Friday, November 9, 2012

LAST TRAIN TO PARADISE: HENRY FLAGLER AND THE SPECTACULAR RISE AND FALL OF THE RAILROAD THAT CROSSED AN OCEAN
by Les Standiford

If it hadn't been for Henry Morrison Flagler, Florida might never have been the glittering resort that millions of people flock to every year. All of the famous hotels: Ponce de Leon, Royal Palm, The Breakers were his ideas. Flagler, basically, built the state and Miami (the area was originally called Fort Dallas) was incorporated in 1896). The town council wanted to name the city after Flagler but
he convinced them to use the Native American one instead.
Flagler was quite an entrepreneur. He and John D. Rockefeller created Standard Oil though Flagler was the genius behind it. With the amount of money that he amassed, he could have retired early, but he was driven and continued onward. His next, biggest challenge was having a railroad crossing 153 miles of open ocean from Key West to the mainland of Florida. Engineers considered it to be impossible. But it was built and remained standing for twenty-two years.
Last Train to Paradise is a great story of a very enterprising man. Flagler was a visionary who made his dreams come true.
The writing is terrific and the details of what went into building this incredible railway is quite astonishing. (It took seven years.)
A great read.
Recommended.

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