Key Biscayne (Spanish: Cayo Vizcaíno ) is an island located in Miami-Dade County, Florida , located between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay . It is the southernmost of the barrier islands along the Atlantic coast of Florida, and lies south of Miami Beach and southeast of Miami . The key is connected to Miami via the Rickenbacker Causeway , originally built in 1947.
115-471: Mar-a-Lago ( / ˌ m ɑːr ə ˈ l ɑː ɡ oʊ / MAR ə LAH -goh , Spanish: [ˈmaɾ a ˈlaɣo] ) is a resort and National Historic Landmark in Palm Beach, Florida . It spans 126 rooms and 62,500 sq ft (5,810 m) built on 17 acres of land. Since 1985, it has been owned by United States president-elect Donald Trump , who lives on the estate as his primary residence. Mar-a-Lago
230-579: A Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) was operational at Mar-a-Lago. It was removed after he left office. The SCIF was used for communications with the White House Situation Room and Pentagon. The Mar-a-Lago Crowd , an informal group organized by President Trump which oversaw many of the activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs during the Trump administration, frequently met at
345-496: A closed-off area on the grounds. During his first presidency , Trump frequently visited Mar-a-Lago and held meetings there with international leaders, including Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese president Xi Jinping . Since 2019, Trump has designated the estate as his primary residence. The name Mar-a-Lago means "sea to lake" in Spanish, reflecting the fact that the estate extends from one end of Palm Beach Island to
460-502: A collection of nearly 36,000 15th century tiles that had been assembled in the 1880s by Mrs. Horace Havermeyer . This collection is possibly one of the largest in the world. The house has 58 bedrooms, 33 bathrooms, a 29-foot-long (8.8 m) pietra dura marble-top dining table, 12 fireplaces, and three bomb shelters . On April 18, 2012, members of the American Institute of Architects ' Florida chapter ranked Mar-a-Lago fifth on
575-681: A datum base for a survey of the Florida Keys and the Great Florida Reef. To learn more about the Great Florida Reef, Alexander Bache invited Louis Agassiz to study it. The U.S. Coast Survey sent Agassiz to Key Biscayne in 1851. He wrote a detailed report for Bache on the reefs stretching from Key Biscayne to the Marquesas Keys. The triangulation survey was conducted by the United States Coast Survey with men detailed from
690-457: A hectare) of bananas . By 1898, a great variety of tropical fruit trees had been planted on the island. Davis also had a large dwelling built for his use. It was a two-story cottage with five bedrooms and verandas on three sides, raised ten feet above the ground on pilings to protect against storm surges. In the late 1890s, Davis hired Ralph Munroe to oversee his Key Biscayne property. Munroe had begun visiting Biscayne Bay in 1877. He soon built
805-766: A home, the Barnacle , on land on the mainland in Coconut Grove that he bought from John Frow, keeper of the Cape Florida Light and Fowey Rocks Light. Munroe engaged in wrecking in the waters around Key Biscayne, built sailboats, worked as a pilot for the Cape Florida Channel and opened a pineapple cannery , to which Davis sent his pineapples. Before mail service to the Miami area improved, Munroe would camp out on Key Biscayne every Tuesday evening so that he could sail out to
920-603: A land developer unrelated to Waters Davis, to develop and re-sell the northern half of Key Biscayne, including all of what is now Crandon Park and about half the present Village of Key Biscayne. Davis had experience with turning submerged or partially submerged land into prime real estate, having created the Davis Islands in Tampa and Davis Shores near St. Augustine. Later in 1926, the City of Coral Gables incorporated with Key Biscayne, which
1035-556: A pavilion with a 30-foot-by-50-foot dance floor was built where square dance evenings were held. By the 1950s and 1960s, social tastes had changed, and many mansions constructed in the 1920s were demolished. However, in 1969 Mar-a-Lago was designated a national historic site. A contemporary report prepared by the Department of the Interior attributed its significance to providing "an excellent picture of winter resort life in Palm Beach prior to
1150-489: A proposal to develop Virginia Key as an air base and sea port. There was talk of putting an air base on the north end of Key Biscayne. In 1940, William Matheson's heirs donated 808.8 acres (327.3 ha) of land, including two miles (3.2 km) of beach on the Atlantic Ocean, on the northern end of Key Biscayne to Dade County to be used as a public park, later named Crandon Park . The county commissioner who negotiated
1265-566: A range of items used to maintain the mansion and his lifestyle as being legitimate business expenses. Membership at the Mar-a-Lago Club required a $ 200,000 initiation fee. In 2012, reportedly in response to reduced demand following the Bernie Madoff scandal which affected many affluent Palm Beach residents, the fee was lowered to $ 100,000. The fee returned to $ 200,000 in January 2017 after Trump
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#17328757783021380-631: A second in which Harney escaped in only his shirt and drawers from an early morning attack (the Harney Massacre ) on his camp led by Chief Chakaika . In light of these experiences, Harney instituted an intensive training program in swamp and jungle warfare for his men. After Chakaika led the raid on Indian Key in August 1840, Harney set out into the Everglades after Chakaika, and killed him in his own camp. The war quieted down after that, with active pursuit of
1495-561: A total of 6.84 acres (2.77 ha) of land, a record price per acre for the auction of U.S. government land up to that date. On September 18, 1926, the Great Miami Hurricane crossed over Key Biscayne on its way to Miami. Although there were no deaths on the island, most of the buildings were destroyed or badly damaged. Many of the plantings were lost, including half of the coconut trees. The Mathesons rushed to restore their plantation, replanting and buying new equipment to replace what
1610-662: A total of US$ 1.00 (20 cents per annum) to the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club for use as its headquarters. It was listed as the southernmost yacht club in the United States, and the tallest in the world. After the lease expired, the yacht club moved to Coconut Grove , where it continues. In 1898, in response to the growing tension with Spain over Cuba , which led to the Spanish–American War , the Cape Florida lighthouse
