| (1830
- 1913) |
| Inducted: |
1985 |
| Region: |
Southeast |
| Industry: |
Real Estate
|
|
Henry Flagler made millions of dollars as vice president of Standard Oil and he used that money to develop Florida. Starting in the mid-1880s, he started to transform the state from wilderness to playground. He built hotels in St. Augustine, refurbished the railroad from Jacksonville to help attract guests, continued to build and buy hotels along the eastern coast, and extended his railroad to serve them. The Florida East Coast train line ultimately covered all 366 miles from Jacksonville to Miami. He also developed Palm Beach and built Miami into a city. |
