Sponsored, in part, by:
First Train to Paradise: The Railroad That Went to Sea
October 18, 2011 through January 8, 2012
Free with Museum admission
In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the completion of the Over-Sea Railroad, the Museum's fall exhibition illustrates the amazing story of the construction of the railroad to Key West. Built between 1905 and 1912, the Over-Sea Railroad was the most ambitious engineering feat ever undertaken by a private citizen and the final link connecting Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad from Jacksonville to Key West. It was hailed as "the Eighth Wonder of the World." First Train to Paradise recounts the stories of the dedicated workers who risked their lives, and sometimes lost them, to make Flagler's vision a reality.
Years before Flagler began to develop Palm Beach, he recognized the potential commercial importance of the deep water port at Key West, and set his sights on linking the islands of the Keys by rail. Skeptics who doubted it could be done dubbed the project "Flagler's Folly," but Flagler and his employees pressed forward with the seemingly impossible undertaking despite five hurricanes, extreme heat, mosquitoes, and disease. The project eventually extended the railroad 156 miles from Miami to Key West, much of it over water. Despite extreme adversity and enormous personal expense, the dream was finally realized on January 22, 1912, when thousands of Floridians welcomed Henry Flagler's arrival aboard the first train to Key West.
The exhibition is curated by the Flagler Museum, the largest repository of documents related to the Over-Sea Railroad.
Sponsored, in part, by:
First Train arriving Key West. The first passenger train, called Mr. Flagler’s Special, arriving at Key West on January 22, 1912. © Henry Morrison Flagler Museum Archives.
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Over-Sea Railroad Lecture
by John Blades
On February 8, 2012, the Flagler Museum Executive Director, John Blades, presented a special lecture about Henry Flagler's Over-Sea Railroad extension of the Florida East Coast Railway at the Historical Society of Palm Beach County. View the video of the lecture by clicking on the link below:
Gallery Talk
December 6, 2011
12:15 p.m.
Free with Museum admission
Tour the exhibition with best selling author Les Standiford and learn more about Henry Flagler's Over-Sea Railroad. Stadiford will discuss the development of the railroad from sketches to reality, and the legacy of the project whose visionary creator was also one of America's most forward-thinking captains of industry. A book signing will follow the Gallery Talk.
Children’s Exhibit Activity
November 12, 2011
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Free with Museum admission
In conjunction with the exhibition the Museum invites fourth through eighth grade children to a special gallery tour with the Education Director followed by a hands-on learning activity.
Visit the Museum Store
for exclusive products related to the Fall Exhibition developed by the Museum.