Henry Flagler’s statue is set to get a new home in Palm Beach.
The Palm Beach Town Council approved funds up to $22,000 on Wednesday to relocate the statue to the town’s Main Street. Flagler’s descendant is also contributing up to $11,000 to cover project costs, according to the Palm Beach Daily News.
Flagler was the founder of Standard Oil and of what became the Florida East Coast Railway and was a pioneer in the development of Florida. He is considered the father of Miami and Palm Beach. He died in Palm Beach in 1913.
The 11-foot bronze Flagler statue will be moved to the Royal Poinciana Way median east of the Flagler Memorial Bridge and Bradley Place intersection in Palm Beach.
During the reconstruction of the new Flagler Memorial Bridge, the 11-foot Flagler was put in storage. Before that, it was east of the north bridge near the Golden Eagle and flagpole, according to the Palm Beach Daily News.
“I think it’s a much better location in the Royal Poinciana median,” Mayor Gail Coniglio told the Palm Beach Daily News. “It’s a better separation of the flag and the eagle as you cross the bridge.” — Grace Guarnieri