1725-506: A working dinner, where the two leaders discussed the U.S.-led effort to oust Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro , a future trade deal, and peace for the Middle East. Also at the dinner was Bolsonaro's press secretary, Fábio Wajngarten [ pt ] , whose wife informed others on social media on March 11, 2020, that he had tested positive for COVID-19 after he had returned from the United States via Miami to Brazil. Others attending
1840-854: Is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500, or roughly three percent, of over 90,000 places listed on the country's National Register of Historic Places are recognized as National Historic Landmarks. A National Historic Landmark District sometimes called a National Historical Park may include more than one National Historic Landmark and contributing properties that are buildings, structures, sites or objects, and it may include non-contributing properties. Contributing properties may or may not also be separately listed or registered. Prior to 1935, efforts to preserve cultural heritage of national importance were made by piecemeal efforts of
1955-544: Is elongated in the north–south direction, tapering to a point at each end. It is approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) long and 1 to 2 miles (1.6 to 3.2 km) wide. The northern end of the island is separated from another barrier island, Virginia Key , by Bear Cut. The southern end of the island is Cape Florida. The Cape Florida Channel separates the island from the Safety Valve , an expanse of shallow flats cut by tidal channels that extends southward about 9 miles (14 km) to
2070-508: Is home to Crandon Park , a county park. The middle section of the island consists of the incorporated Village of Key Biscayne . The southern part of the island is now protected as Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park , adjacent to Biscayne National Park , one of the two national parks in Miami-Dade County. Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda related that a sailor from the Bay of Biscay , called
2185-541: The Dry Tortugas was a cause for concern. Between the late 1840s and the late 1850s, more than 500 ships were wrecked on the Florida Reef . The Assistant United States Coast Surveyor reported that in the period from 1845 through 1849, almost one million (United States) dollars worth of vessels and cargoes were lost on the reef. In 1846, the U.S. Congress appropriated $ 23,000 to rebuild the Cape Florida lighthouse and work
2300-465: The Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places list. The primary business occupying the estate is the Mar-a-Lago Club, which opened in 1994 and operates as resort and hotel for dues-paying members, and rents out estate venues for private events. Operating the mansion as a club in this way, while continuing to live on the premises, allows Trump to significantly reduce his tax bill, by identifying
2415-805: The Former Presidents Act . Following the end of his term, Trump and other Republican candidates continued to hold fundraisers at Mar-a-Lago, and Trump continued to hold significant influence over the Republican party, a state of affairs labelled the "Mar-a-Lago machine" by the New York Times . Mar-a-Lago was the location of watch parties for Trump and close allies for the 2022 United States elections on November 8, 2022 and for Super Tuesday on March 5, 2024. During his 2024 presidential campaign , Trump hosted Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago. Upon departing
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#17328757783022530-844: The Historic American Buildings Survey amassed information about culturally and architecturally significant properties in a program known as the Historic Sites Survey. Most of the designations made under this legislation became National Historic Sites , although the first designation, made December 20, 1935, was for a National Memorial , the Gateway Arch National Park (then known as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial) in St. Louis , Missouri. The first National Historic Site designation
2645-522: The Melbourne Orlando International Airport . He also conducted interviews for a replacement National Security Advisor and named General H. R. McMaster as Michael Flynn's, who had recently been terminated, successor on February 20, 2017. After President Trump's fourth weekend visit on March 3–5, 2017, questions were raised about the access his paying club members have to him and his entourage. A number of Democratic senators asked
2760-497: The New Smyrna colony in northern Florida. Pedro and Mariana had joined other Menorcans in seeking refuge at St. Augustine after leaving New Smyrna. They stayed in the city after the Spanish regained Florida in 1783. Fornells received a Royal Grant for 175 acres (71 ha) on the southern end of Key Biscayne in 1805. The grant required Fornells to live on the island and establish cultivation within six months. He moved his household to
2875-596: The Ragged Keys , at the northern end of the Florida Keys. Only Soldier Key , approximately 200 by 100 yards (183 by 91 m) wide, lies between Key Biscayne and the Ragged Keys. The Cape Florida Channel, 10 to 11 feet (3.0 to 3.4 m) deep in 1849, and Bear Cut, 4 feet (1.2 m) deep in 1849, are the deepest natural channels into Biscayne Bay. They provided the only access for ocean-going vessels to Biscayne Bay until artificial channels were dredged starting early in
2990-606: The United States Congress . In 1935, Congress passed the Historic Sites Act , which authorized the interior secretary authority to formally record and organize historic properties, and to designate properties as having "national historical significance", and gave the National Park Service authority to administer historically significant federally owned properties. Over the following decades, surveys such as
3105-598: The Viscayno or Biscayno , had lived on the lower east coast of Florida for a while after being shipwrecked. A 17th-century map shows Cayo de Biscainhos , the probable origin of Key Biscayne . Key Biscayne, although named a "key", is not geologically part of the Florida Keys , but is a barrier island composed of sand eroded from the Appalachian Mountains , carried to the coast by rivers and then moved along
3220-486: The 1830s, likely grown from coconuts sent from Mexico by Henry Perrine to the first lighthouse keeper, John Dubose. In the 1880s, Ezra Asher Osborn and Elnathan T. Field of New Jersey started an enterprise to develop the Florida coast from Key Biscayne to Jupiter by clearing native vegetation, leveling Indian midden mounds and beach dunes , and planting coconuts. Osborn and Field imported 300,000 unhusked coconuts from
