Mar-A-Lago

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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.
Mar-A-Lago is located in Florida
Mar-A-Lago
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; -80.03611
Area: 80,000 square feet (7,400 m2)
Built/Founded: 1924–27
Architect: Marion Sims Wyeth (exterior), Joseph Urban(interior)[1][2]
Governing body: Private
Added to NRHP: December 23, 1980[2]
Designated NHL: December 23, 1980[3]
NRHP Reference#: 80000961

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. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1980.[3][4]

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)[5] estate is owned by Donald Trump who holds 51% ownership and ex-wife Ivana Trump who holds 49% ownership. The house itself is 62,000 square feet (5,636 m²).[5] 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".[6]

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

On October 3, 2006, Trump raised a 15' × 25' 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'.[7] This dispute led the town council of Palm Beach to charge Trump $1,250 for every day the flag at Mar-A-Lago remains. Trump has filed a lawsuit against the town.[8]

The flag pole incident has since then been 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 will be dropped and Trump will contribute $100,000 to various charities for Iraq War veterans, the American flag or veterans' hospitals. Trump will also drop a $25 million lawsuit against the town.

Living room of Mar-A-Lago, circa 1967
Entrance to Mar-A-Lago owner's suite, April 1967.

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

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

[edit] External links

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