Celebrating 117 Years: Happy Birthday, Breakers!

The Breakers opened on January 16, 1896 – making the legendary resort 117 year’s old this Wednesday!

A Standard Oil Company magnate, Henry Flagler acquired and built railroads to serve Florida’s east coast, opening the once isolated region to development and tourism. In 1894 he built his first hotel in the southeast coast, The Royal Poinciana Hotel at Lake Worth, attracting the elite to what would become the world’s premier resort destination, Palm Beach.

In 1896, Flagler built a second hotel, The Palm Beach Inn on the beachfront of the Royal Poinciana. Soon guests requested rooms “over by the breakers.”  When Flagler redoubled the hotel’s size, he renamed it The Breakers.

In honor of the resort’s birthday, we wanted to share some timeless historical images…

During an expansion project – the fourth in less than a decade – The Breakers burned down on June 9, 1903. Less than a year later on February 1, 1904, it reopened to universal acclaim. Rooms started at four dollars a night, including three meals a day. The guest register read like a “who’s who” of early twentieth century America – Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Astors, Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan vacationed alongside United States presidents and European nobility.

Seventy-five artisans were brought from Italy to complete the magnificent paintings on the ceilings of the 200-foot long main lobby and first-floor public rooms. Far grander than its predecessor, The Breakers remains an unrivaled masterpiece.

More Images: Enjoy a look back at the legendary resort’s rich history
with more historial photos of  The Breakers on our Facebook Page
….

Celebrate with The Breakers!
In honor of the resort’s birthday, we will be celebration by featuring the following…

As Daiquiries and Tootsie Rolls were invented in 1896, we will be offering specialty Daiquiris by the pool and Tootsie Roll Martinis in our bars on Wednesday, January 16, 2013.

We will have a lunch special available for the price of $18.96 at the Beach Club and Ocean Grill and we will be offering a special appetizer for the price of $18.96 in the Seafood Bar and Flagler Steakhouse.  We will also be featuring specials in HMF.

The Beach Club Restaurant lunch appetizer:  Mahi Mahi Reuben Sandwich served on Rye Bread with Thousand Island Dressing, Sauerkraut, Melted Swiss Cheese and French Fries.

The Flagler Steakhouse dinner appetizer:  Lobster and Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, Spicy Horseradish, Lemon Aioli, Scallion and Garden Herb Salad

Happy Birthday, Breakers!