Key Historical Dates & Events

  • 1878: The Providencia wrecks off the coast full of 20,000 coconuts - they were distributed and planted
  • 1893: Henry Flagler, Standard Oil Tycoon, declares Palm Beach a “veritable paradise”
  • 1894: Flagler’s Royal Poinciana Hotel is completed. It is the largest wooden structure in the world.
  • 1896: Flagler’s FEC Railway arrives in Palm Beach.
  • 1896: Flagler opens the Palm Beach Inn which becomes The Breakers in 1901.
  • 1902: Flagler’s winter home “Whitehall” is completed.
  • 1907: Telephone service established with 18 phones.
  • 1911: Palm Beach incorporated as a town.
  • 1911: Original Royal Park Bridge opened.
  • 1925: Palm Beach town Hall opened.
  • 1929: “The Plan of Palm Beach” is sponsored by the Garden Club of Palm Beach.
  • 1930: Addison Mizner’s Memorial Fountain built in town Square.
  • 1938: Original Flagler Memorial Bridge opened.
  • 1959: Second Royal Park Bridge opened.
  • 1961-1963: President Kennedy’s “Winter Whitehouse is his family’s Palm Beach estate.
  • 1971-1977: Earl E.T. Smith, the last United States Ambassador to Cuba, serves as Mayor of Palm Beach.
  • 1995: Mar-a-Lago was transformed into the Mar-a-Lago Club.
  • 2005: Current Royal Park Bridge opened.
  • 2009: Palm Beach town Hall restored.
  • 2010: Worth Avenue restored
  • 2011: Town of Palm Beach celebrated its Centennial Year