DONALD TRUMP TO BE PRESENTED WITH PRESTIGIOUS JUDGE
KNOTT AWARD FOR THE PRESERVATION OF MAR-A-LAGO
PALM BEACH, Fla. (March, 2003)--- The Historical
Society of Palm Beach County will present Donald J. Trump
with its prestigious Judge James R. Knott Historical Contribution
Award for the magnificent restoration of the Mar-a-Lago
estate in Palm Beach. The annual award, now in its 14th
year, will be held at the Historical Society’s annual
membership meeting and reception at The Mar-a-Lago Club
on April 5, from 4:00p.m. – 7:00p.m.
Donald J. Trump purchased Mar-a-Lago, the
former home of the legendary cereal heiress, Marjorie Merriweather
Post (then Mrs. Edward F. Hutton), in 1985 from the Post
Foundation. He then began a painstaking, 18-year challenge
of restoring the historic, Mediterranean-Revival mansion
that has been an icon of Palm Beach life for almost 80 years.
All of the 110,000-sq.-ft., 118-room landmark residence,
completed in 1927, was restored to its original grandeur,
from the ornate interior with 16th century Venetian tapestries
and gold leaf moldings, to the signature exterior, complete
with a 75-foot tower and coquina and stucco façade.
Through his exacting attention to the complex historic preservation
process, Trump has transformed the 18-acre estate into what
is now The Mar-a-Lago Club without eroding its historic
significance or integrity.
“This palatial estate is a hallmark
of Palm Beach, representing a unique era in our county’s
history,” said Loren Mintz, executive director of
The Historical Society of Palm Beach County. “It exemplifies
the luxurious lifestyles of the era, led by the social elite
of the Eastern Seaboard who flocked to Palm Beach during
the 1920s land boom. Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Trump,
we are privileged to have a unique glimpse into this fascinating
period of Palm Beach life. It is an honor to present him
with our highest form of recognition.”
The Historical Society’s Judge James
R. Knott Award recognizes the achievements of individuals
or organizations that have significantly contributed to
preserving and sharing the rich and diverse history of Palm
Beach County. The award is named for the late Honorable
Judge James R. Knott, a dedicated historian and author who
served as the president of the Historical Society from 1957
to 1969. Judge Knott’s most notable achievements include
spearheading the efforts to restore the historic name to
Cape Canaveral; facilitating the establishment of the Preservation
Foundation of Palm Beach and the Landmarks Preservation
Commission; and contributing historical articles to the
Brown Wrapper newspaper series, which later were
compiled into three books. He was also instrumental in obtaining
a large portion of the Historical Society’s treasured
archive.
For more information about the Judge James
R. Knott Award, contact the Historical Society of Palm Beach
County’s executive director Loren Mintz, at (561)
832-4164.
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