3335-407: The 1850s, Louis Agassiz noted that "[s]outh of Cape Florida no more silicacious sand is to be seen." (The beaches in the Florida Keys, by contrast, consist primarily of finely pulverized shells.) Geologists believe that the island emerged around 2000 BCE , soon after the sea level stopped rising, as the sand built up to form new barrier islands on the southern Florida coast. Key Biscayne
3450-542: The 1920s". Donald Trump initially offered the Post family $ 15 million, which was rejected. Trump then purchased land between Mar-a-Lago and the ocean from Jack C. Massey , the former owner of KFC , for $ 2 million, stating he intended to build a home that would block Mar-a-Lago's beach view. This threat caused competing interest in Mar-a-Lago to decline. Trump purchased the property for $ 7 million in 1985. Different sources have put
3565-500: The 20th century. In 1849 the island had a fine sandy beach on the east side, and mangroves and lagoons on the west side. The average elevation of the island is less than five feet (1.5 m) above sea level . Key Biscayne is located at 25°41′25″N 80°9′54″W / 25.69028°N 80.16500°W / 25.69028; -80.16500 (25.690329, -80.165118). The first known indigenous inhabitants of Key Biscayne were Tequestas . Shells, bones and artifacts found on
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3680-819: The 50 states. New York City alone has more NHLs than all but five states: Virginia , California , Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New York, the latter of which has the most NHLs of all 50 states. There are 74 NHLs in the District of Columbia . Some NHLs are in U.S. commonwealths and territories, associated states, and foreign states . There are 15 in Puerto Rico , the Virgin Islands , and other U.S. commonwealths and territories ; five in U.S.-associated states such as Micronesia ; and one in Morocco . Over 100 ships or shipwrecks have been designated as NHLs. Approximately half of
3795-641: The Bahamas from Cape Florida to evade American slaver catchers . In 1820, one traveler reported seeing 60 "Indians", 60 "runaway slaves", and 27 boats of Bahamian wreckers preparing to leave Cape Florida. In a short period before the Cape Florida lighthouse was built in 1825, an estimated 300 Black Seminoles found passage from Key Biscayne to Andros Island in the Bahamas on seagoing canoes and Bahamian boats, settling at Red Bays and Nicholls Town . Although Key Biscayne
3910-543: The Caribbean, of which 76,000 were planted on Key Biscayne. Most of the shoots from the coconuts on Key Biscayne were eaten by rats and marsh rabbits ( Sylvilagus palustris ). As a result of their efforts, in 1885 Osborn and Field were allowed to purchase Key Biscayne and other oceanfront land from the Florida Internal Improvement Trust Fund for 70 cents an acre. Mary Ann Davis, who had bought
4025-483: The Chinese president Xi Jinping for the first two days. At Mar-a-Lago, the decision to strike a Syrian airfield was made. The following Easter weekend was also spent with family members at Mar-a-Lago. On April 4, 2017, prior to Xi's visit, ShareAmerica , a website run by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs , published a blog post describing Mar-a-Lago's history. On April 5, 2017,
4140-485: The Davis holdings, all the way to Bear Cut, over 1,700 (about 690 hectares) acres. Matheson created a plantation community, employing 42 workers by 1915, and 60 later. It included housing for the workers and their families, packing houses, docks, a school, a big barn, windmills, and 15 miles (24 km) of (unpaved) roads. The plantation had 36,000 coconut trees, and a variety of other tropical fruits. In 1921 Matheson introduced
4255-489: The Department of Justice to restrict any details regarding the contents of the 15 boxes. On May 11, 2022, the Justice Department sent Trump a grand jury subpoena, requesting any additional documents marked classified. A later subpoena requested surveillance footage from the club. On August 8, 2022, FBI agents presented a search warrant and searched Trump's residence at Mar-a-Lago, part of the continuing investigation into
4370-605: The Depression". Post, who died in 1973, willed the 17-acre (6.9 ha) estate to the United States government as a Winter White House for presidents and visiting foreign dignitaries. Richard Nixon preferred the Florida White House in Key Biscayne , however, and Jimmy Carter was not interested. The federal government soon realized the immense cost of maintenance and the difficulty of providing security and returned it to
4485-774: The Florida Internal Improvement Fund. Davis received quitclaims from Osborn and Field, and on the Harney lots, but was unable to settle with Sanchez. He finally received a patent from the United States government for his land in 1898. In 1903 Davis bought the abandoned Cape Florida lighthouse from the United States Treasury for US$ 400. Davis started a pineapple plantation on Key Biscayne; six acres (two-and-a-half hectares) had been cleared and planted in pineapples in 1893–94. Davis also directed his caretaker to plant one-half to one acre (two-tenths to four-tenths of
4600-610: The Florida coast somewhere between St. Augustine and Key West , and knew that Key Biscayne was a likely location for it. Mary and William sold three acres (about one-and-a-quarter hectares) of their newly acquired land at the southern tip of the island (Cape Florida) to the U.S. government for US$ 225. The federal government built the Cape Florida lighthouse on that land in 1825. The first U.S. citizens to take up permanent residence on Key Biscayne were Captain John Dubose, his wife Margaret and their five children in 1825, when Dubose became
4715-636: The Fornells grant on Key Biscayne in 1821, died in Galveston, Texas in 1885. Her son Waters Smith Davis began taking steps to assert the family title to the island. In 1887 he purchased the rights of the other Davis heirs and received a new deed in his name. He could not get a clear title, however. Venancio Sanchez still claimed a half share of the Fornells Grant, two of the town lots had been sold to William Harney around 1840, and Osborne and Field had their deed from
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4830-738: The Madness Jackson and Presley kissed for the first time at Mar-a-Lago early in their relationship. It still frequently hosted the International Red Cross Ball, an annual "white tie, tails, and tiara" event founded by Post. In 2000, Virginia Giuffre was a spa attendant at Mar-a-Lago when she was first approached by Ghislaine Maxwell and introduced to Jeffrey Epstein . Giuffre would later go on to make accusations against Maxwell and Epstein for sex trafficking her to clients including Prince Andrew and Alan Dershowitz . In 2005, Trump married Melania Knauss at Mar-a-Lago. The ceremony
