American Castle: One Hundred Years of Mar-a-Lago

by Mary Shanklin

The FBI’s August 8, 2022, search for stolen national security documents cemented Mar-a-Lago’s place in American history, but Donald Trump’s “Winter White House” has a controversial life-story, populated by an amazing cast of characters, that goes back 100 years—told here in a definitive biography.

Moments before the Roaring Twenties flickered off and the world sunk into the Great Depression, socialite heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post constructed the estate she named “Mar-a-Lago” (Spanish for “sea to lake”), to the tune of $4 million (about $68 million today) and four years of labor—a 118-room mansion in a conflated Spanish, Portuguese, and Venetian design over a coral reef in Palm Beach County, Florida, the most hurricane prone land in the continental United States.



Baptized by the 1928 Okeechobie hurricane, which killed over 2,500, many of them Black laborers, Mar-a-Lago became a winter haven where corporate titans, socialites, and nobility gathered. But the honeymoon didn’t last long. The Great Depression and the unraveling of Marjorie Post’s marriage to investment broker E.F. Hutton from mutual adultery left Mar-a-Lago mothballed season after season.




Much of Post’s time over the decades was consumed by trying to figure out how to offload Mar-a-Lago—viewed as a white elephant due to its extraordinary maintenance costs—without letting it fall into the hands of rapacious developers who sought to subdivide the property, as was the fate of nearly all of Mar-a-Lago’s neighboring estates. And for a brief shining moment, the National Park Service stepped in to acquire Mar-a-Lago, one of the last official acts of the LBJ administration, a maneuver championed by the First Lady herself, Lady Byrd Johnson. But preserving a capitalist shrine really wasn’t in the purview of the Park Service, which turned the keys back to the Post family.



The years passed as the local Palm Springs citizenry squelched every opportunity to transfer the property or put it to civic use…. But then, a white knight seemed to appear—a real estate developer and casino mogul from the outer boroughs of New York City named Donald J. Trump! Trump, as is his wont, primarily used bank financing for the $10 million purchase price, reportedly only putting up $3,000. With his casino empire sliding into bankruptcy and desperate to cover Mar-a-Lago’s monthly $300,000 nut, Trump reneged on his assurance not to sub-divide the estate. Thwarted in court by the locals, he threatened to sell the estate to Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church, but eventually settled by turning Mar-a-Lago into a for-profit club. Years later, as Trump's “Winter White House,” Mar-a-Lago finally became a financial dynamo through the doubling of club membership dues and over-the-top fees for guests to hobnob with the President—and possibly even eavesdrop on discussions of national security.



In American Castle, Pulitzer Prize finalist Mary Shanklin—using previously untapped interviews, documents, and recordings—brilliantly captures the complete 100-year rise, fall, and outrageous resurrection of Mar-a-Lago.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics, Historical

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2023

Reviews

[Jaclyn Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

What should have been a historical narrative for an American by gone era home, was actually a political garbage opinion piece. While there were some tid bits of interesting facts much of this book was mixed with political opinions of the author.
I would never recommend this book.

[Hal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice history of this very historical "residence". The author takes us through the origin of Marjorie Post and E.F. Hutton searching for the perfect spot of their luxury home in early Palm Beach. And there it was around 17 acres of land running from the sea to the inlet waterway, and it shall be called Mar-a-Lago.

I live in the area so pass by it from time to time going through Palm Beach to the "Public Beach." You don't see too much of it from Ocean Blvd. but locals are well aware of the history and current occupant. If you don't live in Palm Beach you are also well aware that the people who live here would rather not have you around on the public beach, and worked diligently to get rid of all open parking on the island allowing only high priced meters comenserate with the neighborhood and encouraging you to beach elsewhere.

But I digress, back to our book at hand. Post and Hutton spent a fortune building this complex and it would haunt specifically Marjorie and her family throughout the remainder of her life. The taxing up keep and back and forth attempts to give or donate it to the American people, or let's say the American government, was taxing indeed. But she could easily afford the regular taxes thankfully.

So the story is much about this odyssey; how to keep the mansion intact and not subdivided into mini type mansions. Somehow it was accomplished but not very easily. Quite a story in that.

The conclusion of the book of course delves into the escapades of the current occupant, The Donald, or The Former President Donald. He came up with the unique solution to convert it into an exclusive club despite the attempts to block it from the local yocals.

The author makes her political persuations quite clear as she focuses on this man's many flaws, and foilbles, and classified document fiascoes. And of course he gives her a lot of material to work with.

