I enjoy exploring the architecture of the historic districts of West Palm Beach. There are twelve…read morehistoric districts mar\ked by blue historical markers. These historic districts were created when Henry Flagler brought the railroad to West Palm Beach. The Belair Historic District is between South Flagler Drive and South Dixie Highway. It is bounded by Plymouth Road on the south and Pilgrim Road to the north. Belair was developed from 1925 to 1935 as a neighborhood where the tradesmen and real estate salesmen who helped build and develop Palm Beach County lived. In 1885 South Carolina author James Woods Davidson acquired the area as part of a Homestead Act. He in turn sold the land to early pioneer, Englishman Richard Hone. Hone turned it into a pineapple plantation and he and his wife Mary lived in a frame vernacular home at 211 Plymouth Road. In 1902 Hone was shot to death at the age of 43 during a storm while writing a letter at his dining room table as his wife sat beside him. One of Hone's employees was caught a few days later and charged with the murder. He was hung for the crime in Miami. In 1985 the grave of Richard Hone and his infant sons Edward and Robert were discovered beneath the Norton Museum of Art where they still lay today. After the Hone murder, the property was sold in 1923 to William and Sophie Ohlhaber to grow coconut palms and ferns. George Curie platted the land for a subdivision and sold off in lots. The Ohihaber's owned the first house built, a mission-style home at 205 Pilgrim. In 1947 Hone's house was bought by Max Brombacher, Henry Flagler's chief engineer, and it remains in the Brombacher family today. Homes in this neighborhood were built after WWI during Florida's land boom years in the 1920's and early 1030's. Architectural styles include Mediterranean Revival, Mission Revival, and Wood-Frame and Masonry Vernacular style houses. Belair became West Palm Beach's fourth historic district in August 1993. Historic Marker F-1201 was installed in 2022 by the South End Neighborhood Association and the Florida Department of State. You can find it in the swale next to the lake Worth Lagoon.

While walking around the Northwood Road Historic District in West Palm Beach, I spotted this blue…read morehistorical marker, part of Florida's Historical Marker Program, one of the Division of Historical Resources' most recognizable public history initiatives. These markers commemorate significant people, places, and events throughout Florida and can be found along roadways, at archaeological sites, battlefields, colleges, schools, churches, historic cemeteries, and historic districts like this one. Historical Marker F-1067 was erected in 2019 by the West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the Florida Department of State. Northwood Road was platted in the early 1920s during Florida's land boom years by the Pinewood Development Company. Today, the historic commercial district encompasses the businesses along Northwood Road between Broadway Avenue to the west and Dixie Highway to the east. Six buildings within the district date to the 1920s, while most were constructed during the second half of the 1940s, with a handful dating to after 1953. Much of this construction boom was a result of the resurgence in residential development following World War II. Most of the buildings are one story with a few two-story structures often feature apartments on the upper floors. Storefronts are typically constructed of glass, brick, concrete block, and stucco, with many of the brick facades painted to match the concrete sections. The extensive use of stucco reflects the influence of Mediterranean Revival architecture and post-World War II construction, both of which are important elements of this architectural districts character. Today, the Northwood Road Historic District, better known as Northwood Village is one of West Palm Beach's most charming commercial areas. Its historic architecture provides a backdrop for businesses that include art galleries, live music venues, locally owned restaurants, cafes, and vintage shops. One of my favorite stores is a Circa Who which sells an eclectic vintage furniture with an emphasis on Palm Beach style and the Day by Day Shoppe which offers a bohemian mixture of new and used items. Along the streets you will see colorful murals. The neighborhood's architecture includes Mediterranean Revival and Mission-style design influences associated with the work of prominent Palm Beach architect Addison Mizner and other master craftsmen of the era. In 2016, Northwood Road was added to the West Palm Beach Register of Historic Places as a historic district, helping preserve the architectural character and history of this unique part of the city. I always enjoy stumbling across these historical markers while exploring South Florida. They offer a glimpse into the often forgotten stories behind the neighborhoods we pass through every day. for fans of historic architecture, Northwood Village is a great neighborhood to explore..

