History of Mar-a-Lago in Timeline

Mar-a-Lago is a 126-room resort and U.S. National Historic Landmark located in Palm Beach, Florida. Spanning 62,500 sq ft on 17 acres, it was built in the early 20th century and later purchased by Donald Trump in 1985. It has served as a private residence and a members-only club and has gained significance due to its association with Trump and various political events.

1924: Construction Begins

Construction of Mar-a-Lago for Marjorie Merriweather Post began in 1924 during the Florida land boom.

1927: Construction Completed

In 1927, the construction of Mar-a-Lago was completed, becoming the most expensive non-royal residence built at the time.

1935: Hutton and Post Divorce

In 1935, Hutton and Post divorced, and Post married Joseph E. Davies, leading to Mar-a-Lago being closed for five seasons.

1941: Absentee Period

From 1941 to 1948, Post did not stay at the Mar-a-Lago estate.

April 1944: Training Center

In April 1944, Mar-a-Lago was converted into a training center for returning servicemen.

1948: Post's Return

In 1948, Marjorie Merriweather Post returned to Mar-a-Lago and resumed hosting social events.

1957: International Red Cross gala

Since 1957, Mar-a-Lago has traditionally hosted the International Red Cross gala.

1961: Pavilion Built

In 1961, a pavilion with a 30-foot-by-50-foot dance floor was built at Mar-a-Lago, hosting square dance evenings.

1969: National Historic Site Designation

In 1969, Mar-a-Lago was designated a National Historic Site, recognized for its representation of winter resort life in Palm Beach before the Depression.

1973: Marjorie Merriweather Post's Bequest

In 1973, Marjorie Merriweather Post bequeathed Mar-a-Lago to the National Park Service with the hope that it would be used for state visits or as a Winter White House.

1973: Post's Death and Bequest

In 1973, upon her death, Marjorie Merriweather Post bequeathed the Mar-a-Lago estate to the United States government to serve as a Winter White House.

December 23, 1980: Return to Post Foundation

On December 23, 1980, Congress passed act 96-586, returning the Mar-a-Lago property to the Post Foundation due to high maintenance costs and security concerns.

1980: National Historic Landmark

In 1980, Mar-a-Lago was declared a National Historic Landmark, recognizing its representation of the wealthy lifestyle during the Florida land boom of the 1920s.

1981: Property Returned to Post Foundation

In 1981, due to high maintenance costs and security concerns, the federal government returned Mar-a-Lago to the Post Foundation.

1985: Trump's Acquisition

In 1985, Donald Trump acquired Mar-a-Lago and used it as a private residence.

1985: Trump Purchases Mar-a-Lago

In 1985, Donald Trump purchased Mar-a-Lago for $7 million after initially offering $15 million and purchasing land to threaten the property's beach view.

1992: Trump and Epstein at Mar-a-Lago

In 1992, Donald Trump was filmed with Jeffrey Epstein at a party in Mar-a-Lago, which later gained attention following Epstein's arrest for sex trafficking in 2019.

1993: Agreement to Turn Residence into Private Club

In 1993, Trump and the city of Palm Beach signed an agreement allowing him to turn Mar-a-Lago into a private club.

1993: Use Agreement Signed

In 1993, Trump signed a 'use agreement' with Palm Beach, changing Mar-a-Lago's designation to a private club and limiting stays, creating controversy in 2019 when he declared Mar-a-Lago as his primary residence.

1994: Conversion to Mar-a-Lago Club

In 1994, Donald Trump converted Mar-a-Lago into the Mar-a-Lago Club, a members-only club featuring guest rooms and hotel-style amenities.

1994: Mar-a-Lago Club Opens

In 1994, the Mar-a-Lago Club opened, operating as a resort and hotel for dues-paying members. It also rents out estate venues for private events, allowing Trump to reduce his tax bill by claiming business expenses.

1994: Celebrity Events

In 1994, the new club hosted concerts by celebrities such as Céline Dion and Billy Joel, and beauty pageant contestants as guests. Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley had their honeymoon at Mar-a-Lago

1995: Deed of Conservation and Preservation

In 1995, Donald Trump "gave up the right to use Mar-a-Lago for any purpose other than as a social club" by agreeing to a "Deed of Conservation and Preservation".

1995: First Lawsuit Over Airport Noise

In 1995, Trump first filed a lawsuit regarding airport noise. It was settled in 1996, with the county agreeing to work with the FAA to alter flight patterns.

November 1996: Request to Lift Restrictions Denied

In November 1996, Trump asked the Palm Beach council to lift restrictions on media photography, land sales, membership, and traffic at the club, which was denied. Trump implied discrimination due to the club's Jewish membership.

