Entrepreneur that she was,
Julia recognized that her
investments would prosper
only if the area were more
easily connected to the rest
of the country. She tried in
vain to persuade Henry Plant
to build his railroad from
Tampa across the
Everglades. Then she heard
that Henry Flagler was
building a railroad down
Florida’s east coast to Palm
Beach.
Julia contacted Henry Flagler
repeatedly and urged him to
extend his railroad another
60 miles south to Ft. Dallas.
She offered him half of her
land if he would do so. He
refused—until the “Big
Freeze” of 1894-95
devastated the crops across
most of Florida-- and Julia
sent orange blossoms to
Henry to prove that the
Miami River area was below
Julia recognized that her
investments would prosper
only if the area were more
easily connected to the rest
of the country. She tried in
vain to persuade Henry Plant
to build his railroad from
Tampa across the
Everglades. Then she heard
that Henry Flagler was
building a railroad down
Florida’s east coast to Palm
Beach.
Julia contacted Henry Flagler
repeatedly and urged him to
extend his railroad another
60 miles south to Ft. Dallas.
She offered him half of her
land if he would do so. He
refused—until the “Big
Freeze” of 1894-95
devastated the crops across
most of Florida-- and Julia
sent orange blossoms to
Henry to prove that the
Miami River area was below
| . |
| . |
www.ambiente.us AUGUST |AGOSTO 2010
Julia Tuttle and Henry Flagler | Making Miami
By Becky Roper Matkov for Dade Heritage Trust
Two thousand years ago, where a river of sweet water met a crystal clear bay, in
a place we now call Miami, someone placed an offering of a sea turtle, a
porpoise and a shark in a 38-foot circle of cut stone. Discovered in 1998, the
mysterious Miami Circle whispers of a past far removed from the world of today.
Until the late 1800s, this land of vast green and blue, accessible only by boat,
remained remote, inhabited by Native Americans, soldiers and a few hardy
pioneers.
In 1896, all that changed, and Miami as we know it was born, thanks to a widow
named Julia Tuttle and a tycoon named Henry Flagler.
Julia Tuttle moved from Cleveland, Ohio to the small settlement of Ft. Dallas on
Biscayne Bay in 1891. She had visited there earlier to see her father, Ephraim
Sturtevant, and thought this subtropical, exotic land had much to offer. After
her husband died, she bought the abandoned military post and 640 acres on the
north side of the Miami River. She arrived by barge with her son and daughter,
housekeeper, furniture and cows, having to cut through the dense brush to land.
She established a comfortable home and grounds among the ruins of the fort.
She built a wharf, a warehouse and the Hotel Miami and dreamed of creating a
flourishing city.
Julia Tuttle and Henry Flagler | Making Miami
By Becky Roper Matkov for Dade Heritage Trust
Two thousand years ago, where a river of sweet water met a crystal clear bay, in
a place we now call Miami, someone placed an offering of a sea turtle, a
porpoise and a shark in a 38-foot circle of cut stone. Discovered in 1998, the
mysterious Miami Circle whispers of a past far removed from the world of today.
Until the late 1800s, this land of vast green and blue, accessible only by boat,
remained remote, inhabited by Native Americans, soldiers and a few hardy
pioneers.
In 1896, all that changed, and Miami as we know it was born, thanks to a widow
named Julia Tuttle and a tycoon named Henry Flagler.
Julia Tuttle moved from Cleveland, Ohio to the small settlement of Ft. Dallas on
Biscayne Bay in 1891. She had visited there earlier to see her father, Ephraim
Sturtevant, and thought this subtropical, exotic land had much to offer. After
her husband died, she bought the abandoned military post and 640 acres on the
north side of the Miami River. She arrived by barge with her son and daughter,
housekeeper, furniture and cows, having to cut through the dense brush to land.
She established a comfortable home and grounds among the ruins of the fort.
She built a wharf, a warehouse and the Hotel Miami and dreamed of creating a
flourishing city.
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the frost line.
Entrepreneur that he was, Henry Flagler recognized a promising market for shipping fruit
and vegetables on his railroad. He accepted Julia’s offer —and accepted some more
donated land from trading post owner William Brickell. He immediately began building his
railroad south.
The Florida East Coast Railway arrived at Ft. Dallas in April 1896. Passengers soon flooded
in. A few months later, on July 28, 1896, the growing town was incorporated as the City of
Miami.
To attract wealthy tourists, Henry built a glorious resort hotel on the north side of the Miami
River, atop an Indian burial site. The Royal Palm, with its magnificent view of Biscayne Bay,
opened in January 1897 and became a cornerstone for Miami’s mushrooming growth.
Henry Flagler, a Presbyterian, was ecumenically generous to Miami’s early churches,
donating land and funds. He surveyed and cleared streets. He built housing for workers.
He established a waterworks and the Miami Electric Power and Light Company. He
donated money for a hospital and a public school. He financed the first newspaper, the
Miami Metropolis. He dredged a channel in Biscayne Bay to create a harbor. In a massive
engineering feat, he extended his railroad from Miami to Key West, connecting the many
islands.
Julia Tuttle, the “Mother of Miami,” and Henry Flagler, the “Father of Miami,”
were dreamers and doers who made possible the transformation of Miami into a major
metropolis. They opened the door for other visionary developers like George Merrick of
Coral Gables who would follow in the decades to come.
www.dadeheritagetrust.org
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source
Entrepreneur that he was, Henry Flagler recognized a promising market for shipping fruit
and vegetables on his railroad. He accepted Julia’s offer —and accepted some more
donated land from trading post owner William Brickell. He immediately began building his
railroad south.
The Florida East Coast Railway arrived at Ft. Dallas in April 1896. Passengers soon flooded
in. A few months later, on July 28, 1896, the growing town was incorporated as the City of
Miami.
To attract wealthy tourists, Henry built a glorious resort hotel on the north side of the Miami
River, atop an Indian burial site. The Royal Palm, with its magnificent view of Biscayne Bay,
opened in January 1897 and became a cornerstone for Miami’s mushrooming growth.
Henry Flagler, a Presbyterian, was ecumenically generous to Miami’s early churches,
donating land and funds. He surveyed and cleared streets. He built housing for workers.
He established a waterworks and the Miami Electric Power and Light Company. He
donated money for a hospital and a public school. He financed the first newspaper, the
Miami Metropolis. He dredged a channel in Biscayne Bay to create a harbor. In a massive
engineering feat, he extended his railroad from Miami to Key West, connecting the many
islands.
Julia Tuttle, the “Mother of Miami,” and Henry Flagler, the “Father of Miami,”
were dreamers and doers who made possible the transformation of Miami into a major
metropolis. They opened the door for other visionary developers like George Merrick of
Coral Gables who would follow in the decades to come.
www.dadeheritagetrust.org
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source
