| The Flagler Museum will celebrate the anniversary of its founding on Friday, June 5, 2026, with its annual Founder’s Day offering free admission for visitors. The day honors both Henry Flagler, who built Whitehall in 1902, and his granddaughter, Jean Flagler Matthews, who rescued the estate from demolition and established the Flagler Museum on June 5, 1959.
To enhance the visitor experience and manage attendance, guests will now be required to reserve complimentary timed-entry tickets online in advance. Capacity will be limited to 500 visitors per two-hour entry window, with admission slots beginning at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m.
Tickets may be reserved online at the Flagler Museum Founder’s Day page.
Founder’s Day has become one of the Museum’s most popular annual traditions, welcoming the community to experience Whitehall and explore the history, art, and architecture of America’s Gilded Age free of charge.
Visitors attending Founder’s Day will enjoy a self-guided tour of Whitehall’s first floor, access to the Museum’s permanent collection of Gilded Age art and objects, and the opportunity to climb aboard Henry M. Flagler’s Railcar No. 91 in the Flagler Kenan Pavilion. The second floor of Whitehall will be closed due to ongoing conservation and restoration projects.
Built as a grand winter residence in Palm Beach, Whitehall stands today as one of the nation’s most significant Gilded Age estates and museums, welcoming millions of visitors since opening to the public.
Founder’s Day Details
Friday, June 5, 2026
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free admission
Timed-entry reservations required
For more information or to reserve tickets, visit the Flagler Museum website Founder’s Day Information. The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum
When it was completed in 1902, Whitehall, Henry Flagler’s Gilded Age estate in Palm Beach, was hailed by the New York Herald as “more wonderful than any palace in Europe, grander and more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world.” Today, Whitehall is a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public as the Flagler Museum, featuring changing exhibitions and special programs. The Museum is located at One Whitehall Way, Palm Beach, FL 33480. Hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 12 to 5 p.m. For more information, call (561) 655-2833 or visit www.flaglermuseum.us.
The Flagler Museum is funded in part by Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, the Tourist Development Council, the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. |
