Jupiter in Palm Beach County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Jupiter and Lake Worth Railway
“Celestial Railroad”
— 1889-1895 —
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, August 6, 2018
1. The Jupiter and Lake Worth Railway, "Celestial Railroad" 1889-1895 Marker
Inscription.
The Jupiter and Lake Worth Railway. “Celestial Railroad”. The Jupiter and Lake Worth (J. and L.W.) Railway crossed this site running 7 ½ miles from Jupiter Inlet to Juno at the north end of Lake Worth. A hack line originally operated on the same route, transporting visitors and freight with wagons pulled by oxen. The narrow gauge railroad began operation on July 4, 1889, as Lake Worth pioneers celebrated with a free ride to Jupiter. Since there was no turntable, the train steamed forward to Juno and in reverse back to Jupiter. The Indian River Steamboat Company connected passengers and freight from Titusville to the J. and L.W. Railway wharf, then by rail to Juno, the Dade County seat. Engineer Blus Rice played Dixie on the wood-burning steam engine whistle to alert waiting passengers. In 1893, an article in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine dubbed the line the “Celestial Railroad” because it stopped at Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Juno. Mars and Venus were freight stops for loading pineapples, coconuts, citrus and other locally grown produce. In 1893, Henry Flagler used the railroad to haul lumber and supplies to build the Royal Poinciana Hotel on Palm Beach. Bankruptcy and Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railroad ended the Celestial Railroad’s operations in April 1895.
The Jupiter and Lake Worth (J. & L.W.) Railway crossed this site running 7 ½ miles from Jupiter Inlet to Juno at the north end of Lake Worth. A hack line originally operated on the same route, transporting visitors and freight with wagons pulled by oxen. The narrow gauge railroad began operation on July 4, 1889, as Lake Worth pioneers celebrated with a free ride to Jupiter. Since there was no turntable, the train steamed forward to Juno and in reverse back to Jupiter. The Indian River Steamboat Company connected passengers and freight from Titusville to the J. & L.W. Railway wharf, then by rail to Juno, the Dade County seat. Engineer Blus Rice played Dixie on the wood-burning steam engine whistle to alert waiting passengers. In 1893, an article in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine dubbed the line the “Celestial Railroad” because it stopped at Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Juno. Mars and Venus were freight stops for loading pineapples, coconuts, citrus and other locally grown produce. In 1893, Henry Flagler used the railroad to haul lumber and supplies to build the Royal Poinciana Hotel on Palm Beach. Bankruptcy and Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railroad ended the Celestial Railroad’s operations in April 1895.
Erected 2010 by The Town of Jupiter and the Florida Department of State. (Marker
Location. 26° 56.547′ N, 80° 4.823′ W. Marker is in Jupiter, Florida, in Palm Beach County. Marker is at the intersection of Ocean Boulevard (State Road A1A) and Coopers Road, on the right when traveling south on Ocean Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 18085 N FL A1A, Jupiter FL 33477, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. The Jupiter and Lake Worth Railway, "Celestial Railroad" 1889-1895 Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 637 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 9, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
