The Breakers is synonymous with the wealth and opulence of Palm Beach. It is an icon of the Gilded Age, offering more than a century of history. In 1894, railroad and real estate magnate Henry Morrison Flagler built the world's largest hotel, the Royal Poinciana in Palm Beach to attract the wealthy to stay in the area when he extended the Florida East Coast Railroad to the isolated area of Lake Worth. After the success of the Royal Poinciana, Flagler built a second hotel that opened on January 16, 1896. The smaller Palm Beach Inn overlooked the Atlantic Ocean and guests started asking for rooms "down by the breakers." In 1901 Flagler doubled the size and changed the name of the hotel to The Breakers. In 1903 while working was being done to enlarge it yet again, the wooden hotel burned down.
From the ashes, The Breaker II arose in 1904. Illustrious visitors of the time included the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Astors, Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, William Randolph Hearst, W.T. Grant and J.C. Penney, along with European nobility and U.S. presidents. On March 18, 1925 The Breakers once again burned down when Mrs. Thompson, the wife of visiting Chicago mayor "Big Bill" Thompson left her new curling iron plugged in when she exited her room. The hotel was a total loss.
The Breakers that stands here today was built by Flagler's heirs, William R. Kenan, Jr., president of the Florida East Coast Hotel Company and the Florida East Coast Railway Company, and the brother of Flagler's wife, Mary Lily Kenan Flagler. The architectural firm of Schultze and Weaver was chosen to design the new Breakers based on the facade of the Italian Renaissance Villa Medici (1575). Schultze and Weaver went on to design the Waldorf-Astoria, Pierre, and Sherry Netherlands hotels in New York City. New York City-based Turner Construction Company built the seven-story Breakers. Construction began in January 1926 with more than 1,200 construction workers working around the clock. It took 72 artisans from Italy to complete the hand painted lobby ceiling. The project was completed for $7 million in a 11 1/2 months and The Breakers opened on December 29, 1926. By 1935, The Royal Poinciana was torn down leaving The Breakers as the most luxurious resort standing in Palm Beach. On Sept. 10, 1942, The Breakers became the U.S. Army's Ream General Hospital, serving thousands of servicemen and women recuperating from wounds and illnesses during WWII. Visitors to the war time hospital included Eleanor Roosevelt and then-Sen. Harry Truman who would be elected President. In May 1944, the U.S. Army returned The Breakers to the resort owners.
Anyone who visits The Breakers today can see that is a masterpiece of Italian Renaissance design with its dramatic arches, marble floors, and crystal chandeliers. The Florentine Dining Room beamed ceiling was modeled after the Palazzo Davanzati in Florence (1400). The North and South Loggias, shaded terraces, landscaped patios, lush gardens, elegant courtyards, and stunning beachfront make this elegant resort one of a kind. Especially awe inspiring is the 200 foot main lobby with its ornate soaring ceilings that typify the opulence that defines the entire property. Created in 1897 by Henry Flagler, the Breakers' Ocean Course designed by Great Britain top golfer Alexander Findlay is said to be the longest continuously operated golf course in Florida despite Flagler believing golf was just a passing trend.
Today The Breakers is one of relatively few privately-owned resorts, independent of chain affiliation. The resort has 538 rooms and suites, a number of restaurants and shops, playground, a beach club, golf, tennis, a spa, and fitness center. The resort hotel is owned by Flagler System Inc., which includes Flagler's heirs. The Breakers is known for its grandiose architecture, impeccable service, and stunning oceanfront views and it stands as one of the most renowned resorts in Florida. If you are not a guest of the resort you can provide your drivers license to the guards as I did and tell them that you are visiting one of the restaurants. The pool and spa are off limit to non resort visitors. Guest parking is on your immediate left just past the guards in row A. In addition to grabbing a snack and admiring the architecture I enjoyed seeing all of the historical photos and artifacts on display in the lobby along with the grand Christmas trees.
The Breakers continues to look better than ever thanks to the $25 million that is annually invested into improvements, that include revitalization and historical preservation. This impeccable resort has offered over a century of history, unparalleled luxury, timeless beauty, and outstanding service. It is a iconic and beloved Palm Beach landmark. read more