Process Paper
Being residents of Florida, we know much about the rich history of South Florida, including the Florida Keys. We have ridden the over-seas highway to the Keys and marveled at the spectacular sights of the Long Key Viaduct and the Seven-Mile Bridge, now known to some as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” This is why we chose to do our project on Henry Flagler and the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railway. Without Flagler's railroad and his hotel chain, the east coast of Florida would not have developed as quickly.
Our research began by reading the new centennial edition of Last Train to Paradise: Henry Flagler and the Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Railroad that Crossed an Ocean by Les Standiford. Inside the centennial edition were many photographs of the building process in the early 1900s, timetables from the railroad’s years of operation, and even a newspaper article celebrating the opening of the railroad in 1912. We later interviewed Mr. Standiford, and he provided us with a detailed history of how Flagler came to build the FEC railway. We also obtained very useful interviews from Jesus Mendez, professor at Barry University, Thomas Graham and Eugene Lyon, professors at Flagler College, Seth Bramson, the historian of the FEC Railway Company, and Ben DiBiase, the archivist of the Florida Historical Society. Using Google News and Google Books Archives, we uncovered many newspaper articles, magazine articles, and books about the FEC railway, including one written by the railroad company itself. We also took a trip to Henry Flagler’s home, Whitehall, now a museum.
We chose to do a website because we found it to be the most practical way to portray the FEC railway. First, we explained the state of Florida’s economy and development before Henry Flagler built the FEC railway. Then we detailed the story of how he built the railroad and hotels, including why he decided to build the Key West Extension. We also discuss Henry Plant, a friend of Flagler who built the Florida West Coast Railway. Finally, we expanded upon the idea of touristic, economic, and developmental growth in Florida as a result of the Florida East Coast Railway. We included quotes from the historian of the FEC Railway Company and many others because they provided a firsthand look at the impact of the railroad.
Flagler’s building of the FEC railway sparked a turning point in the development of Florida. As Flagler’s railroad progressed down the east coast, cities sprung up and grew rapidly in population and overall size. Today, many of those cities, including West Palm Beach and Miami, are bustling metropolises. While there were many setbacks along the way, Flagler reached Key West and accomplished his dream of turning Florida into an international tourist location. In part, because of Flagler's persistence, Florida became the amazing state he and many others hoped it would be. This turning point affected Florida by transforming it from an undeveloped wasteland into one of the most populated states in the USA.
Our research began by reading the new centennial edition of Last Train to Paradise: Henry Flagler and the Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Railroad that Crossed an Ocean by Les Standiford. Inside the centennial edition were many photographs of the building process in the early 1900s, timetables from the railroad’s years of operation, and even a newspaper article celebrating the opening of the railroad in 1912. We later interviewed Mr. Standiford, and he provided us with a detailed history of how Flagler came to build the FEC railway. We also obtained very useful interviews from Jesus Mendez, professor at Barry University, Thomas Graham and Eugene Lyon, professors at Flagler College, Seth Bramson, the historian of the FEC Railway Company, and Ben DiBiase, the archivist of the Florida Historical Society. Using Google News and Google Books Archives, we uncovered many newspaper articles, magazine articles, and books about the FEC railway, including one written by the railroad company itself. We also took a trip to Henry Flagler’s home, Whitehall, now a museum.
We chose to do a website because we found it to be the most practical way to portray the FEC railway. First, we explained the state of Florida’s economy and development before Henry Flagler built the FEC railway. Then we detailed the story of how he built the railroad and hotels, including why he decided to build the Key West Extension. We also discuss Henry Plant, a friend of Flagler who built the Florida West Coast Railway. Finally, we expanded upon the idea of touristic, economic, and developmental growth in Florida as a result of the Florida East Coast Railway. We included quotes from the historian of the FEC Railway Company and many others because they provided a firsthand look at the impact of the railroad.
Flagler’s building of the FEC railway sparked a turning point in the development of Florida. As Flagler’s railroad progressed down the east coast, cities sprung up and grew rapidly in population and overall size. Today, many of those cities, including West Palm Beach and Miami, are bustling metropolises. While there were many setbacks along the way, Flagler reached Key West and accomplished his dream of turning Florida into an international tourist location. In part, because of Flagler's persistence, Florida became the amazing state he and many others hoped it would be. This turning point affected Florida by transforming it from an undeveloped wasteland into one of the most populated states in the USA.
Word Count: 500