Palm Beach / West Palm Beach Facts
Fact 1: Sometimes, good things result from unfortunate events. In 1878, a storm forced the Spanish ship "Providencia" to founder, scattering its cargo of coconuts. Coastal residents planted the flotsam in hopes of making money from the harvest, and a forest of trees sprang up, giving the area its name and distinctive appearance. It was partly as a result of their beauty that Henry Morrison Flagler decided to devote his attention to the island and transform it into the resort it has now become.
Fact 2: Harriet Himmel Gilman Theater, CityPlace's centerpiece and a stellar example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, served as the home sanctuary for WPB's First United Methodist Church from 1926 until 1989. When First United constructed a new facility, the church was transformed into a cultural center, and its characteristic architecture helped give rise to CityPlace's Tuscan style.
Fact 3: The relaxed, elegant ambience of this region is due in no small part to architect Addison Mizner. Inspired by structures of the southern Mediterranean (including Renaissance-era buildings and Moorish detailing), Mizner essentially created what has come to be called Mediterranean Revival architecture. This style now characterizes much of southern Florida. Other influential architects who contributed to the aesthetic included Marion Sims Wyeth, John L. Volk, Maurice Fatio, and Howard Major.
Fact 4: Some of the most expensive homes in American can be found in Palm Beach. Multi-million dollar estates are commonplace, and one paean to extravagance has a $75 million asking price. Should you scrape together the funds, know that your neighbors will include such illustrious figures as Donald Trump, Jimmy Buffett, and Rush Limbaugh.
Fact 5: If you look closely along Via Mizner, a quaint side street off Worth Avenue, you'll discern a small stone block that marks the grave of a spider monkey. Architect Addison Mizner's perennial companion, "Johnnie Brown" was a fixture in Palm Beach for many years. When the little fellow finally passed away, he was interred in a quiet place not far from the city's most prestigious thoroughfare.
Fact 6: Peanut Island, set in the Intracoastal Waterway just north of West Palm Beach, attracts folks with its camping, swimming, and recreational opportunities. It also boasts an unusual piece of history – a nuclear fallout shelter constructed for President Kennedy during the Cold War era of the early 1960s. Visitors today may tour the unelaborate but carefully created structure, taking in what was considered a necessity in an uncertain time.
Fact 7: Lake Worth, the body of water that separates West Palm Beach from Palm Beach, was originally a freshwater lake. When settlers succeeded in opening it to the ocean (for easier navigation), it was transformed into a saltwater lagoon. In the 1920s, an inlet to the sea was dredged and the soil deposited in the lake created what has now become Peanut Island. Today, the Intracoastal Waterway runs through Lake Worth, and you'll often hear the body of water referred to by both names.
Fact 8: Although born in Georgia, actor Burt Reynolds is one of Florida's favorite sons. Known for his many movies, marriage troubles, and money woes, Reynolds also established a dinner theater in nearby Jupiter and bestowed his name on the Burt Reynolds Institute for Theatre Training (BRITT) on Clematis Street. His love for the area is understandable. In his youth, Reynolds grew up in West Palm Beach, son of the city's chief-of-police.
Fact 9: Palm Beach County is a tourist mecca, yes, but it's also a sizeable chunk of land. With more than 2000 square miles of territory (water area not included), the county is larger than either Rhode Island or Delaware. Its most prominent industries include construction and agriculture, perpetual runners-up to the tourism heavyweight.
Fact 10: Should the waters run high while you're in West Palm Beach, make a beeline for the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. This cultural institution reputedly occupies the highest parcel of land in the city, a dizzying 42 feet above sea level!
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