Mar-A-Lago

Mar–A–Lago National Historic Landmark
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Mar-A-Lago, Marjorie Merriweather Post's estate on Palm Beach Island.
Location:	1100 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Coordinates:	26°40′40″N 80°02′10″W / 26.67778°N 80.03611°W / 26.67778; -80.03611Coordinates: 26°40′40″N 80°02′10″W / 26.67778°N 80.03611°W / 26.67778; -80.03611
Area:	80,000 square feet (7,400 m2)
Built:	1924–27
Architect:	Marion Sims Wyeth (exterior), Joseph Urban(interior)[1][2]
Governing body:	Private
NRHP Reference#:	80000961
Significant dates
Added to NRHP:	December 23, 1980[2]
Designated NHL:	December 23, 1980[3]

Mar-A-Lago ("mahr-ah-lahgo"), built 1924-1927, is the name of the Marjorie Merriweather Post estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Post built the house with her (then) husband, Edward F. Hutton. The house was designed by Joseph Urban. Upon her death in 1973 Marjorie Post willed the 17-acre (69,000 m²) estate to the U.S. Government as a retreat for Presidents and visiting foreign dignatories.^[4] The mansion was not however used for this purpose, prior to being declared a National Historic Landmark in 1980.^[3][5]

Mar-A-Lago has frequently hosted the International Red Cross Ball, an annual white tie, tails, and tiara ball. Founded by Mrs. Post, it has a history of attracting wealthy socialites and ambassadors from across the world in support of the mission of the American Red Cross. Now home to the Mar-A-Lago Club, the 126-room, 110,000-square-foot (10,219 m²)^[6] estate is owned by Donald Trump. Trump paid $ 10 million for the estate in 1985. ^[6] After acquiring the property in 1985, Trump had the property renovated, with 58 bedrooms, 33 bathrooms, a 29-foot (8.8 m)-long pietra dura marble top dining table, 12 fireplaces, and three bomb shelters. Also, the home has five clay and one grass tennis court with a waterfront pool. Further additions have been made since then, including the recent construction of a 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m²) ballroom. The name Mar-A-Lago is Spanish for "Sea to Lake".^[7]

In 1994, Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley spent their honeymoon at Mar-a-Lago.

On October 3, 2006, Trump raised a 20' x 30' flag on an 80' flagpole at Mar-a-Lago. Town zoning officials asked Trump to adhere to town zoning codes that limit flagpoles to a height of 42'.^[8] This dispute led the town council of Palm Beach to charge Trump $1,250 for every day the flag at Mar-A-Lago remained. Trump filed a lawsuit against the town.^[9]

The flag pole incident was quietly resolved. The six-month stand-off ended as town officials agreed to a settlement that will lower the banner 10 feet (3.0 m) and move it away from the ocean. All fines were dropped and Trump contributed $100,000 to various charities for Iraq War veterans, the American flag or veterans' hospitals. Trump dropped his $25 million lawsuit against the town.

Living room of Mar-A-Lago, circa 1967

Entrance to Mar-A-Lago owner's suite, April 1967.

Notes

1. ^ The history and memories behind Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach Post, Dec. 17, 2005
2. ^ ^{a b} "National Register of Historical Places - Florida (FL), Palm Beach County". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-02-14. http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/FL/Palm+Beach/state.html. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Mar-A-Lago at National Historic Landmarks Program
4. ^ Time, August 1, 1980
5. ^ Cecil N. McKithan (August 31, 1981). National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Mar-A-Lago. National Park Service. http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/80000961.pdf  and Accompanying 4 photos, exterior, from 1967.PDF (942 KB)
6. ^ ^{a b} "Trump Honored for Preservation of Mar-A-Lago". MiamiHerald.com. March 2003. http://www.historicalsocietypbc.org/news_JudgeKnottAward.asp. 
7. ^ History of The Mar-a-Lago Club
8. ^ Town cites Trump, but big banner still waves October 31, 2006
9. ^ City to Trump: You're Fined! CNN, Jan. 19, 2007

References

• Florida, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, 2004, pg. 117
• The Trumps, Gwenda Blair, 2000, pg. 364

External links

• Official Mar-A-Lago Club Website
• [1]