1996: Settlement of First Airport Noise Lawsuit

In 1996, Trump's first lawsuit against the county over airport noise was settled, leading to changes in flight patterns. Trump also leased land from the county to build the Trump International Golf Club.

December 1997: Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination

In December 1997, Trump filed a lawsuit alleging that Palm Beach discriminated against him and his club because it accepted Jewish and African-American members and that town officials had financial stakes in competing clubs.

1997: Trump and Epstein Photograph

In 1997, a photograph of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein was taken at Mar-a-Lago.

February 12, 2000: Trump, Epstein, Maxwell, and Melania Photograph

On February 12, 2000, a photograph was taken at Mar-a-Lago featuring Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Melania Trump (then Melania Knauss).

2000: Giuffre's Introduction to Epstein

In 2000, Virginia Giuffre, while working as a spa attendant at Mar-a-Lago, was introduced to Jeffrey Epstein by Ghislaine Maxwell.

2002: Conservation Easement

In 2002, Donald Trump agreed to a conservation easement preventing further development of Mar-a-Lago.

2005: Trump's Marriage to Melania

In 2005, Donald Trump married Melania Knauss at Mar-a-Lago, with Bill and Hillary Clinton among the attendees.

2005: Insurance Payment for Hurricane Damage

In 2005, Trump received a $17 million insurance payment for hurricane damage to Mar-a-Lago after the Atlantic hurricane season, covering landscaping, roofing, walls, and artwork. The actual damage was disputed by Trump's former butler.

October 3, 2006: Flagpole Dispute with Palm Beach

On October 3, 2006, Trump raised a large American flag at Mar-a-Lago, leading to a dispute with Palm Beach zoning officials who cited height restrictions. Trump eventually dropped a lawsuit, and the town waived its fines after Trump agreed to reduce the flagpole's height and donate to veterans' charities.

2007: Jeffrey Epstein Expelled from Mar-a-Lago

In 2007, Jeffrey Epstein was expelled from Mar-a-Lago after allegedly harassing a member's teenage daughter.

July 2010: Lawsuit to Stop Runway Construction

In July 2010, Trump filed another lawsuit to stop the airport from constructing a second commercial runway, but the suit was dismissed.

2011: Mar-a-Lago Property Value Assessment

In 2011, as part of the New York civil investigation of the Trump Organization, it was found that Palm Beach County assessed Mar-a-Lago's value between $18 million and $27.6 million, while Trump's financial statements valued it between $427 million and $627 million.

April 18, 2012: Florida Architecture Ranking

On April 18, 2012, the American Institute of Architects' Florida chapter ranked Mar-a-Lago fifth on the Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places list.

2012: Membership Fee Reduction

In 2012, the Mar-a-Lago Club membership fee was lowered to $100,000, reportedly due to reduced demand following the Bernie Madoff scandal.

2013: Health Code Violations Since 2013

Since 2013, Mar-a-Lago has faced 51 health code violations.

January 2015: Lawsuit Seeking $100 Million in Damages

In January 2015, Trump filed a third suit against the county, seeking $100 million in damages for noise and pollution allegedly directed over Mar-a-Lago by the FAA at the behest of county officials.

June 2015: Revenue Period Start

The Mar-a-Lago Club's financial disclosure forms show the start of a period from June 2015 through May 2016 where the club had $29.7 million in gross revenues.

November 2015: Court Ruling Against Trump's Arguments

In November 2015, a Florida Circuit Court judge ruled against most of Trump's arguments in his lawsuit regarding airport noise, dismissing four of the six claims.

May 2016: Revenue Period End

The Mar-a-Lago Club's financial disclosure forms show the end of a period from June 2015 through May 2016 where the club had $29.7 million in gross revenues.

January 2017: Mar-a-Lago Club Membership Approaching Capacity

As of January 2017, the Mar-a-Lago Club was nearly at its maximum capacity of 500 paying members and was admitting twenty to forty new members a year. Members as of 2017 included Bill Koch, Thomas Peterffy, George Norcross, Kenneth Duberstein, Bruce E. Toll, Richard LeFrak, Christopher Ruddy, Howie Carr, Michael Savage's wife, and Bill Belichick.

January 2017: Health Code Violations

In January 2017, Florida inspectors noted 15 health code infractions at Mar-a-Lago, including unsafe seafood, insufficiently refrigerated meats, rusty shelving, and cooks without hairnets. The infractions were corrected on site, and the establishment was immediately brought into compliance.

