Henry Flagler’s 1902 wedding gift to his third wife was a 75-room, 100,000-square-foot Beaux Arts palace that the New York Herald proclaimed grander than any dwelling in the world. Today, the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach offers visitors a rather extraordinary glimpse into Gilded Age excess, from its marble entrance hall to the private railway carriage parked in its own purpose-built pavilion.
How much does the Flagler Museum cost?
The Flagler Museum costs $28 for adults and $14 for children aged 6-12. Children aged 5 and under enter free. The ticket price includes access to both floors of Whitehall mansion, the grounds, and the Flagler Kenan Pavilion housing Railway Carriage No. 91. Audio tours in five languages are included, as are docent-led tours (though spaces are limited to 35 people).
The museum opens Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday from noon to 5pm. It’s closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Check the museum website for any anomalous closures.
At a glance
| Price | Opening hours | Address | Free for | Last entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $28 adults, $14 children (6-12), free under 5 | Tue-Sat: 10am-5pm, Sun: noon-5pm | One Whitehall Way, Palm Beach, FL 33480 | Children under 5, museum members | 5pm |
How much does the Flagler Museum cost?
Admission prices are straightforward, with no peak/off-peak variations or online booking surcharges. The museum accepts walk-up visitors during opening hours.
Admission prices
| Ticket type | Price | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $28 | Ages 13 and over |
| Child | $14 | Ages 6-12 |
| Young child | Free | Ages 5 and under |
| Member | Free | Current museum members |
All visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The admission price covers everything: both floors of the mansion, the grounds, the railway pavilion, and your choice of tour options. Audio tour wands are available in English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese, or you can download the free museum app to your own device.
The museum runs a seasonal afternoon tea service in the Railway Carriage No. 91 Tea Room from late November through Easter Sunday. This costs extra and requires advance booking, though museum admission is included with your tea reservation.
What time does the Flagler Museum open?
Opening hours vary by day, and the museum is closed every Monday. This catches out quite a few visitors – don’t let yourself be one of them.
| Day | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 10am – 5pm |
| Wednesday | 10am – 5pm |
| Thursday | 10am – 5pm |
| Friday | 10am – 5pm |
| Saturday | 10am – 5pm |
| Sunday | Noon – 5pm |
The museum closes for three major holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Last entry is at 5pm on all open days.
Docent-led tours of the first floor run at 11am, 12.30pm, and 2pm Tuesday through Saturday. Sunday tours are at 12.30pm and 2pm only. These tours are limited to 35 people and operate on a first-come basis — arrive early if you want one.
Do I need to book Flagler Museum tickets in advance?
No, you don’t need to book in advance. The museum sells walk-up tickets during opening hours, and capacity issues are rare outside special events. If you’re planning to visit during peak tourist season (December through April), arriving early in the day gives you the best shot at securing a spot on a docent-led tour.
The afternoon tea service is a different matter — this requires advance booking and sells out weeks ahead during high season. If you’re keen on the Gilded Age tea experience, book as far ahead as possible.
Museum members enter free at any time. Annual membership costs more than three visits, so it’s only worthwhile for locals or repeat visitors.
Parking
The museum provides free parking in its own car park during opening hours. Entrances are on both Cocoanut Row and Whitehall Way. Accessible parking spaces are located near the museum entrance.
The car park is for museum visitors only and operates during museum hours. Don’t rely on it for beach parking or shopping trips — it’s strictly for Flagler Museum business.
Street parking around Palm Beach is notoriously difficult and time-limited. The museum car park is your best option by some distance.
A brief history of Whitehall and Henry Flagler
Henry Flagler made his fortune as co-founder of Standard Oil alongside John D. Rockefeller. By the 1890s, he’d turned his attention to Florida, building a railway down the east coast and constructing grand hotels to fill with wealthy northerners escaping winter.
Whitehall was his personal palace. Designed by architects Carrère and Hastings in 1902, it cost $2.5 million to build (roughly $85 million today) and took just 18 months to complete. Flagler presented it to his third wife, Mary Lily Kenan, as a wedding gift. The 55 rooms span every fashionable European style — Louis XIV, Louis XV, Francis I, and a Swiss chalet billiard room, because why not.
Flagler died at Whitehall in 1913 after falling down the mansion’s marble staircase. Mary Lily died four years later. The house passed to her niece, who sold it to investors who built a 300-room, ten-storey hotel tower onto the west side, obliterating much of the original building.
By 1959, the property faced demolition. Jean Flagler Matthews, one of Flagler’s granddaughters, stepped in to save it. She established the non-profit Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, purchased the building, demolished the hotel addition, and restored Whitehall to something approaching its 1902 glory. The museum opened to the public in 1960.
Inside Whitehall
The Grand Hall sets the tone: 110 feet long with marble columns, ceiling murals, and enough gilding to rival Versailles. It’s genuinely hard to process the scale when you first walk in.
Each room follows a different historical style. The Music Room is pure Louis XV with painted silk wall panels. The Louis XIV salon has carved mahogany and ormolu furniture. The Marble Hall features seven different types of marble. The dining room seats 36 beneath crystal chandeliers.
