Miami: A Young but Turbulent History
Birth of a city
Julia Tuttle, an Ohio widow who owned several hundred acres of land on the north side of the Miami River during the late 19th century, envisioned a gateway city for international trade. For years, she had been trying to persuade millionaire Henry Flagler to extend his railroad to South Florida, but he didn’t see the potential of settling a mosquito-infested jungle. That is, until 1895, when a cold spell wiped out crops in all of Florida except the southern tip.
It is said that Tuttle seized on the opportunity to send Flagler a box of orange blossoms from South Florida – ripe and ready to be exported throughout the country – and a city was born. Tuttle, known as the “mother of Miami”, and William and Mary Brickell, who owned land on the south bank of the river, agreed to give Flagler land in exchange for him extending the railroad south. Today, Brickell Avenue, which runs from the south bank of the river, is Miami’s financial district.
The first train pulled up to the north bank of the river in April 1896 with Flagler at the helm. Three months later, the various settlements along the coast were incorporated into a city. Voters wanted to name the new city “Flagler”, after the man that gave them a direct rail line to New York City.
But Flagler wanted to call the city Miami. That was, after all, what the Spanish had called it during the 200 years they controlled it. And what the Tequestas had called it for much longer than that.
Miami became an instant tourist attraction, thanks to Flagler, who built streets, instituted water and power systems and financed the city’s first newspaper, optimistically named The Metropolis. In 1897, Flagler built the Royal Palm Hotel on the north bank of the Miami River, in the heart of modern downtown, a luxurious five-floor, 400-room resort with electric lights, elevators and a swimming pool.
It became an instant winter retreat for the rich and famous, including Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. As word spread of the newly formed paradise, thousands flocked to Miami to buy property.
Miami entered the 20th century riding the first of its many real estate booms. As the city expanded westward, the everglades were drained to make room for new houses and roads. Some unsuspecting investors ended up buying worthless swampland. Even back then, Miami was attracting its share of swindlers.