Henry Morrison Flagler Museum – part II - Orlando / Florida Guide
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In my previous article about the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum I gave readers some insight into the history of the house and to the rooms on the first floor.
While the emphasis on the first floor was on the art of what is known as ‘The Gilded Age’, the second floor concentrates more on the aesthetics of home and comfort.
In addition to the Master Suite there are 14 guest rooms on the second floor, each containing ceilings and mouldings that are unique to the room.
The Master Suite, which although uncommon at the turn of the century, was shared by Henry and Mary Lily, is comprised of the bedroom two dressing chambers and a large bath area. The bedroom is decorated in the Louis XIV style and contains original furniture, while the bathroom contains some of the most advanced conveniences – including a telephone! There are also examples of clothing typical of the period hung in the bathroom.
The Morning Room was Mary Lily’s private sitting room where she would entertain friends for bridge parties and deal with her private correspondence. The spinet piano is original to the room and originally belonged to Mary Lily’s grandmother. Two phonographs made by the Edison Company, one of which plays wax cylinders, are also evidence of Mary Lily’s love of music.
The Servants Room is representative of the accommodation provided for the family’s servants. In reality there were thirteen bedrooms for servants in the west wing plus a further five rooms on the third floor were allocated to the servants of guests of the Flagler family. Some of the servant rooms are now used to house temporary exhibits.
The Colonial Chamber was the largest of the fourteen guest rooms. The bedroom furniture was bought from Flagler’s home, Satanstoe, in Mamaroneck, New York and the room features a bed designed into the alcove. Like all guest rooms at Whitehall, the Colonial Chamber included a private bath and large closet.
The Silver Maple Room is decorated in the English Arts and Crafts fashion and contains pre-Raphaelite style figures drawn on the bed and fireplace mantle.
Other bedrooms open to the public are the Blue Room, the Yellow Roses Room, the Louis XV Room, the Gold Room, the Heliotrope Room, and the Green Room
Adjacent to the main house is the more recently added Pavilion where visitors are able to tour Henry Flagler’s private railcar. Railcar No. 91 was built in 1886 and the salon, master bedroom, master bathroom, guest quarters, and kitchen have all been restored to their original splendour.
Visitors can opt for a narrated audio tour, a self-guide brochure, or a guide-led tour, although the latter are only available three times a day.
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