In 1956, Marjorie Wicoff decided that Christmas didn’t need snow—just sunshine! While everyone else was battling the cold, she headed to West Palm Beach, Florida, for a warm holiday escape.

At the time, West Palm was just starting to become the go-to spot for winter-weary travelers. After railroad magnate Henry Flagler established the Florida East Coast Railway in the 1890s, the area saw rapid growth, especially as wealthy northerners began flocking to the region to escape harsh winters.

By the 1920s, West Palm Beach had become a popular destination for the elite, with high-profile visitors like the Rockefellers boosting the city’s reputation. This period marked the construction of some of the city’s iconic buildings and resorts, further establishing it as a glamorous vacation spot. The city’s economy was largely driven by agriculture, including citrus and pineapple farming, while tourism flourished.

However, the Great Depression and a series of hurricanes in the late 1920s and early 1930s brought this growth to a halt. Despite the setbacks, West Palm Beach began to recover by the mid-20th century. The 1950s, in particular, marked a period of significant change for the city. As World War II ended, West Palm Beach experienced an economic boom with a growing population and an expanding tourism industry. The city saw the construction of new hotels, shopping centers, and residential developments, signaling its rise as a modern destination for both tourists and residents.

The 1950s also brought the development of cultural institutions, like the Norton Museum of Art, which became a key part of the city’s growing cultural scene. West Palm Beach was no longer just a quiet retreat; it had become a vibrant city with a mix of tourism, commerce, and arts, laying the foundation for the city’s continued growth into the next decades.

With its beaches, fancy hotels, and a Christmas atmosphere that didn’t involve frostbite, West Palm Beach proved to be the perfect holiday escape. Marjorie’s sunny getaway highlighted the city’s transformation from a quiet retreat to a must-visit destination for wealthy families looking to trade snowflakes for palm trees.