Palm Beach
South Atlantic Coast of Florida

While honeymooning with his second wife in St. Augustine, Henry M. Flagler, one of the founders of Standard Oil, became enamored with the temperate climate and beauty of the area. Flagler was sure the area could become the 'American Riviera' and so proceeded to buy up land in Palm Beach. He also bought the existing railway which he improved in anticipation of the increase in visitors to the area. On February 11, 1894, he opened the Royal Poinciana Hotel - the largest wooden structure in the world. He continued to develop the area, building a home, Whitehall - a gift for his third wife - in 1901 and a second hotel - the Palm Beach Inn. Flagler’s vision proved correct and Palm Beach became established on the elite’s social calendar, taking its place along with the Hamptons in New York, Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, Newport in Rhode Island and Bar Harbor in Maine.

GRANDEUR AND STUNNING ANTIQUES...
Flagler commissioned John Carrere and Thomas Hastings - who each trained at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris - to design Whitehall. Their brief was simple - create the finest home imaginable. They excelled and once completed, Whitehall easily rivalled the grandeur of the old European Palaces. The house was used as a hotel between 1925 and 1959, when the building then became in danger of being demolished. Henry Flagler's granddaughter, Jean Flagler Matthews, purchased the property in 1959 and after extensive restoration, Whitehall was opened to the public with a grand 'Restoration Ball' on February 6, 1960. Today, the Flagler Museum houses the mogul's stunning collection of antiques from around the world and is a 'must see' attraction in Palm Beach.

GRAND MEDITERANNEAN STYLE BUILDINGS AND AN ELITE WINTER PLAYGROUND...
Flagler’s dream was continued after his death when renowned New York architect, Addison Mizner, was invited to the area by Paris Singer to recover from a leg injury. Boredom surfaced during his recuperation and he transformed Singer's bungalow into a Chinese villa, but he longed to work on something bigger. His recuperation complete, he began work on the Everglades Club which had a distinct Mediterranean feel to it and which was to set the scene for his future buildings. His client list - Edward T. Stotesbury, Philadelphia financier and stock market icon; Henry Phipps, multi-millionaire philanthropist; the Vanderbilts - was a 'who's who' of the rich and powerful. Not everyone was happy about his foreign looking buildings but he carried on unabated, designing many of the shops and apartments along Worth Avenue as well as catering for his wealthy private clients. Although Mizner died a bankrupt in 1933 he had left his mark on Palm Beach. Today Palm Beach continues to be synonymous with the rich and powerful, who indulge in a lifestyle that only limitless money can buy - an elite winter playground of charity functions and polo matches,

WORLD CLASS SHOPPING AND THRIFT SHOPS TOO...
Palm Beach offers visitors world-class shopping - Worth Avenue, known as 'Rodeo Drive of the East', is a collection of more than 200 boutiques, is home to Valentino, Jimmy Choo, Chanel, Tiffany & Co, Salvatore Ferragamo, Emanuel Ungaro and also the stores, Neiman Marcus & Saks Fifth Avenue. Tucked in amongst the stores are several fine dining and gourmet restaurants. The Clematis Street District has a lively mix of shopping, clubs, bars, cafes and bistros mixed with culture, arts, and outdoor concerts. Those with an eye for a bargain can be found among the thrift stores where high-class cast-offs are sold - sometimes after only being worn once.

A CENTER FOR JAPANESE ARTS AND CULTURE...
In 1904, Jo Sakai brought a group of pioneering farmers from Japan to what is now northern Boca Raton. Forming a farming colony named Yamato - an ancient name for Japan - their crop experimentations were disappointing and failed to revolutionize Florida’s agriculture. Through time the community drifted apart until there was only one settler left - George Sukeji Morikami - who continued to grow local crops while acting as a fruit and vegetable wholesaler. In the mid 1970s, he donated his land to Palm Beach County, requesting that it be used to honor the memory of the Yamato Colony. Today The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is the center for Japanese arts and culture in South Florida - with its unique gardens and collections, it is one of Palm Beach County’s most treasured cultural attractions.

EXCEPTIONAL REEF DIVING...
In the 1960s, artificial reefs were created to protect the coastline from erosion. Today these reefs have matured and provide an impressive backdrop for diving. The county added three former drug smuggling vessels in February 2002 and they are now becoming a haven for game and tropical fish as they rapidly become overgrown with coral and algae. The area is also known for its exceptional reef diving and it comes as no surprise that, in 2002, it was rated the 4th best overall dive destination for offering outstanding reef and wreck diving, suitable for all levels of experience, by Rodale's Scuba Diving.

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