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