The Railroad That Went to Sea: Flagler's Overseas Extension

Miami was not the end of the line for Henry Flagler. In 1905 he began one of the most ambitious engineering projects of its time: extending the Florida East Coast Railway more than 150 miles from the mainland to Key West.

Why Key West?

Key West had one of the best deep-water harbors in the region, close to Cuba and to the planned Panama Canal. Flagler saw it as a gateway for trade with the Caribbean and Latin America.

Building across the sea

Thousands of workers built bridges, viaducts and fills across the Keys, including the famous Seven Mile Bridge. Hurricanes struck the work camps several times, killing workers and destroying progress. Critics called the project "Flagler's Folly."

Arrival in Key West

The extension was completed in January 1912, and an elderly Flagler rode the first train into Key West to a huge celebration. He died the following year.

Destroyed by a hurricane

On Labor Day in 1935, one of the most intense hurricanes ever to strike the United States hit the middle Keys. It killed hundreds of people, including many World War I veterans working in camps on the Keys, and destroyed sections of the railroad. The financially struggling railway did not rebuild.

A road on the railroad

The state bought the right-of-way and used many of the railroad's bridges to build the Overseas Highway, which opened in 1938. Drivers heading to Key West today still pass the old railroad bridges alongside the modern road.

Engineering challenges

Building in the Keys required bringing nearly everything from the mainland: fresh water, food, cement, steel and workers. Engineers designed concrete arches and steel spans to cross deep channels and withstand storms. Floating work camps and quarters were used in some areas.

Workers' lives

Laborers came from across the United States, the Caribbean and Europe. Work was hard and dangerous, and conditions in the camps could be rough. Hurricanes in 1906, 1909 and 1910 struck during construction, causing deaths and damage.

The 1935 Labor Day hurricane

The 1935 storm was one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded at landfall in the United States. A rescue train sent to evacuate veterans and residents was swept off the tracks by the storm surge. A memorial in Islamorada honors those who died.

Driving the Overseas Highway

Today the Overseas Highway is one of America's great scenic drives. Old railroad bridges, including sections of the original Seven Mile Bridge, run alongside the newer roadway. Many groups pair a Miami visit with a trip to the Keys, following the path Flagler's trains once took.