Overseas Railroad, Florida

The Overseas Railroad was the vision of Henry Flagler, who extended the Florida East Coast Railway beyond Miami, 113 miles to Key West.  It was completed in 1912, and was considered by some to be the "Eighth Wonder of the World."  The railroad was in operation until 1935, when a hurricane destroyed much of its infrastructure (causing others to call it "Flagler's Folly.")  The land was sold to the state, which would go on to build the Overseas Highway along the old railroad's path, sometimes building the highway on top of surviving portions of rail.  In the 1980s, new sections of highway were built to replace some of the old portions.  The new stretches of road run parallel to the original sections, which are being converted into the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, providing park space for fishing, walking, and biking.