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Museum
Get Involved
Programs & Events
Research
- Archives
- Research Room
Education
Historical Society
- About Us
- Awards
  - Judge James R. Knott Historical Contribution Award
  - Fannie James Pioneer Achievement Award

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Home / BOOK / The Last Ride

The Last Ride

SKU BKBIO0028 Category BOOK

$18.00

Out of stock

Description

Description

Mercer, Glen; Smith, Patrick D.

Contact Us

Phone: 561.832.4164

Mail:
P.O. Box 4364
West Palm Beach, FL 33402

Visit:
300 N. Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL 33401

MUSEUM HOURS

Mon – Sat 10 am – 4 pm
Sunday Closed

HSPBC ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE HOURS

Mon – Friday 9 am – 5 pm

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As we wrap up a very rainy week in Palm Beach Coun

As we wrap up a very rainy week in Palm Beach County, we’re looking back 100 years at one of the most destructive storms in South Florida’s history.

On September 18, 1926, a devastating hurricane made landfall in South Florida. Despite being known as the “Great Miami Hurricane of 1926,” the storm caused widespread destruction far beyond Miami-Dade County. It sometimes receives less local recognition than the catastrophic Okeechobee Hurricane of 1928, but the 1926 storm also profoundly affected Palm Beach County and its development.

The hurricane struck the coast in the early morning hours. Thousands of people across South Florida were injured or left without shelter, while Palm Beach County experienced 100 mph winds and severe flooding. The first three photos above were taken as the storm reached West Palm Beach. By 10 a.m., the ferry dock to Palm Beach was nearly underwater. Trees were torn down, boats sank, and buildings were destroyed. As the storm moved inland, many people drowned when it broke a dike at Moore Haven on the shores of Lake Okeechobee.

The storm also helped bring an end to South Florida’s 1920s land boom. Builders and land developers had already struggled to keep pace with the demands of a rapidly growing population. The 1926 hurricane caused unprecedented property damage, and real estate values plummeted. Confidence in coastal South Florida real estate declined, helping bring the boom to an end.

By remembering the 1926 hurricane, we can better understand the important role nature played during one of Palm Beach County’s most consequential periods of land, real estate, and infrastructure development.

#PalmBeachCountyHistory #PalmBeachHistory #SouthFloridaHistory #FloridaHistory #LocalHistory #HistoricPalmBeach #History #MuseumHistory #HistoricalSociety #PalmBeachCounty #WestPalmBeach #SouthFlorida #PalmBeachCountyHistoryMuseum

✨ Thank you for helping preserve our shared histor

✨ Thank you for helping preserve our shared history.

This week, we had the honor of celebrating the remarkable individuals featured in Escribiendo Nuestra Historia, our 2026 Hispanic Heritage Month exhibition developed in partnership with Latin Quarter of West Palm Beach.

The exhibition takes its name from Latin Quarter’s broader Escribiendo Nuestra Historia initiative, which documents and preserves the stories and contributions of Hispanic families in Palm Beach County. Through our partnership, this year’s exhibition highlights 14 individuals whose experiences reflect the many ways Hispanic residents have shaped our community.

From entrepreneurship and education to healthcare, journalism, public service, and cultural preservation, this year’s honorees are helping to shape Palm Beach County’s story. We are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments, preserve their experiences, and share their stories with our community.

A special thank you to our incredible 2026 honorees for sharing your stories and allowing us to celebrate the history you are helping write. ❤️

We are also incredibly grateful to our sponsors and partners for making this celebration possible:
✨ Latin Quarter of West Palm Beach (@latinquarterwpb)

✨ Don Ramon Restaurante Cubano & Social Club (@donramonrestaurant)

✨ West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority

✨ Florida Power & Light (insidefpl)

✨ Suramed Health Center P.A. (@suramedwpb)

✨ Searcy Law, Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, PA (@searcylaw)

And thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate, connect, and honor the stories that make Palm Beach County what it is today.

Escribiendo Nuestra Historia will remain on view at the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum until October 15th. We invite you to come experience these stories for yourself.

