First Trains Arrive in Miami in April of 1896

Cover: Painting by artist Ken Hughes depicting arrival of first train on April 13, 1896

In many ways, the City of Miami got its start with the completion of the FEC Railway extension in 1896. While there were some very important people and events that triggered the extension, it was the completion of the railway to Miami that initiated the domino effect that triggered the formation of a great southern city. There were freezes and offers of land from property-rich South Florida pioneers, including Julia Tuttle and the Brickell family, that preceded the extension of the railway, but it was Henry Flagler’s agreement and investment to lay track from West Palm Beach to the Miami River that provided the pivotal catalyst for the formation of the Magic City.

Given the importance of the railroad extension to Miami’s origin story, it makes sense that the arrival of the first train would be a seminal event in the city’s history. This milestone is often cited and commemorated in any list of important dates associated with Miami. It has long been believed that the train to make the first journey to Miami arrived on Wednesday, April 15, 1896. While it is true that the first scheduled train arrived on that date, there is evidence to confirm that there was an unofficial train that arrived two days earlier, on Monday, April 13, 1896.