4945-518: The Malay Dwarf coconut to the United States. This is now the most common variety of coconut found in Florida, after lethal yellowing killed off most of the Jamaican Tall coconut trees and many other varieties. The Matheson coconut plantation was at least twice as large as any other in the United States. By 1933, the world price for coconut products had dropped to about two-fifths of its 1925 level, and
5060-634: The National Historic Landmarks are privately owned . The National Historic Landmarks Program relies on suggestions for new designations from the National Park Service, which also assists in maintaining the landmarks . A friends' group of owners and managers, the National Historic Landmark Stewards Association, works to preserve, protect and promote National Historic Landmarks. If not already listed on
5175-771: The National Register of Historic Places, an NHL is automatically added to the Register upon designation; about three percent of Register listings are NHLs. Washington, D.C. is home to three specifically legislated exceptions to this rule: the White House , the United States Capitol , and the United States Supreme Court Building . All are designated as NHLs, but are not on the National Register. Key Biscayne The northern portion of Key Biscayne
5290-548: The National Register, or as an NHL) often triggered local preservation laws, legislation in 1980 amended the listing procedures to require owner agreement to the designations. On October 9, 1960, 92 places, properties, or districts were announced as eligible to be designated NHLs by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton . Agreements of owners or responsible parties were subsequently obtained, but all 92 have since been considered listed on that 1960 date. The origins of
5405-473: The Post Foundation in 1981. It was listed for sale for $ 20 million. Post's daughters, including Dina Merrill , did not maintain the property anticipating a sale, but there was so little interest that its demolition was approved. Mar-a-Lago was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1980 for exemplifying "the baronial way of life of the wealthy who built mansions in Florida during the Florida land boom of
5520-785: The President to release visitor logs of Mar-a-Lago and as well as a list of the members of the private club. Subsequently, the "Mar-a-Lago Act" was introduced, legislation requiring publication of logs of visitors at the White House and other places where the president conducts business. After a lawsuit was filed, a judge ordered, in July 2017, that these logs be released in September. President Trump's fifth presidential visit took place on March 17–18. Guests included Melania's parents, Viktor and Amalija Knavs. During his next visit April 6–9, President Trump hosted
5635-410: The Safety Valve and existing small keys to Elliott Key and on to Key Largo. Áleman was expected to donate the right-of-way for a road running down the middle of the island to the first bridge at Cape Florida. With the prospect of a major highway passing through his property, Áleman rushed to prepare it for development: he had it completely cleared, leveled and filled in. A seawall was constructed along
5750-429: The Seminoles ending in 1842, although some of the Seminoles remained hidden in the Everglades. While the war against the Seminoles continued, Mary and William Davis made plans to develop a town on Key Biscayne. They had a town plan printed in Philadelphia . The island was touted as an ideal destination "for the recovery of the health". When Indian Key had been named the seat for the newly created Dade County in 1836,
5865-417: The Tequesta, and in 1567 a mission was established on the mainland across the bay from Key Biscayne. The mission was abandoned three years later in 1570. No other mission was established on the mainland until 1743, and that was withdrawn a few months later. The first known European settlers on Key Biscayne were Pedro Fornells, his family and household. Fornells and his wife Mariana were Menorcan survivors of
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#17328757783025980-446: The U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. Approximately forty men were based at Cape Florida working on the survey when Alexander Dallas Bache , Superintendent of the U.S. Coast Survey, went to Key Biscayne in 1855 to take charge of it. The survey eventually covered Key Biscayne, Biscayne Bay, the Florida Keys from south of Key Biscayne to the Marquesas Keys , and Florida Bay from the Keys to Cape Sable . In 1861, Confederate militants sabotaged
6095-488: The U.S. embassy in the United Kingdom's website shared snippets of the original blog post on its own blog, and the U.S. embassy in Albania 's Facebook page shared the original post. On April 24, 2017, Democratic senator Ron Wyden , House minority leader Nancy Pelosi , and ethics observers like former ambassador Norman Eisen , questioned the use of official government resources promoting a private property owned by Trump. By April 25, 2017, ShareAmerica and both U.S. embassies in
6210-520: The U.S. government seeking specifications and guidelines for the lighthouse. Government officials were taken aback by the request, wondering how a federal lighthouse could have passed into private hands. An Act of Congress and two Executive Orders, in 1847 and 1897, had reserved the island for the federal lighthouse and for military purposes. Patient legal work eventually convinced the U.S. Congress and President Woodrow Wilson to agree to recognize Matheson's and Deering's ownership of Key Biscayne. In 1920,
6325-551: The United Kingdom and Albania removed their respective posts. ShareAmerica, replaced their post with the following statement, "The intention of the article was to inform the public about where the president has been hosting world leaders. We regret any misperception and have removed the post." In November 2017, President Trump returned to Mar-a-Lago for a Thanksgiving celebration, and one month later he returned for his tenth presidential visit during his Christmas vacation. In 2018, President Trump visited Mar-a-Lago eight times prior to
6440-485: The United States secretary of the interior because they are: More than 2,500 NHLs have been designated. Most, but not all, are in the United States. There are NHLs in all 50 states and the national capital of Washington, D.C. Three states ( Pennsylvania , Massachusetts , and New York ) account for nearly 25 percent of the nation's NHLs. Three cities within these states, Philadelphia , Boston , and New York City , respectively, all separately have more NHLs than 40 of