📸: Capehart Photography

#EscribiendoNuestraHistoria #HispanicHeritageMonth #HispanicHeritage #PalmBeachCountyHistory #WestPalmBeach #PBCHistory #HistoricalSocietyPBC #LatinQuarter #HistoryInTheMaking

✨ COCKTAILS IN PARADISE: A STROLL THROUGH THE ROYA

✨ COCKTAILS IN PARADISE: A STROLL THROUGH THE ROYAL ✨

History, cocktails, culture, and a little Palm Beach glamour? Count us in. 🍸
Join the Young Friends of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County for an unforgettable evening at The Royal Poinciana Plaza on October 8.

Enjoy cocktails, shopping, private tours of Paul Labrecque and Glazer Hall, and special performances by Ballet Palm Beach as we explore one of Palm Beach’s most iconic destinations.

📅 October 8, 2026
⏰ 5:30–7:30 PM
📍 Paul Labrecque, Glazer Hall & The Royal Poinciana Plaza
🎟️ $75 non-members | $50 members

Come sip, stroll, and experience the history and culture that make Palm Beach so distinctive.

Don’t miss the second event of the season! Join us December 10 at Busch Wildlife for A Stroll on the Wildside. 🐾

A huge thank you to our Cocktails in Paradise 2026–2027 Sponsors for helping make this series possible: Paul Labrecque (@paullabrecquesalon), Glazer Hall (@glazerhall), The Royal Poinciana Plaza (@theroyalpoincianaplaza), Busch Wildlife (@buschwildlife), Christopher Adeleke of Douglas Elliman (@freshprincechris), Marker Construction (@markerconstruction), Wellington Florist (@wellingtonflorist), and Munyon’s Paw Paw (@munyonspawpaw).

Tickets are limited, so grab yours at pbchistory.org and join us in paradise!

📖 It’s here! Our 2026–2027 Season Guide has arrive

📖 It’s here! Our 2026–2027 Season Guide has arrived.

Think of it as your one-stop shop for everything happening at the Historical Society of Palm Beach County this season.

From exhibitions and programs to events, membership, volunteering, and more, it’s all in one place so you can start planning your year in history.

Whether you’re looking to discover something new, get more involved, or simply find your next favorite event, we’ve got you covered.

✨ Explore the 2026–2027 Season Guide on our website and start planning your season.

History is happening all year long. We’ll see you there. To learn more visit: https://ow.ly/CP5b50ZMC2F

#HSPBC #PalmBeachCounty #PalmBeachHistory #WestPalmBeach #PalmBeach #SouthFlorida #HistoryLivesHere #MuseumLife #MuseumLovers #SupportLocalHistory #ThingsToDoInPalmBeach #ArtsAndCulture #2026Season #SeasonGuide

✨ Next week, we celebrate the stories that help sh

✨ Next week, we celebrate the stories that help shape our community.

Join us on September 15 for Escribiendo Nuestra Historia, the Historical Society of Palm Beach County’s 2026 Hispanic Heritage Month exhibition, presented in partnership with Latin Quarter.

Meet the remarkable individuals whose work in entrepreneurship, education, public service, cultural preservation, healthcare, journalism, and community engagement has helped shape the story of Palm Beach County. This exhibition recognizes their contributions and preserves their experiences as an essential part of our shared history.

📅 Next Tuesday, September 15
⏰ 5:30–7:30 PM
📍 Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum
🎟️ Free Admission

Meet the 2026 Honorees:
Alma Gallego, Poet, Publisher & Cultural Advocate
Antonio S. Batallan, CEO & Co-Founder, The Batallan Group
Armando Fana, Director of Housing and Community Development, City of West Palm Beach
Carlos González, General Contractor, Real Estate Developer & Mortgage Broker
Carlos Mahecha, Journalist & Founder, Mahecha News
Christopher F. Irizarry, CEO, FoundCare Community Health Centers
Dr. Eugenio Rodríguez, General and Trauma Surgeon, Florida Surgical Foundation
Dr. Patricia Ordóñez-Feliciano, Executive Director, School Transformation and Multicultural Education, School District of Palm Beach County
Ezra Dilbert, Police Captain, School District of Palm Beach County
Jaene Miranda, President & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County
Juan J. Pagán, President, Florida Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce
Karina I. De La Cruz, President, Horizon Legal Solutions
Mabel da Silva-Datena, Director, Latin Quarter West Palm Beach
Virginia Savietto, District 2 School Board Member, School District of Palm Beach County

Come celebrate their stories, their contributions, and the history they are helping write.

