Edited by a A.P. Senecal, Butler and Historian
Mar-a-Lago was opened officially in January of 1927, after four years of construction. Marjorie Merriweather Post (then Mrs. Edward F. Hutton) searched for several years to find a coral reef of proper location between the ocean and Lake Worth, on which a major structure could be anchored. With her real estate agent, she crawled through underbrush of jungle-type growth, encountering all the dangers of such a quest through virgin ground. At that time, there was little else here but undergrowth and very swampy grounds, seemingly of not much use for a building site. As a consequence of that search, the main house is anchored by concrete and steel to a coral reef which no hurricane can shake.
Marjorie Post had been coming to Palm Beach since 1909 when she stayed at the Royal Poinciana Hotel. Her first permanent home in Palm Beach was Hogarcito on Golf View Road. The quest for the new home was begun when it became known that she was to be the dowager queen of Palm Beach. The main house is an adaptation of the Hispano-Moresque style, long popular among the villas of the Mediterranean. It is crescent-shaped with an upper and lower cloister along the concave side of the crescent facing Lake Worth. A seventy-five foot tower tops the structure, affording a magnificent view in all directions for miles.
The construction of the house is of stone, a distinct innovation of Florida at that time. Three boat loads of Dorian stone were brought from Genoa, Italy for exterior walls to within a few feet of the top. This stone was also used for some of the interiors, the arches and other locations. It was particularly chosen for its quality of aging rapidly, and for its adaptability to intricate carving. Upon close examination, tiny sea shells and fossils can be seen.
One of the particular attractions of Mar-a-Lago is the executive use of old Spanish tiles throughout the interiors and exteriors. Mrs. Post acquired approximately 36,000 tiles that had been collected by the late Mrs. Horace Havermeyer in the 1800's which had been stored from that time. Some of the tiles date back to the 15th century. The "Plus Ultra" tiles are among the earliest.
The whole of the property comprises approximately twenty acres of perfectly landscaped lawns including a nine-hole "pitch and putt" golf course. Across the southeast lawn, a stone path leads to a tunnel under South Ocean Boulevard which opens onto the beach. The site on which Mar-a-Lago sits is considered the most valuable parcel of land anywhere in Florida.
The architecture, the sculpture, the planning and workmanship that went into this magnificent structure are difficult to describe. There is no doubt that it could not be duplicated today for lack of the craftsmanship that went into it. It is, perhaps, the only private residence of its kind built in modern times. In the beginning, Marjorie Post laid out the details for the floor plan. She knew exactly what she wanted for size, placement and convenience. She worked very closely with Marion Wyeth, a well known architect. It was Mrs. Post's plan to bring together many Old World features of the Spanish, Venetian and Portuguese (Manueline) styles, all in harmonious effect. Joseph Urban was then called in for the more elaborate details. Urban was Viennese; he was once the architect for Emperor Franz Joseph, and for the Khedive of Egypt. He first came to America under the auspices of the Metropolitan Opera and the late William Randolph Hearst. Urban then sent to Vienna for professor Franz Barwig, an eminent sculptor. Franz Barwig and his son worked nearly three years on the premises, modeling and carving extraordinarily fine sculptures. All of the models for the parrots, monkeys and other motifs, are still preserved on the premises. Other artisans were recruited from all over the world. In this regard there is a story that proves very interesting. Construction was barely underway when Florida suffered a severe economic slump. Marjorie Post was strongly advised to halt construction until the economy became more stable. This she refused to do, making the statement that further unemployment would worsen prevailing conditions. Because of that decision, all possible labor came from the general area; the iron work was cast and wrought in West Palm Beach; and the fine old cypress wood for doors, beams and every possible use, was purchased in the area. The only exceptions were the Dorian stone and tiles, as previously described, or anything not obtainable in the area of the Palm Beaches. Approximately 20,000 old Cuban roofing tiles, and 2,200 square feet of black and white marble floor blocks came from a very old castle in Cuba. All else that could be obtained locally was accordingly purchased.
On the 16th of January, 1969, The Department of the Interior designated the estate as "The Mar-a-Lago National Historic Site". The property was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 by an act of Congress. Until her death in 1973, Mrs. Post used the estate as a haven for many notable dignitaries. At that time, the property was transferred to the Federal Government for use as a diplomatic or presidential retreat. Due to maintenance and security concerns, the government conferred title to the Post Foundation. In 1985, Donald Trump purchased the property from the Foundation and used as a private residence until 1995. In April of 1995, after a tremendous amount of physical work, the Mar-a-Lago's importance as a national historic landmark and a treasure of Florida takes many forms. It is the last remaining Palm Beach estate still containing its buildings and land in almost the identical form as its original conception. With the establishment of the Mar-a-Lago Club and the granting of easements to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Mar-a-Lago is an institution that is capable of a life longer than that of an individual. The club carries with it a build in constituency that ensures its stewardship into the future.
Since purchasing Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Trump has built a magnificent swimming pool, an award winning, world -class spa, and five champion-class red clay tennis courts. The property also boasts two new retail outlets - a tennis pro shop overlooking Lake Worth, and a spa store adjacent to the Trump Spa. In addition, Mr. Trump has brought back to life the nine hole pitch and putt golf course and modernized the White and Gold ballroom. The most recent additions is the new Grand Ballroom-a tribute to the homes existing architecture with marble floors, crystal chandeliers and Louis 16th styling. This new ballroom is capable of seating over 700 guests. The landscaping program is ongoing and Mar-a-Lago is still indeed, the crown jewel of Palm Beach.