Two Henrys: Henry Plant and Henry Flagler and Their Railroads

They shared first names. They both first came to Florida looking for a healthy place for their wives. And they both fell in love with the place and with its potential. Henry Plant and Henry Flagler also shared passions for railroads and hotels-and they both ignored the word "impossible."

Henry Plant, who had steamships in addition to railroads, was determined to have his trains running to a port for ships on the west coast of Florida. In 1884 Plant realized his dream when his rails reached T...