6555-465: The White House in January 2021, Trump transported a large volume of presidential records to Mar-a-Lago, despite storage of such materials being subject to the Presidential Records Act . Seeking to preserve presidential communications and correspondence with world leaders, the National Archives and Records Administration arranged to retrieve 15 boxes of material from Mar-a-Lago in January 2022. These included documents clearly marked as classified, prompting
6670-505: The canal was developed as part of the present-day Village of Key Biscayne. Garcia sold the Cape Florida property in 1957 for US$ 9.5 million, but the buyer defaulted and died the next year. Garcia sold the property again, for US$ 13 million. Development started on a model community' of luxury homes and resort properties. By 1962 the new developers were in financial trouble, and the property reverted again to Garcia in 1963. Dade County began considering purchase of 50 acres (200,000 m ) around
6785-451: The club. Donald Trump's first visit to Mar-a-Lago as president of the United States took place on the weekend of February 3–6, 2017. On Saturday, he hosted the Diamond Red Cross Ball at the Mar-a-Lago Club, and on Sunday he watched Super Bowl LI at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach . On the weekend of February 10–12, 2017, President Trump and his wife Melania hosted Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe and his wife. This
6900-412: The coast from the north by coastal currents. The eastern edge of Key Biscayne is underlain by the Key Largo Limestone , a fossilized ancient reef that is exposed in the upper and middle Florida Keys. Elsewhere, there is no hard bedrock near the surface of the island, only layers of weak sandstone to depths of 100 feet (30 m) or more. The coastal transport of sand southward ends at Key Biscayne. In
7015-419: The combined total cost of the purchase at around $ 10 million. The minimum acceptable bid had been $ 20 million, and the interior furnishings were appraised at $ 8 million. Extensive renovations were done, including the addition of a 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m) ballroom. The club has five clay tennis courts and a waterfront pool. Trump's wife at the time, Ivana Trump , managed the property. In 1992, Trump
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#17328757783027130-409: The county provided that the county court would meet annually on Key Biscayne. In late 1839 the United States Postmaster General approved a post office for Key Biscayne. The first two lots of the new town were sold to Lt. Col. Harney for a total of US$ 1,000. There is no evidence that the post office ever opened; in 1842 the Postmaster General noted that the appointed postmaster had not completed any of
7245-453: The dinner included Vice President Mike Pence , Ivanka Trump , and Jared Kushner . When President Trump was in residence as president, the Palm Beach region became a zone of temporary flight restrictions affecting flights and air operations severely within a 30 nautical mile (55.56 km) radius. Coast Guard and Secret Service secured the two waterway approaches, ocean and lake, and Secret Service cordoned off streets to Mar-a-Lago during
7360-425: The edge of the Gulf Stream early Wednesday morning to retrieve a package of newspapers and magazines dropped for him in waterproof pouches by a passing steamship. Munroe was also one of the founding members of the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club. In 1896, Henry Morrison Flagler brought the Florida East Coast Railway to Miami. Mary Ann and William Davis had dreamed of building a city on Key Biscayne. Now their son Waters
7475-433: The estate into a private club in 1994, fighting what he considered to be excessive restrictions. The new club hosted concerts by celebrities such as Céline Dion and Billy Joel , and had beauty pageant contestants as guests. The club also had numerous celebrity guests; notably, Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley had their honeymoon at Mar-a-Lago in 1994, and according to his biography Michael Jackson: The Magic and
7590-444: The event included his extended family, close friends and members of the Mar-a-Lago club. Elon Musk , Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , Dana White and Vivek Ramaswamy were all at the Mar-a-Lago events, as well as foreign political figures such as Nigel Farage and Eduardo Bolsonaro . Following his election to a second term as President of the United States, Mar-a-Lago became the base for the second presidential transition of Donald Trump as
7705-431: The exterior wall facing, some interior structures, arches, and the Barwig sculptures. This fossil-bearing limestone was chosen for its quality of rapid aging and its suitability for intricate carving. Approximately 20,000 roofing tiles and 2,200 black and white marble floor blocks came from a Cuban castle. Of particular interest are the antique Spanish tiles used lavishly in the entrance hall, patio, cloisters, and some rooms;
7820-481: The first keeper for the new Cape Florida Light, a post he held until the lighthouse was burned in 1836. The family was also accompanied by two former slaves of Margaret's brother. The Dubose household grew during that time and was reported in 1833 to consist of "eleven whites and several negroes". During his tenure as lighthouse keeper, Dubose received hundreds of plants and seeds from Dr. Henry Perrine , United States Consul in Campeche , Mexico , which he planted on
7935-429: The first National Historic Landmark was a simple cedar post, placed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition on their 1804 outbound trek to the Pacific in commemoration of the death from natural causes of Sergeant Charles Floyd . The cedar plank was later replaced by a 100 ft (30 m) marble obelisk. The Sergeant Floyd Monument in Sioux City, Iowa , was officially designated on June 30, 1960. NHLs are designated by
8050-421: The gift, Charles H. Crandon, had offered to have the county build a causeway to Key Biscayne in exchange for the land donation. As planning for the air and sea complex on Virginia Key was proceeding, construction on a causeway to Virginia Key started in 1941. The Attack on Pearl Harbor and the entry of the United States into World War II stopped all work on the causeway and the development of Virginia Key. After