The second floor houses bedrooms and personal spaces, generally less formal but still elaborately decorated. Many original furnishings remain, supplemented by period pieces that match the mansion’s character.
The Flagler Kenan Pavilion, built in 1985, houses Railway Carriage No. 91 — Flagler’s personal railway car. The pavilion itself is designed as a 19th-century railway palace, the first public Beaux Arts building constructed in America in six decades. The railway car contains original furnishings and demonstrates how America’s wealthiest travelled during the Gilded Age.
What’s included with your ticket?
- Access to all 55 rooms across both floors of Whitehall
- The museum grounds and exterior areas
- The Flagler Kenan Pavilion and Railway Carriage No. 91
- Audio tour wands in English, Spanish, French, German, or Portuguese
- Access to the free museum app with narrated tours
- Self-guide brochures in multiple languages
- “Tour and Activity Guide for Kids” for younger visitors
- Docent-led tours (subject to availability, limit 35 people per tour)
- Access to the H.M. Flagler & Co. Museum Store
Things to do near the Flagler Museum
Worth Avenue (0.5 miles, 10-minute walk) — Palm Beach’s high-end shopping street, often called the Rodeo Drive of the East. Over 200 boutiques, galleries, and designer shops spread across four blocks from the Intracoastal to the Atlantic. The architecture alone warrants a stroll, even if your budget doesn’t stretch to the merchandise.
The Society of the Four Arts (0.6 miles, 12-minute walk) — Cultural institution offering art exhibitions, concerts, lectures, and botanical gardens. The gardens provide a peaceful escape, while the exhibition programme brings in quality temporary shows throughout the season.
Norton Museum of Art (2.3 miles, 8-minute drive) — Florida’s largest art museum, housing over 8,200 works with particularly strong collections of American, European, Chinese, and contemporary art. Free admission on Fridays and Saturdays. The outdoor sculpture garden and on-site restaurant add to the appeal.
The Breakers Palm Beach (1.2 miles, 5-minute drive) — Another Flagler creation, this Italian Renaissance-style resort opened in 1896. While it’s now a functioning hotel, the public areas are accessible and worth seeing. Flagler built it as part of his vision to transform Palm Beach into America’s premier winter destination.
Palm Beach Municipal Beach (1 mile, 5-minute drive) — Clean, well-maintained public beach with lifeguards, showers, and facilities. The Town of Palm Beach keeps it notably seaweed-free. Excellent spot for sunrise views over the Atlantic.
Practical tips
Location and access: The museum sits on the Intracoastal Waterway side of Palm Beach Island. From Interstate 95, take the Okeechobee Boulevard exit east across the bridge to Palm Beach. The museum is easily accessible from the bridge. Finding it is straightforward; finding anywhere to park other than the museum car park is not.
Time needed: Budget 90 minutes to two hours for a thorough visit. Docent-led tours take about an hour and cover only the first floor. If you want to explore both floors at your own pace with the audio guide, allow closer to two hours.
Photography: Personal photography is allowed throughout most of the museum, though flash, tripods, and any camera support equipment are forbidden. Some special exhibitions prohibit photography entirely. Formal portrait sessions, engagement photos, and commercial shoots require advance permission from the Public Affairs Department.
Accessibility: The museum has made considerable efforts to accommodate visitors with mobility issues. Accessible parking is available near the entrance, and an accessible entrance is on the south side of the property. Ramps and an elevator provide access to all levels, though the building’s original design included multiple elevation changes. Wheelchair-accessible toilets are on the first floor and in the pavilion. Service animals are welcome.
FAQs
Can I bring a pushchair to the Flagler Museum?
No. Strollers and car-seat-style baby carriers aren’t allowed inside the museum, though you can park them in the designated area outside the museum store. The museum recommends carrying young children or using a soft carrier.
Are large bags allowed at the Flagler Museum?
No. Large bags, purses, and backpacks aren’t permitted. There’s no storage facility for personal items, so leave anything bulky locked in your car before entering.
Is food allowed inside the Flagler Museum?
No. Food and drink are prohibited throughout the museum. The seasonal Railcar No. 91 Tea Room offers refreshments from late November through Easter, and a casual “Picnic in the Cocoanut Grove” option is also available seasonally.
How long does the Flagler Museum take to visit?
Most visitors spend 90 minutes to two hours. A docent-led tour of the first floor takes about an hour. If you’re using the audio guide and want to see both floors thoroughly, allow two hours.
Is the Flagler Museum suitable for children?
The museum provides a “Tour and Activity Guide for Kids” designed to engage younger visitors. That said, it’s fundamentally a historic house museum with “don’t touch” as the primary rule. Children who enjoy history and architecture will find plenty of interest; those expecting interactive exhibits may find it less engaging. Remember that visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
More Florida travel
Other Florida travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Get a complex slavery story at Kingsley Plantation in Jacksonville.
- Plan your visit to the Museum of Illusions in Orlando.
- First time visitor’s guide to the Castillo de San Marcos in St Augustine.
- The highlights of Anastasia State Park in St Augustine.
- Visitor guide to the Frost Science Museum in Miami.
