royal palm hotel

Royal Palm Hotel under construction in 1896

MIami’s First Christmas in 1896

Christmas 1896 in the newly-incorporated city of Miami was euphoric for many of its estimated 1,000 residents, who exhibited feelings of pride in for the transformation of a wilderness into an instant municipality in less than one year. In fact, some were already calling it the “Magic City.”


Soldiers Drilling at Royal Palm Park in 1898

Miami and the Spanish American War – Part 3 of 3

As noted in the previous installment of this study, conditions in Camp Miami in the summer of 1898 worsened for 7,000 soldiers under the onslaught of heavy rainstorms, high temperatures, and humidity.  One solider complained: “Here at Miami we have…


Soldiers marching on Royal Palm Park in 1898.

Miami and the Spanish American War – Part 2 of 3

As noted in part one of this series, Miami finally secured a military training camp in June of 1898 as fighting continued in Cuba between the United States and Spain over the issue of Cuban independence. The work of the…


Tents in Miami for Soldiers in 1898

Miami and the Spanish American War – Part 1 of 3

Miami was less than two years of age when, in April 1898, the United States went to war with the aging empire of Spain over the issue of Cuban independence.  A picturesque island with a lively, cosmopolitan capital in Havana,…


Row of Royal Palm Cottages in downtown Miami

Flagler’s Royal Palm Cottages in Downtown Miami

While the Royal Palm Hotel was being constructed in downtown Miami in the summer of 1896, Henry Flagler made a visit to Miami to inspect the progress of his grand hotel. During this visit, he noticed that his workers were…