8165-742: The girl was a teenager at the time, and confirms that Epstein is listed in club membership records as "Account closed 10/07", in contrast to cases of members' resignations, where "Resigned" is normally noted. As of January 2017, the club was nearly at its maximum capacity of 500 paying members and was admitting twenty to forty new members a year. Members as of 2017 include oil executive Bill Koch , financier Thomas Peterffy , New Jersey Democratic Party leader George Norcross , lobbyist Kenneth Duberstein , real estate developers Bruce E. Toll and Richard LeFrak , media executive Christopher Ruddy , talk show host Howie Carr , talk show host Michael Savage 's wife, and NFL coach Bill Belichick . In February 2017 it
8280-592: The heirs of Venancio Sanchez filed a lawsuit against James Deering, claiming an undivided half interest in his Cape Florida property. This brought development of the resort on Cape Florida to a halt. After many legal battles, the suit was finally decided in Deering's favor by the United States Supreme Court in 1926. The decision came too late for Deering; he had died the previous year. In February 1926, William Matheson entered into an agreement with D. P. Davis,
8395-413: The hospital treated 103 patients, including 23 for fever and 26 for dysentery . Dysentery was the leading cause of death at the fort, followed by malaria , tuberculosis , gunshot wounds and alcoholism . Colonel Bankhead was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel William S. Harney in 1839. Colonel Harney had two earlier encounters with Seminoles, the first a battle in which Chief Arpeika eluded capture, and
8510-581: The island Santa Marta and claimed it for the Spanish Crown. He reported that he found a fresh water spring on the island. Ponce de León called the bay behind the island (Biscayne Bay) Chequescha , a variant form of Tequesta. The next European known to have visited the Key Biscayne area was Pedro Menéndez de Avilés . In 1565 his ship took refuge in Biscayne Bay from a storm. Relations were established with
8625-437: The island as a tropical resort. He felt that Cape Florida's "future lies in making sales for homes." To prepare, the land was cleared, with marshes and mangroves were filled in. Jetties were built on the ocean side, in the belief that they would protect the beaches from erosion. They have been found to aggravate erosion. Waters Davis stipulated in his sale to Deering that the Cape Florida lighthouse be restored. Deering wrote to
8740-535: The island indicate extensive use of it by the Tequesta. A large community appeared to inhabit the island between 1,500 and 2,000 years ago. In 1992 Hurricane Andrew scoured much of the vegetation from the southern end of Key Biscayne. An archaeological survey of the exposed ground found evidence of extensive habitation. Juan Ponce de León charted Key Biscayne on his first mission to the New World in 1513. He christened
8855-484: The island, but after six months, the family returned to St. Augustine, leaving a caretaker named Vincent on the island. Following the First Seminole War and a treaty with Spain, Florida became a U.S. territory in 1821. Under pressure from US settlers, Seminole and Black Seminoles began to migrate into central and southern Florida. In the early 19th century, African-American slaves and Black Seminoles escaped to
8970-511: The island. In 1835 a major hurricane struck the island, damaging the lighthouse and the keeper's house, and putting the island under three feet of water, which killed almost all the plants that Dr. Perrine had sent from Mexico. In 1836, during the Second Seminole War , Seminoles attacked and burned the Cape Florida lighthouse, severely wounding the assistant lighthouse keeper in charge; his black assistant died of wounds. The lighthouse
9085-489: The island. The Davises had hoped that a restored lighthouse would be the centerpiece of their town, but all attempts to repair the lighthouse failed while the war was on. Shortly after the end of the war, the Davises gave up on Key Biscayne and moved to Texas . Their older son Edmund J. Davis eventually was elected as governor there. The numerous ship wrecks that occurred along the southeast coast of Florida from Key Biscayne to
9200-575: The lighthouse so that it could not guide Union sailors during the blockade of Confederate Florida . The lighthouse was repaired and re-lit again in 1866. In 1878 the Cape Florida Light was replaced by the Fowey Rocks Light , seven miles (11 km) southeast of Cape Florida. From 1888 to 1893, the Cape Florida lighthouse was leased by the United States Secretary of the Treasury for
9315-595: The other, touching the Atlantic Ocean on the east and Lake Worth on the west. During the 1920s Florida land boom , Marjorie Merriweather Post , heiress to the Post Cereals business and later the wealthiest woman in the United States, paid for the house to be built with her husband Edward F. Hutton . She hired Marion Sims Wyeth as designer and Joseph Urban for interior design and exterior decorations. Post spent US $ 7 million (equivalent to $ 123 million in 2023). It
9430-441: The pair taken at Mar-a-Lago include a photograph of Trump and Epstein from 1997, and a photograph taken on 12 February 2000 with Trump, Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell , and Trump's future wife Melania Knauss . In the early 1990s, Trump faced financial difficulties. While negotiating with bankers he attempted to divide Mar-a-Lago into smaller properties, alarming Palm Beach residents. City council rejected this plan. Trump instead turned
9545-638: The place was worth more than $ 200 million. Brokers on the island thought it could be worth far more, with the most aggressive estimate coming in at $ 725 million. When Forbes last valued the property in March, we went with a conservative $ 350 million." A 2022 lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James alleged that Trump inflated the value of Mar-a-Lago to $ 739 million, when the property should actually be valued at $ 75 million. President Trump referred to Mar-a-Lago as his "Winter White House", and on occasion his "Southern White House". During Trump's presidency,
9660-531: The plantation stopped shipping. Waters Davis decided to sell his Key Biscayne property in 1913 (he died the following year). He appointed Ralph Munroe to act as his broker. Although Matheson bid on the property, Munroe arranged a sale, for US$ 20,000, to James Deering , the International Harvester heir and owner of the Villa Vizcaya estate in Miami. In 1914 Deering decided to develop his new land on
9775-544: The potential mishandling of classified documents. The Secret Service "facilitated access" for the FBI, and one of Trump's lawyers was present for the search. Trump was at Mar-a-Lago on the night of the 2024 United States presidential election . While Trump's official watch party was hosted at Palm Beach County Convention Center , where Trump delivered his victory speech, Trump hosted a more exclusive watch party and several private dinners at Mar-a-Lago during election night. Attendees at
