Yachts of Henry Flagler

Like other titans of America’s Gilded Age, Henry Flagler enjoyed yachting and was a member of many yacht clubs, including the New York Yacht Club, where he registered his private signal flag or burgee. Flagler purchased Eclipse, his first yacht, around 1883, but he owned it only briefly. Eclipse was built by C.A. Willis in 1881 and its overall length was about 55 feet. Flagler’s second yacht, the schooner Columbia, was purchased in 1884. Built in 1871 for Franklin Osgood, Columbia became world famous when in that same year she successfully defended the America’s Cup, along with Sappho. Columbia was about 108 feet long with a beam of about 25 feet. She drew just over eight feet and displaced just over 100 tons.

In 1890 Henry Flagler decided to build his own new yacht, which he named Alice. She would be, by far, his largest yacht. Harlan and Hollingsworth of Wilmington, Delaware were commissioned to build a two-masted schooner, with a three-cylinder steam engine. Alicia’s overall length was 180 feet, her length along her waterline was 160 feet, her displacement was just over 300 tons, her beam was 24 feet, and her draft was 9 feet 6 inches.

At a cost of about $113,000, Alicia was a substantial investment. Flagler must have been proud of Alicia, as it was the only one of his yachts for which he commissioned a painting, which is now in the Museum’s collection.