RSVP today at pbchistory.org

#EscribiendoNuestraHistoria #HispanicHeritageMonth #PalmBeachCounty #CommunityStories #HistoryMatters #LocalHistory #CulturalHeritage #OralHistory #HistoricalSociety #PBCEvents #MuseumExhibit #LoveFL #SouthFloridaCulture #DiscoverThePalmBeaches

🧑‍⚖️ Mock Trials are BACK! The courtroom is offic

🧑‍⚖️ Mock Trials are BACK!

The courtroom is officially back in session on October 1! Step inside the Historic Courtroom at the Palm Beach County History Museum for an evening of history, drama, debate, and a little friendly courtroom flair.

Watch history come to life as participants take on the roles of attorneys, witnesses, and jurors in this engaging and interactive experience. Whether you love history, law, or just a good argument, you’ll want to be in the courtroom when the gavel drops!

📅 October 1
🕠 5:30–8:00 PM
🎟️ 21+
📍 Historic Courtroom
⚖️ Court is back in session. Will you be there?

Register at the link in bio!

#MockTrial #HistoryInAction #PalmBeachHistory #PBCHistory #CourtroomDrama #InteractiveHistory #HistoryLovers #PalmBeachEvents

Today, we’d like to honor the construction workers

Today, we’d like to honor the construction workers and hotel staff members of the Flagler era. While Henry Flagler undoubtedly ranks as one of the most important figures in South Florida’s history, Palm Beach County wouldn’t have become what it is today without the extensive labor that went into both building and maintaining his luxurious resorts.

The Royal Poinciana was the first of Flagler’s Palm Beach hotels. Railroad engineers extended the Florida East Coast Railway, allowing workers and construction materials to reach Palm Beach, and construction on the hotel began in 1893. Within a year, a crew of one thousand men brought Flagler’s dream to life. Before West Palm Beach was incorporated, white laborers lived in makeshift tents on what is now Seaview Avenue and in areas along the Lake Trail, while Black workmen were segregated in a Palm Beach neighborhood known as “the Styx.” In 1894, West Palm Beach was incorporated to accommodate the extensive labor force needed to build and staff Flagler’s hotels. The Styx remained home to many Black laborers who worked in the hotels until the community was dissolved in 1912.

At its peak, 1,400 employees operated the Royal Poinciana, which could accommodate nearly 2,000 guests, demanding a large team of porters, bellhops, maids, and cooks. There were also employees who ran an on-site bakery, ice cream shop, post office, incinerator, and electric power plant. Meanwhile, Black wheelchairmen transported guests around the resort and throughout Palm Beach in wicker wheelchairs, providing a distinctive form of transportation during the Flagler era.

These workers were foundational to the development of both Palm Beach and West Palm Beach. They toiled to make Flagler’s vision a reality, and in doing so, brought new life, meaning, character, and purpose to Palm Beach County.

As we recognize the generations of workers whose labor helped shape our community, the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.

Join us today in celebrating 96 years of Publix, w

Join us today in celebrating 96 years of Publix, which first opened in Winter Haven on September 6th, 1930!

After years of steady growth, Publix came to Palm Beach County in 1959. Their first location was on Osborne (now Lantana) Road, with a second soon opening up in West Palm Beach, on Southern Boulevard. Palm Beach even got its own location in 1971. All three stores are still there, and nearly a century later, Florida has become home to hundreds of Publixes.

These photos from our Palm Beach Post and Palm Beach Daily News collections offer a charming glimpse into pre-21st century Publix. What’s your favorite thing about the iconic grocery chain?

@publix
#PalmBeachCountyHistory #PalmBeachHistory #SouthFloridaHistory #FloridaHistory #LocalHistory #HistoricPalmBeach #History #MuseumHistory #HistoricalSociety #PalmBeachCounty #WestPalmBeach #SouthFlorida #PalmBeachCountyHistoryMuseum

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The Historical Society of Palm Beach County is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and sharing the rich history of Palm Beach County. Through stewardship of archives, exhibitions, and educational programs, we connect our community to its past to inspire understanding and appreciation for generations to come.

©2025 Historical Society of Palm Beach County, All Rights Reserved. | Site By Immersive Spaces, LLC

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