Several months after construction began on the Palm Beach Inn (now The Breakers), Henry Flagler announced plans to build a pier with a railroad extension that would serve as a port for his newly established fleet of steamships. With Capt. JD Ross supervising it’s construction, The Breakers pier formally opened as the Port of Palm Beach on Jan. 18th, 1896. In addition to the railroad tracks, the government installed a signal tower to warn mainlanders in case of a naval invasion. The pier operated as a link between Palm Beach, Miami, Key West and Nassau Bahamas. It also functioned as a stopover for privateers running guns to Cuba during the Spanish-American war. In 1903 the railroad tracks were removed from the pier and it was used for recreational purposes only (mostly fishing). Several storms in the early 1920′s took out approximately 60′ of the east end of the pier. Following the hurricane of 1928, and having been rebuilt several times, the piers remains were left to disintegrate. Now the “old pier” is one of our favorite snorkeling spots. Some come join us on our ocean snorkeling tour and explore what is now home to tropical fish, turtles, rays and invertebrates. Capt. Gary
Palm Beaches first Port
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