Carl Graham Fisher Mr. Miami Beach and much more

Abstract

Carl Graham Fisher, an Indiana native, was the man who—among other accomplishments—conceived and built Miami Beach, Montauk Manor (on Long Island), the Indianapolis Speedway, and the country-crossing Lincoln and Dixie highways (which foreshadowed today's interstate highway system). Born into poverty, Fisher left home at age 12 to support his family. He made a name for himself in bicycle endurance racing and thereafter opened a bike shop and eventually an auto dealership. In 1904 he met and invested in an entrepreneur who owned the patent for an automobile-headlight design, which made both men rich. Fisher parlayed his new fortune into the Indianapolis Speedway, which he conceived as a test track for American automobile engineers. His disdain for U.S. roads and his familiarity with U.S. automakers led to his proposal to finance privately a coast-to-coast “Lincoln Highway,” paid for by donations from automobile industrialists. Once that project was underway, Fisher turned his sights to Florida, where he recognized the potential of a swampy, mosquito-infested Miami Beach. In 1912 he bought up much of the island, built the extravagant Flamingo Hotel, and commissioned a bridge to the mainland. Since Fisher spared no expense, Miami Beach soon became a popular wintertime destination for the nation's newly rich elite. Next, Fisher looked north and found on Long Island the perfect summer-vacation spot for his winter Miami Beach clientele. He turned Montauk into a gleaming resort community complete with excellent hunting, fishing, all types of recreation, a yacht club (with man-made ocean access), casino, and much more. In 1927, however, a severe storm battered Miami and choked off the winter business. Then came the Great Depression, which effectively eroded Fisher's real-estate empire and forced him into bankruptcy. Fisher died in 1939, with less than $55,000 to his name.