter 1: The Fine Life of Flagler
5:48 Chapter 2: Finding The Flagler Family
9:08 Chapter 3: Raising The “Standard”
11:11 Chapter 4: Building Florida
15:20 Chapter 5: The Flagler Legacy

---------------------------------------------

In the early 20th century, the Flagler family amassed a fortune thanks to Henry Morrison Flagler's brilliant and occasionally ruthless business maneuvers.

By 1913, his estate was worth $100 million, equivalent to $12.5 billion today. Flagler co-founded Standard Oil with John D. Rockefeller, and through strategic partnerships and rebates, the company became a behemoth of American oil refining.

Flagler's legacy is etched all over Florida. Flagler County includes cities like Bunnell and Palm Coast.

In St. Augustine, the Hotel Ponce de Leon, now Flagler College, stands as a monument to his luxurious vision. Palm Beach is home to Whitehall, Flagler’s 75-room mansion, now the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum.

The Breakers, a legendary resort in Palm Beach, remains family-owned by the Kenan family, Flagler’s descendants.

Miami owes much of its early growth to Flagler and his Royal Palm Hotel.

His extension of the railroad to Miami laid the groundwork for the city’s explosive development.

Flagler’s influence even reaches the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where the Kenan-Flagler Business School bears his name.

His art collection boasted over 180 paintings, and he commissioned famed glassmaker Louis Comfort Tiffany to create stunning stained-glass windows for the Hotel Ponce de Leon.

Flagler indulged in other luxuries like his private railcar, Number 91.

The Flagler family’s journey began with Zacharra Flegler, who emigrated from Germany to America in 1710.

The family eventually settled in Dutchess County, New York. Henry Morrison Flagler was born on January 2, 1830, in Hopewell, New York.

His father, Isaac Flagler, was a Presbyterian minister, and his mother, Elizabeth Caldwell Harkness, brought two sons from her previous marriage.

Henry moved to Ohio at age 14 to join his half-brother Daniel Morrison Harkness.

He started working in his uncle's store at a modest salary and later earned a promotion.

Despite setbacks in the salt mining industry, Henry's entrepreneurial spirit remained strong.

In 1867, John D. Rockefeller sought capital for his burgeoning oil business, and Henry secured a $100,000 investment from his half-brother Stephen V. Harkness, leading to a partnership with Rockefeller.

Henry Flagler co-founded Standard Oil Corporation in 1870. His strategic business moves, like negotiating rebates from railroads, gave the company a competitive edge.

By the late 1880s, Standard Oil commanded 90% of the oil refining market in the U.S. Flagler's fortune didn’t rest solely on oil; he also invested heavily in Florida.

His wife's illness led them to Florida for her health, and he saw the potential in the region.

In 1885, Flagler acquired the Jacksonville, St. Augustine & Halifax River Railway and began expanding southward.

He built lavish hotels like the Ponce de Leon Hotel in St. Augustine and the Royal Poinciana Hotel in Palm Beach.

Flagler extended his railway to Miami, founding the city and transforming it into a vibrant metropolis.

His most ambitious project, the Overseas Railroad to Key West, remains a symbol of his vision and determination.

Flagler’s development of Florida was mired in controversy due to his use of convict leasing and debt peonage.

These practices exploited laborers, often under brutal conditions.

Public perception of Flagler was divided; some saw him as a visionary, while others criticized his ruthless business practices.

Despite this, his influence in creating Florida and Miami cannot be denied.

Flagler’s personal life included three marriages. His third wife, Mary Lily Kenan, inherited his wealth, which supported numerous educational and cultural institutions.

The Kenan family used the fortune to establish endowments, leaving a lasting legacy.

свернуть