There has never been a country quite like America. The special advantages and high standards of living we enjoy as Americans today have their origins in America's Gilded Age, when Captains of Industry and Commerce, like Henry Morrison Flagler, built a new corporate America. The culture of philanthropy founded during America's Gilded Age has made museums, libraries, universities and other nonprofit corporations an essential and unique feature of American culture.
When asked if the idea of creating the Standard Oil joint-stock corporation was his, John D. Rockefeller remarked, "I wish I'd had the brains to think of it. It was Henry Flagler."
A key figure in the evolution of the American corporation as we know it today, Flagler's innovative ideas for structuring Standard Oil made multi-state corporations a reality and made Standard Oil the most profitable corporation in history.
In addition to helping build Standard Oil, Flagler literally invented Florida. Through Flagler's efforts, tourism and agriculture became the foundation blocks of Florida's economy. Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway, and the luxury hotels he built along the way, eventually linked the entire east coast of Florida from St. Augustine to Key West, establishing Daytona, Palm Beach, Miami, and many other cities along the length of Florida's east coast.
Flagler's philanthropy is most obvious in Florida, where he established at least ten churches, three hospitals, and the public works systems for four cities.
In 1902, Flagler built his Gilded Age estate, Whitehall, in Palm Beach. Today, Whitehall is preserved as the Flagler Museum, a nonprofit corporation which has provided unique educational experiences for millions of people since it opened in 1960.
The Corporate Membership levels listed below describe the benefits of an association with the Flagler Museum, including the opportunity to play an important role in preserving this National Historic Landmark and continuing the legacy of corporate philanthropy created during America's Gilded Age.
Memberships to the Flagler Museum may be processed online, by mail, or by calling the Membership Department at (561) 655-2833 ext.25. For additional information please e-mail the Member Services Manager.
To complete an online Membership you must first create an account, and then reply to the e-mail that will be sent to the e-mail address you provide.
Click: Register to create an online account.