Who built railroad to Florida Keys?
Flagler
In the early 1900s Flagler, affiliated with John D. Rockefeller in the Standard Oil Company, conceived and oversaw the construction of the Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad, paving the way for the Keys’ evolution into the destination that is internationally recognized today.
Why did they build a railroad to Key West?
“The only real natural port in those days was Key West. In 1900, it was Florida’s largest city, a bustling port alive with the cigar industry, fishing and sponging. So the impetus for building an overseas railroad was that Henry Flagler needed a port.”
Was there ever a train that went to Key West?
Over the next two decades, Henry Flagler’s Over-Sea Railroad carried half a million visitors across the miles separating mainland Florida and Key West. Unfortunately, it only lasted for 23 years before being severely damaged in a 1935 hurricane.
What happened to the Florida Keys railroad?
The Florida Keys railroad was destroyed during a tragic hurricane in 1935, but you can still explore remnants of this piece of Florida Keys history which was once called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”
Who built first railroad to Key West?
Over a hundred years ago, the first train to cross the Overseas Railroad, technically known as the Key West extension of Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway, chugged into Key West.
Was there a railroad from Key West to Cuba?
Cuba, by the way, was one of the first countries with an operational railroad. The first trains began running in 1837. The Key West terminus at Trumbo Island served as the end of Flagler’s railroad, but that did not mean that was where the railcars stopped.
What happened to the train that went to Key West?
For more than two decades after the railroad’s 1912 completion it carried passengers to the Keys and Key West, affording them a breathtaking sense of steaming across the open ocean. The Over-Sea Railroad’s heyday ended abruptly when a portion of the line was destroyed in a 1935 hurricane.
When did the train stop running in Key West?
Why did Henry Flagler build the railroad to Key West?
Henry Flagler saw the benefit of connecting Key West with the rest of the country after construction of the Panama Canal began. It was then that he decided to expand his railroad from Miami through the Florida Keys. He knew this would not be an easy feat and was told by many engineers that it could not be done.
What is the third longest historic railroad bridge in Florida?
In 1979 the third longest historic railroad bridges were listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Long Key Channel, Knight’s Key (7 Mile) and Bahia Honda Channel. In 1997 a task force was created to preserve the bridges and open them for pedestrian and recreational use.
How did the Florida Keys become the vacation destination they are?
The Florida Keys would not be the vacation destination they are today if it weren’t for the vision of Henry Flagler. Henry Flagler saw the benefit of connecting Key West with the rest of the country after construction of the Panama Canal began. It was then that he decided to expand his railroad from Miami through the Florida Keys.
What is the Florida Keys overseas Heritage Trail?
In 1997 a task force was created to preserve the bridges and open them for pedestrian and recreational use. In August of 2004, the remaining 20 historic Railroad Bridges and the Overseas Highway were listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail is now a multi-use trail with a rich history.