9890-532: The president's visits. The Coast Guard also attached an elite Maritime Safety and Security Team with unique capabilities that specialized in maritime security. By the third weekend in February 2017, nearby Palm Beach County Park Airport (Lantana Airport) had been shut down for three consecutive weekends, accumulating significant financial losses for multiple businesses. At the end of his term, Trump went to live at Mar-a-Lago and established an office as provided for by
10005-466: The president-elect made decisions on the nomination of people for his upcoming administration. Architecturally, the resort is in Spanish Revival style. The house is a mediterranean-style villa, an adaptation of Hispano-Moresque which was popular in Palm Beach at the time. It has a two-story central block with family quarters and service areas in lower subsidiary wings and buildings. This arrangement
10120-512: The requirements for opening the post office. No further sales of town lots were made after Harney's purchase. A complication arose when Venancio Sanchez of St. Augustine purchased for US$ 400 a half share in the old Fornells grant from another surviving heir, who lived in Havana . A feud quickly developed between Sanchez and the Davises, with Sanchez demanding a division of the property, and the Davises refusing to acknowledge that Sanchez had any claim to
10235-546: The seasonal closing in May. During this time he had a summit meeting with Shinzō Abe on April 17–18. In November 2018, President Trump returned to Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving. One month later, President Trump canceled his planned Christmas vacation in Mar-a-Lago following the federal government shutdown . In November 2019, he returned to Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving, and a month later returned for Christmas. On March 7, 2020, President Trump hosted Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro for
10350-454: The south end of the island eroded. It could be seen at low tide as late as 1913. In 1988 the Cape Florida base marker was recovered from under water and installed near the Cape Florida lighthouse. Key Biscayne was first developed for coconut cultivation. The earliest mention of coconuts on Key Biscayne is a Spanish account from 1568, although the reference may be to cocoplums rather than coconuts. Mature coconut trees were on Cape Florida by
10465-401: The southern end of what is now Miami Beach, at Government Cut , and the Cape Florida Channel was allowed to return to a natural state. In 1902, William John Matheson , who had made his fortune in the aniline dye business, visited Biscayne Bay on his yacht. He soon built a winter home in Coconut Grove overlooking the bay. In 1908 Matheson began buying up the property on Key Biscayne north of
10580-507: The summer of 1839, a total of 143 soldiers and sailors were stationed at Fort Russell. Some of the Seminoles captured during the war were held at Fort Russell until they could be placed on ships to be removed to Indian Territory . A hospital was established at Fort Russell for United States Army , United States Navy , and United States Marine Corps personnel. In August 1840, the Army surgeon at
10695-429: The value of the estate at around $ 350 million. However, this valuation ignores the restrictions put on the property. In 1995 Trump "gave up the right to use Mar-a-Lago for any purpose other than as a social club" by agreeing to a "Deed of Conservation and Preservation". In 2002 he agreed to a conservation easement preventing further development. According to Forbes , "Real estate experts outside of Palm Beach guessed that
10810-636: The wake of scandals surrounding his service as education minister under Ramón Grau San Martín , bought the Cape Florida property from the Deering estate. His offer to donate the lighthouse and ten acres (four hectares) of land around it to the National Park Service was not accepted. In 1950, the Dade County Planning Board announced a plan to build a highway connecting Key Biscayne with the Overseas Highway on Key Largo. The project envisioned bridges connecting artificial islands, to be built on
10925-616: The war, Crandon pushed on with the development project. He got financier Ed Ball to buy six million (U.S.) dollars worth of bonds financing construction of the causeway. The causeway was named for Eddie Rickenbacker , a World War I flying ace , and founder and president of the Miami-based Eastern Air Lines . Starting in 1951, the Mackle Construction Company offered new homes on the island for US$ 9,540, with just US$ 500 down. A U.S. Post Office contract branch
11040-520: The western (Biscayne Bay) side of the Cape Florida property. Áleman died in 1951, and the County soon backed down from its road and bridge plan. His widow, Elena Santeiro Garcia, added to her Cape Florida property by buying an ocean-to-bay strip that had been part of the Matheson property. It included a canal dug by William Matheson in the 1920s, extending from the bay across most of the island. The land north of
11155-461: Was a retired millionaire, and interested only in preserving Key Biscayne as a quiet retreat for his family. For a while Flagler's arrival did disturb their quiet, as Flagler brought in dredges to deepen the Cape Florida Channel and the approaches to the mouth of the Miami River, muddying the formerly clear waters of Biscayne Bay. Soon, however, a shorter route from the ocean to Miami was dredged through
11270-559: Was appointed ambassador to the Soviet Union. Mar-a-Lago was closed for five seasons. Post made only brief visits to Mar-a-Lago in the early 1940s and did not stay at the estate from 1941 to 1948. In April 1944 the house was turned into a training centre for returning servicemen. Post returned to Mar-a-Lago in 1948 and began to host social events again. Since 1957 it has traditionally hosted the International Red Cross gala. In 1961
11385-420: Was attended by Bill and Hillary Clinton , as well as many other celebrities and figures in media and broadcasting. According to financial disclosure forms filed by Trump, the Mar-a-Lago Club had $ 29.7 million in gross revenues in the period of June 2015 through May 2016. The club had revenues of $ 25.1 million for calendar year 2017, $ 22 million in 2018, and $ 21.4 million in 2019. In 2022, Forbes estimated
11500-472: Was briefly made U.S. Signal Station Number Four. It was one of 36 along the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast from Maine to Texas . The Signal Stations were established to provide an early warning of any approach of the Spanish fleet. The north base marker for Key Biscayne was discovered in 1970 as workers were clearing land. It was at first mistaken as a gravestone for someone named A. D. Bache. The survey base marker at Cape Florida ended up under water, as
