Last Train to Paradise
By Les Standiford
- Release Date: 2002-09-24
- Genre: U.S. History
Description
The fast-paced and gripping true account of the extraordinary construction and spectacular demise of the Key West Railroad—one of the greatest engineering feats ever undertaken, destroyed in one fell swoop by the strongest storm ever to hit U.S. shores.
In 1904, the brilliant and driven entrepreneur Henry Flagler, partner to John D. Rockefeller, dreamed of a railway connecting the island of Key West to the Florida mainland, crossing a staggering 153 miles of open ocean—an engineering challenge beyond even that of the Panama Canal. Many considered the project impossible, but build it they did. The railroad stood as a magnificent achievement for more than twenty-two years, heralded as “the Eighth Wonder of the World,” until its total destruction in 1935's deadly storm of the century.
In Last Train to Paradise, Standiford celebrates this crowning achievement of Gilded Age ambition, bringing to life a sweeping tale of the powerful forces of human ingenuity colliding with the even greater forces of nature’s wrath.
Reviews
A must read for anyone interested in FL history!
5By Lemon07Great book! If you live in South Florida, you will certainly appreciate so much of the history!! Anytime I drive through the keys, I’ll think about the thousands of laborers who worked and even some who died to build this engineering marvel. This book will surely inspire me to read more about Florida and its fascinating history.Last train to paradise
5By HeavenlyScentPetsThis book added so much color to my appreciation of the Florida Keys. For anyone who enjoys the Keys, this is a must read to develop an understanding of how much was invested and lost for our enjoyment now."Last Train To Paradise" is a gem.
5By StretchAUA fascinating read that should be mandatory for residents and a must read for visitors of the State of "Fla.". If you have any regard for Florida in your heart, this book is for you. This gem provides a clear vision of a different time.... not so long ago .... of a man, his dream, a place and it's people, and the challenges of a unique journey. As they say, "It's not the destination..... It's the journey." In this work, you will find that and more.