In the 1920s, Florida was relatively undeveloped. Over the 1920s and 1930s, there was a migration…read moreof workers who settled in Florida. Today, Historic Northwood Historic District is a quaint historic commercial district. Love the charming quaint atmosphere. Its distinguished architecture--Mediterranean Revival and Mission style--reflect the historic development era of the mid-1920s made famous by Addison Mizner throughout South Florida. Builders associated with the famed architect carried his vision of design and scale from Palm Beach to the eastern shore of Lake Worth where Northwood began. Many architects and builders of the 1920s, such as John Volk, William King and Henry Harvey, built their historic homes near this commercial district here. Nice to be able to see a reminder of the indelible mark they left on Northwood and the historic buildings that have been completely restored in recent decades in the surrounding area.

The Chapel of the Holy Spirit is one of the oldest structures in Palm Beach but it is not in it's…read moreoriginal location. It started out as the tea house for the Royal Poinciana Hotel that Henry Flagler built in Palm Beach in 1894 when he extended his railroad. That is the one building I most wish I could see today. It was a 6 story gilded age Georgian hotel that Flagler built as a winter retreat for wealthy northerners. Pictures of it remind of the Grand Floridian, Disney's most expensive hotel. The Grand Floridian was modeled on the Victorian era beach resorts built along Florida's east coast during the late 19th century and early 20th century, just like the Royal Poinciana. When Flagler built the hotel there was nothing in Palm Beach and that hotel is credited for building the City of Palm Beach. The hotel was packed during the social season from mid December to February 23. It had to be enlarged to accommodate the crowds and at one point was the largest wooden structure in the world. Eventually the Florida land boom bust caused by hurricanes and the Great Depression caused the hotel to close and it was torn down in 1935. All that remains is a historical marker where it once stood. I have looked at some of the china and other relics from the Royal Poinciana in Whitehall, Henry Flagler's mansion turned museum in Palm Beach. The Chapel of the Holy Spirit is the only building that I know of left of the hotel. This little building has had quite an adventure since being saved from destruction with the rest of the hotel. Through the years it has been a guest house, part of a gambling casino, artist's studio, a caretaker's cottage, and a gift shop. It first became a chapel in 1967 when it was purchased by former Hypoluxo Mayor James Brown who moved it to a mobile home park and named it the Minerva Chapel after his mother. When the trailer park was sold the chapel was donated to the Holy Spirit Anglican Catholic Church in Palm Springs. In August 2011, it was moved to the Church of the Holy Guardian Angels when they merged with the Church of the Holy Spirit. The building was renamed the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. In 2013 the Church of the Holy Guardian Angels and the Florida Department of State placed a historical marker in front of the chapel. It is now used for services, weddings, and special events. I loved finding this little structure and it looks like it is being lovingly cared for. Hopefully this tangible piece of Palm Beach past is home at last.

While looking for something else in downtown West Palm Beach today, I happened upon this blue…read morehistorical marker behind the original Neoclassical 1916 Palm Beach County Courthouse and stopped to learn more about it. The marker is part of Florida's Historical Marker Program, one of the Florida Department of State's Division of Historical Resources' most recognizable public-history initiatives. These markers commemorate significant people, places, and events throughout the state and can be found along roadways, at archaeological sites, battlefields, colleges, schools, churches, historic cemeteries, historic districts, and historic courthouses like this one. Historical Marker F-712 was erected in 2011 through a partnership involving the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, the Robert Neff Family, the Historical Society of Palm Beach County, and the Florida Department of State. Palm Beach County was established in 1909, and its first county offices were located in an old schoolhouse in West Palm Beach. As the community grew, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners approved construction of a new courthouse in 1913. Designed by prominent Florida architect Wilber Burt Talley, the building was constructed by contractor Evert P. Maule, whose winning bid was $122,500. Completed in 1916 and dedicated in 1917, the courthouse was considered one of the finest buildings in Florida at the time and was even described as "the handsomest" courthouse in the state. The four-story courthouse is an example of Neoclassical Revival architecture, featuring three grand columned porticos and brick-veneer exterior walls trimmed with industrial limestone. Inside you will see oak paneling, mosaic-tile hallways, maple floors, and a two-story courtroom with a balcony and skylights. When it opened, the courthouse housed all of the county offices and contained a single courtroom, which served the county for about a decade. Palm Beach County's exploded in growth during the 1920s and again after World War II. The original courthouse quickly became too small. An addition was made in 1927, and in 1969 a massive $5.5 million wraparound addition was constructed that essentially concealed the historic building. By 1972, the original architecture of the courthouse was almost completely lost under additions. When a much larger courthouse opened directly across the street in 1995, preservationists saw an opportunity to save and restore the historic structure. One of the first things removed was the wraparound addition, revealing the original 1916 courthouse once again. After standing vacant for nearly a decade, the county committed $18.5 million to its restoration in 2002. The project was completed in 2007, and the building was repurposed as the home of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County's history museum. I have previously visited the museum and enjoyed seeing the courthouse itself. The historic interior offers a glimpse into Palm Beach County's early years, while exhibits in the courtroom balcony explore the history of Florida law and the state's legal system. This courthouse has more than a century of Palm Beach County history behind its walls.