11615-453: Was built for the businesswoman and socialite Marjorie Merriweather Post between 1924 and 1927, during the Florida land boom . At the time of her death in 1973, Post bequeathed the property to the National Park Service , hoping it could be used for state visits or as a Winter White House . However, because the costs of maintaining the property exceeded the funds provided by Post, and because it
11730-406: Was chosen by Mrs. Post to keep the main house from appearing too massive and to separate the family and service areas from those used for entertaining. The house is topped by a seventy-five foot, tile-roofed tower containing bedrooms, baths, and an observation deck commanding an extensive view of Palm Beach. Among the imported materials used were three boatloads of Doria stone from Genoa visible in
11845-591: Was completed in 1847. In 1849 the United States Board of Engineers conducted a preliminary survey of the coast of Florida. In a report written by Lieutenant Colonel Robert E. Lee in March, 1849, the Board recommended that Key Biscayne be made a military reservation. Later that year, the United States Army Corps of Topographical Engineers set up a camp with an astronomical / magnetic station to serve as
11960-446: Was difficult to secure the facility, the property was returned to the Post Foundation by act of Congress 96-586 on 23 December 1980. In 1985, Donald Trump, primarily a businessman and real estate investor at the time, acquired Mar-a-Lago and used it as a residence. In 1994, he converted it into the Mar-a-Lago Club, a members-only club with guest rooms, a spa, and other hotel-style amenities. The Trump family maintains private quarters in
12075-465: Was elected president, with $ 14,000 annual dues. Overnight guests paid up to $ 2,000 a night. The membership list of Mar-a-Lago has long been shrouded in secrecy. The 2020 book The Grifter's Club had access to old membership records from the club, which confirmed that Jeffrey Epstein had been a member until 2007, and reveals that he was expelled "after Epstein harassed the daughter of a member", according to another Mar-a-Lago member. The book alleges that
12190-441: Was filmed with Jeffrey Epstein at a party in Mar-a-Lago. The footage received attention following Epstein's arrest for sex trafficking in 2019, and video footage of Trump talking to Epstein in Mar-a-Lago appears in the 2020 mockumentary black comedy film Borat Subsequent Moviefilm . It was also alleged that Mar-a-Lago hosted an event for 28 women in 1992 where Trump and Epstein were the only male attendees. Further photographs of
12305-452: Was finished in 1927. At the time it was the most expensive non-royal residence built in history. Hutton and Post regularly used Mar-a-Lago as their winter residence, typically staying from mid January to late March. Post hosted dinner parties, charity events, concerts, costume balls , and a circus. In 1935, Hutton and Post divorced. Post married the Washington lawyer Joseph E. Davies , who
12420-578: Was included in its boundaries. There were dreams of a bridge to the island, making Key Biscayne the seaside resort for Coral Gables, as Miami Beach had become for Miami. Obstacles to the project arose. In March 1926, the U.S. government auctioned off some lots on Key Biscayne that had been retained when the rest of the island was transferred to the State of Florida. The Mathesons wanted to have clear title to all of their land, and determined to outbid other interested parties for it. They ended up paying US$ 58,055 for
12535-415: Was less suitable as a departure point after the lighthouse was built, the Bahamas remained a haven for escaping slaves. In 1824 Mary Ann Channer Davis, who had moved to St. Augustine with her husband in 1821, bought the Fornells claim to Key Biscayne from one of the Fornells' heirs for US$ 100. Mary and her husband William Davis, a deputy U.S. Marshal , probably were aware of plans to build a lighthouse on
12650-423: Was lost. They soon had 30,000 coconut trees replanted on 900 acres (364 ha). D. P. Davis could not meet his contract; he declared bankruptcy and disappeared en route to Europe by ship. The Florida land boom was over, and no bridge was built and no development took place on Key Biscayne for the next two decades. William Matheson died in 1930, leaving the island to his children. In 1939, the U.S. Navy approved
12765-716: Was made for the Salem Maritime National Historic Site on March 17, 1938. In 1960, the National Park Service took on the administration of the survey data gathered under this legislation, and the National Historic Landmark program began to take more formal shape. When the National Register of Historic Places was established in 1966, the National Historic Landmark program was encompassed within it, and rules and procedures for inclusion and designation were formalized. Because listings (either on
12880-508: Was not repaired and put back into commission until 1847. A military post was established on Key Biscayne in March 1838. Its first commander was Lt. Col. James Bankhead. The fort was initially known as Fort Dallas or Fort Bankhead, but it was eventually renamed Fort Russell for Captain Samuel L. Russell. He was killed when the Seminoles ambushed two boats on the Miami River in February 1839. In
12995-685: Was opened, the Community Church started holding services, and the Key Biscayne Elementary School opened in 1952. The residents of Key Biscayne successfully petitioned the Dade County Commission allow a referendum on incorporating the community. The referendum passed and the Village of Key Biscayne was incorporated in 1991, the first new municipality in the county in 30 years. In 1948, José Manuel Áleman, who had fled Cuba in
13110-673: Was reported that Trump was considering at least three club members for ambassadorships. In protest against Trump's remarks on the August 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia , six nonprofit organizations canceled scheduled gala events at the club. The charities canceling included the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society . National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark ( NHL )
13225-401: Was the first use of Mar-a-Lago to entertain an international leader, traditionally performed at the White House. On this weekend one of President Trump's first international security crises happened, a North Korean missile launch. Trump and Abe conferred in full view of the other diners. During the third weekend visit to Mar-a-Lago on February 17–20, President Trump conducted a campaign rally at
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