Yes the wealthy are different and their problems much different than us common folk. The concentration of wealth into fewer hands can magnify the scope of the problems. Yet many would gladly accept the challenges as the price of success.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fascinating to read about the construction of Mar-a-Lago, from the beginning of the idea of it for the home of Mrs. Marjorie Merriweather Post, heiress, of the cereal company and E.F. Hutton. My mother and I have visited Viscaya, which was built around the same time as Mar-a-Largo. And I loved learning about the history and all the collections in it. So, I was curious about Mar-a-Lago, which was built in the Palm Beach area. Both are huge and impressive. I did not know any of the history, and this book has been well-researched. The black and white photos show Mrs. Post and many of the visitors like Lady Bird Johnson and a couple of President Trump's wives.

I would have enjoyed seeing for myself but that is not possible. Sadly, Mrs. Post goal for Mar-a-Lago would have been a meeting place for foreign dignitaries. It was at one time, planned to be a museum, and that never worked out. It was well written and I would love to read the author's book that she won the Pulitzer Prize for.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mar-a-Largo (Spanish for “sea to lake”) was built as a monument to the wealth and taste of Marjorie Post (with her then husband E.F. Hutton) for of $4 million (about $68 million today) and four years of labor—a 118-room mansion in a conflated Spanish, Portuguese, and Venetian styles in Palm Beach County, Florida. A Unique monument to the wealth of the 20's Post wanted the mansion to be a public monument donated to the US government, a national monument part of the national park service but after her death neglected and one of the only national monuments to be returned to private hands. Wrapped up in divorces, heirs wanting to unload it, broken promises, and locals working to keep the riff-raff out of Palm Beach Mar-a-Lago has gained fame due to its association with Donald Trump. I received a free Kindle edition of this book from the publisher through the Goodreads First Reads giveaways.

[Jackie Cyr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

I enjoyed 3/4 of this book. I loved to read about the history of Mar-A-Lago and the Post family. Being from Long Island I loved the references of Long Island and now am in Florida and I am familiar with Palm Beach.

I was bored about the part of the book with Trump because I am frankly tired about hearing about him.

I feel like this book would have been ok without the drama surrounding Trump.

The American Castle was called such because of the Post Family.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I confess I had never heard of Mar-a-Lago until the Trump presidency. In a different world, it could have been a destination like the Biltmore Estate. But given its location and other factors, had a much wilder trajectory. The book was interesting but maybe suited better for a long form article than a full book and it was confusing to follow the narrative at times. I'd actually be more interested to read a book about Marjorie Post, who I was really interested in.

arc received from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Julie Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written, well researched book about an iconic American winter home from the roaring 20s, built by an American cereal heiress. The history behind this home is fascinating- private residence, national landmark, to National park, to being returned to the estate, to being sold. It is a great loss to the American people this home isn’t viewable as it was meant to be seen. But the legacy does live on abet with changes but still touted as one of America’s castles.

[Jess Conley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I was hoping for more excitement throughout but it was kind of bland. I also had a sour pit in my stomach knowing what was coming. (That's on me, not the author) I just wish the first half would have been more colorful instead of feeling like I was reading about something boring and dry. This is an impressive building/land.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up for the research photos.

Honestly, although the history is interesting and construction over coral intriguing - I do feel that 100 years is infancy for "castles". American or not.

[Jenny Havlik · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're into the history of opulence and the lifestyles of the pre-Depression wealthy, there's some interesting history here.

I skimmed the last few chapters because I just can't with Trump anymore. Marjorie Post is probably rolling over in her grave. Many times over.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read. To read the history of Mar-a-lago was fascinating but some of it got boring for me. It went on too much in some areas. But it held my interest for the most part.

[Jean Mehochko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this book were interesting, and parts were a drag. There seemed to be a lot of repetition.

[Deepika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading about the creation and history of Mar-a-Lago. But the last few chapters, owing to the author’s anti-Trump bias, were disappointing.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

In researching writings of the life of Marjorie Merriweather Post, I enjoyed knowing more about the history of this one of her premier residences, Mar-a-Lago.

[Bette · Rating 3 out of 5]

The history of Mar-a-Lago begins with the history of Marjorie Merriweather Post. Her father was C.W. Post who created a fortune based on the Postum beverage and Post cereals. Marjorie grew up with enormous wealth and a life with influential people. In the Roaring 20s she decided to build the most impressive home on Palm Beach. She discovered 17 jungle-like acres and helped design a fanciful mansion alongside a set designer for the NYC Zigfield Follies and an architecht of the Mediterranean style. Filling it with gold, antiques, and more gold she built a house like no other, which she used as her winter base. This book outlines the life and times of Mar-a-Lago, including Marjorie's attempt to make the mansion a National Park to be visited by all Americans. Interesting story but, truthfully, it dragged at times and was saved by having great photos.