Whitehall (Henry M. Flagler House) facts for kids
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Whitehall (Henry M. Flagler House)
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Henry M. Flagler Mansion
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 Location in Florida
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| Location | Palm Beach, Florida, USA |
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| Built | 1900–1901 |
| Architect | Pottier & Stymus, Carrère and Hastings |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000345 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 5, 1972 |
| Designated NHL | February 16, 2000 |
Whitehall is a huge, beautiful mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, United States. It has 75 rooms and is open for everyone to visit. Built in 1902, it's a great example of Beaux Arts architecture, designed by famous architects Carrère and Hastings. It was built for Henry Flagler, a very successful businessman who helped make Florida a popular place for tourists. This amazing building is now a National Historic Landmark. Today, it is known as the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, named after its original owner.
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History of Whitehall Mansion
Henry Flagler, one of the people who started the company Standard Oil, built Whitehall. He built it as a wedding gift for his third wife, Mary Lily Kenan.
Flagler bought the land for Whitehall in 1893. Construction started in July 1900. The mansion was finished quickly, and Flagler and his wife moved in on February 6, 1902. The architects, John Carrère and Thomas Hastings, had also designed other buildings for Flagler in Florida. Whitehall was meant to be their winter home. They would travel to Palm Beach each year in their own private train car, called No. 91.
Henry Flagler passed away in 1913 at Whitehall. He was 83 years old. Mary Lily died four years later. The home then went to her niece, Louise Clisby Wise Lewis. She later sold the property to some investors.
In 1925, these investors added a large, ten-story hotel section to the mansion. This new part covered up some of Flagler's original rooms. Carrere and Hastings were also the architects for this big addition. By 1939, Whitehall was known as Palm Beach's second-largest hotel.
Visiting the Flagler Museum
In 1959, one of Henry Flagler's granddaughters, Jean Flagler Matthews, saved Whitehall from being torn down. She created a non-profit group called the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum. This group bought the building in 1959. The museum officially opened its doors to the public in 1960. To bring it closer to its original look, the top ten stories of the hotel addition were removed in 1963.
Today, Whitehall is a National Historic Landmark. It is open to the public as the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum. You can take guided tours, see special exhibits, and enjoy different programs. Many programs happen from October to January.
The museum hosts a yearly chamber music series. It also has the Whitehall lecture series. This series brings in experts and authors to talk about topics from the Gilded Age. Past talks have covered history, important events, and art. The Flagler Museum also puts on a special exhibition every year. These shows often feature paintings, sculptures, or historical items. You might see old board games, jewelry, or even women's fashion from the Gilded Age. The museum is located at Cocoanut Row and Whitehall Way in Palm Beach.
Whitehall's Architecture
When Whitehall was finished in 1902, people were amazed. The New York Herald newspaper said it was "more wonderful than any palace in Europe." It was designed in the Beaux Arts style. This style was meant to be as grand as the huge mansions in Newport, Rhode Island.
Unlike many northern homes, Whitehall did not have many separate buildings. It also didn't have fancy, planned gardens. Plants and trees were allowed to grow naturally.
The mansion is built around a large, open courtyard. Its design was inspired by palaces in Spain and Italy. Whitehall is three stories tall and has several wings. Fifty-five rooms have been beautifully restored and furnished with items from that time. These rooms are very large. They have marble floors, walls, and columns. The ceilings are decorated with murals, and there is a lot of gold trim.
Flagler Kenan Pavilion
The Flagler Kenan Pavilion opened on February 4, 2005. It was the first new addition to the property since 1925. This 8,100 square foot building is named after Henry Flagler and William R. Kenan Jr.. Kenan was Flagler's engineer, friend, and brother-in-law. The pavilion was designed in the Beaux-Arts style. It took almost four years to build.
The main attraction in this pavilion is Railcar No. 91. This was Flagler's own private train car, built in 1886. The museum carefully restored the car using old documents. The pavilion also has the seasonal Pavilion Café, where you can enjoy tea service.
See also
In Spanish: Whitehall (mansión) para niños
- Largest Historic Homes in the United States
- List of Gilded Age mansions
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Florida
