Miami Connection
Tuttle single-handedly orchestrated Miami's founding by acquiring prime land along the Miami River and securing crucial railroad access through strategic negotiation with Henry Flagler. Beyond attracting the railroad, she established the city's first essential businesses including its first laundry, bakery, and dairy. Her vision and determination transformed South Florida from undeveloped swampland into a major American city, with her legacy honored by the Julia Tuttle Causeway (I-195) and a bronze statue in Bayfront Park.
About
Julia DeForest Tuttle (1849-1898) was born in Ohio and became a prominent businesswoman and real estate developer. After her husband's death in 1886, she managed family business interests before relocating to South Florida in 1891 following her father's death. She purchased 640 acres along the Miami River, including the site of former Fort Dallas, and envisioned transforming the swampland into a thriving city. Recognizing that railroad infrastructure was essential for development, she persistently courted railroad magnate Henry Flagler, ultimately convincing him to extend the Florida East Coast Railway south to Miami. Her efforts culminated in the first train arriving on April 22, 1896, leading to Miami's official incorporation that same year.