The Mango Promenade Historic District marker in downtown West Palm Beach is part of the Florida…read moreHistorical Marker Program, one of the Division of Historical Resources' most popular and valued public history programs. It raises awareness of Florida's cultural history while enhancing the enjoyment of historic sites for residents and tourists. The historic markers tell the stories of the people and places that were important to Florida's history and they can be found in front of schools, roads, archaeological sites, battlefields, cemeteries, historic buildings, churches, colleges, and historic districts like this one. Historic marker F-1169 was installed in 2021 by the Mango Promenade Historic Neighborhood Association and the Florida Department of State. Located less than a mile from Clematis Street is the Mango Promenade District, designated in 1999. The district was named after a pedestrian walkway that cuts through the neighborhood, originally linking South Dixie Highway to South Olive Avenue. The neighborhood is bounded by South Dixie Highway, Austin Lane, Coconut Lane, and Cranesnest Way. The Mango Promenade District contains 125 historic buildings built from the 1910's to 1920's. The first homes were built in 1912 but most were built between 1917 and 1926. Two of the most notable historic homes are the 1924 Comeau House at 701 Flamingo Drive and the Rice House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Fun fact: the houses in this historic neighborhood were built with garages to accommodate Model Ts, making it the first neighborhood in the city planned around cars. This was one of West Palm Beach's earliest upper middle class neighbors. Early residents included a school principal, the editor of the area's first newspaper, and a former city attorney. Construction came to an end due to the Florida land bust in 1926 brought on by hurricanes and the Great Depression. By the 1970's and 1980's, houses here were mostly rentals and many were in disrepair. Today the neighborhood has turned a corner with many owners appreciating the neighborhood for its location, history, and sense of community.

While exploring in Palm Beach near Henry Flagler's home Whitehall, I came across this Florida…read moreHistorical Marker marking the site where one of the most important buildings in the city's history once stood, the Royal Poinciana Hotel. The Florida Historical Marker Program was established by state legislation in 1960 under the Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials, now administered by the Florida Department of State's Division of Historical Resources. The earliest markers used green signs featuring the state seal before transitioning to the familiar blue design with the Florida Heritage emblem. Marker F-19 was installed in 1961 by the Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials, making it part of the very first generation of official cast aluminum historical markers produced under the newly established program. Today, these markers are one of Florida's most recognizable public-history initiatives. They commemorate significant people, places, and events throughout the state and can be found at archaeological sites, battlefields, colleges, schools, churches, historic cemeteries, historic districts, courthouses, and locations where important historic buildings once stood, like this one. The marker commemorates the site of the Royal Poinciana Hotel, built by Henry Flagler and opened on February 11, 1894, after he extended his railroad to Palm Beach. This is probably the one historic Palm Beach building I most wish I could see today. The six story, yellow and white Georgian style hotel was built as a winter retreat for wealthy Northerners and overlooked Lake Worth, surrounded by expansive gardens. It cost more than $1 million to build and could accommodate roughly 2,000 guests, while its enormous dining room could seat 1,600 people. At one point, it was considered the largest wooden structure in the world. Looking at old photographs of the Royal Poinciana, I can't help but think of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The Grand Floridian was inspired by the Victorian era resort hotels that once lined Florida's east coast, and the Royal Poinciana represents that same grand tradition of Gilded Age Florida resorts. It is difficult to imagine what Palm Beach looked like when Flagler arrived. The Royal Poinciana became a magnet for wealthy winter visitors and played an enormous role in transforming Palm Beach into a fashionable resort destination. During the social season, which typically ran from December into February, the hotel was packed with guests and had to be expanded repeatedly to accommodate the crowds. Unfortunately, the hotel's run eventually came to an end. The collapse of Florida's land boom, the hurricanes of the 1920s, and the Great Depression all contributed to its decline. The Royal Poinciana remained in use through the 1929-1930 season and was eventually demolished in 1936. Today, almost nothing remains of the enormous hotel. The historical marker stands as a reminder of where it once dominated the Palm Beach landscape. The Chapel of the Holy Spirit is one of the few surviving structures connected to the Royal Poinciana, although it is no longer in its original location. The building originally served as the hotel's tea house before being moved and converted into a chapel in 1967. I've also had the opportunity to see some of the Royal Poinciana's china and other surviving artifacts at Whitehall, Henry Flagler's former mansion and now a museum in Palm Beach. Although no longer in existence the Royal Poinciana left a legacy that helped put Palm Beach on the map.

Seagull Cottage is the oldest home in West Palm Beach. It was built in 1886 by Denver railroad…read moredeveloper R.R. McCormick. First called McCormick's cottage he built the staircase with mahogany from a ship wreck and stained glass. Henry Flagler was quite taken with pictures of it remarking when he first saw it "Why, I didn't know there was anything that beautiful south of Rockledge." Flagler purchased it to live in during the winter with his wife until Whitehall was completed in 1902. When Henry owned it it was called Croton Cottage for all of the crotons that were growing around it. When Henry Flagler moved out it was owned by a railroad executive. In 1913 it was named Seagull Cottage and moved to the ocean where it became a guest cottage for the Breakers and sat in anonymity until the 1980's. In 1982 former mayor Earl E.T. Smith heard the cottage was going to be demolished so he purchased it for $1 and paid $80,000 to move it to within 300 yards of it's original location. Overseen by the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach from 1984 to 1986, $600,000 was spent restoring it to it's 1886 aesthetic. Today the cottage is part of the Royal Poinciana Chapel on Cocoanut Row. I have passed the church many times before turning into Whitehall and never knew the cottage was here. The historical mark is facing the lake trail. It is within steps of Whitehall. It's a shame that is not a part of the Flagler museum. The house was used as a Parrish house and today is only used for Sunday school or community events. There are no private tours. The downstairs has a salon, dining room and sitting room and the house is filled with period pieces including Victorian wall paper and a 120 year old mirror. A larger hall was built to meet the needs of the church so the future fate of the house is still to be decided.

The Ocean Avenue Bridge in Lantana has a unique history that reflects the town's transition from…read moretranquil fishing village to seaside community. The first bridge here was a wooden bridge built in 1925, replacing a primitive raft and chain pulley device used by locals to cross the Intracoastal. It was manually controlled by turning a massive iron "key" in a circle to swing the bridge open, which took around 15 minutes. A full-time bridge tender lived in a house on the west end. In 1950, the wooden bridge was replaced by a concrete drawbridge, which cost approximately $500,000 at the time. This second version served the town for more than six decades until being considered outmoded. The 1950 bridge was demolished in March 2012 to make room for the taller and broader span, which can better suit modern traffic and marine needs. The modern bridge has 21 feet of clearance above the water and 125 feet of horizontal clearance. It's nice that they included open railings so that you can (carefully) look out as you drive across. There is no toll to cross the bridge. [Review 479 of 2025 - 2119 in Florida - 24041 overall]