January 2017: Membership Fee Increase After Trump Election

In January 2017, after Trump's election, the Mar-a-Lago Club membership fee returned to $200,000, with annual dues of $14,000. Overnight guests paid up to $2,000 per night.

January 2017: Lawsuit Dropped and Helicopter Ban Exemption Granted

In January 2017, after winning the presidency, Trump dropped the lawsuit as a no-fly zone was expected. Palm Beach exempted Mar-a-Lago from a ban on landing helicopters on residential properties.

February 2017: Flight Restrictions and Security Measures

In February 2017, due to President Trump's presence, the Palm Beach area experienced temporary flight restrictions, severely impacting air operations within a 30-nautical-mile radius. The Coast Guard and Secret Service secured waterways, and streets were cordoned off. The Palm Beach County Park Airport faced shutdowns, causing financial losses.

February 2017: Club Members Considered for Ambassadorships

In February 2017, it was reported that Trump was considering at least three Mar-a-Lago club members for ambassadorships.

February 20, 2017: Appointment of H. R. McMaster

On February 20, 2017, during his third weekend visit to Mar-a-Lago, President Trump named General H. R. McMaster as Michael Flynn's successor as National Security Advisor.

April 4, 2017: ShareAmerica Blog Post

On April 4, 2017, ShareAmerica, a website run by the U.S. Department of State, published a blog post describing Mar-a-Lago's history.

April 5, 2017: Embassy Blog Post Sharing

On April 5, 2017, the U.S. embassy in the United Kingdom shared snippets of the ShareAmerica blog post on its own blog, and the U.S. embassy in Albania shared the original post on its Facebook page.

April 24, 2017: Questioning of Government Resources Use

On April 24, 2017, Democratic senator Ron Wyden, House minority leader Nancy Pelosi, and ethics observers questioned the use of official government resources to promote Mar-a-Lago, a private property owned by Trump.

April 25, 2017: Removal of Blog Posts

On April 25, 2017, ShareAmerica and both U.S. embassies in the United Kingdom and Albania removed their respective posts about Mar-a-Lago. ShareAmerica, replaced their post with a statement about informing the public and regretting any misperception.

July 2017: Order to Release Visitor Logs

In July 2017, a judge ordered that the visitor logs of Mar-a-Lago be released in September, following a lawsuit.

August 2017: Charities Cancel Events Due to Trump's Remarks

In August 2017, in response to Trump's comments on the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, six nonprofit organizations, including the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society, canceled scheduled gala events at Mar-a-Lago.

November 2017: Thanksgiving Visit

In November 2017, President Trump returned to Mar-a-Lago for a Thanksgiving celebration.

2017: First Presidential Visit

In 2017, Donald Trump made his first visit to Mar-a-Lago as President of the United States, hosting the Diamond Red Cross Ball and watching Super Bowl LI.

2017: Meeting with Shinzo Abe

In 2017, President Trump hosted Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe and his wife at Mar-a-Lago, marking the first time an international leader was entertained there. A North Korean missile launch triggered one of President Trump's first international security crises, and Trump and Abe conferred in full view of the other diners.

2017: Club Revenues

In 2017, the Mar-a-Lago Club had revenues of $25.1 million.

November 2018: Thanksgiving Visit

In November 2018, President Trump returned to Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving.

2018: Multiple Visits and Summit Meeting

In 2018, President Trump visited Mar-a-Lago eight times prior to the seasonal closing in May and held a summit meeting with Shinzō Abe on April 17–18.

2018: Club Revenues

In 2018, the Mar-a-Lago Club had revenues of $22 million.

March 30, 2019: Arrest of Yujing Zhang

On March 30, 2019, Yujing Zhang, a Chinese national, was arrested and charged with unlawful entry to the premises and making false statements to federal law enforcement officials at Mar-a-Lago.

September 2019: Mar-a-Lago Becomes Trump's Primary Residence

In September 2019, Mar-a-Lago became the primary residence for Donald and Melania Trump, sparking legal challenges due to a 1993 agreement limiting Trump's stays.

November 2019: Thanksgiving visit

In November 2019, President Trump returned to Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving.

December 2019: Arrest of Chinese Nationals for Trespassing

In December 2019, Chinese nationals were arrested for trespassing at Mar-a-Lago.

2019: Epstein Arrest

In 2019, Jeffrey Epstein's arrest for sex trafficking brought renewed attention to past interactions with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

March 7, 2020: Working Dinner with Jair Bolsonaro

On March 7, 2020, President Trump hosted Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro for a working dinner at Mar-a-Lago, where they discussed various topics including the U.S.-led effort to oust Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.

March 11, 2020: Bolsonaro's Press Secretary Tests Positive for COVID-19

On March 11, 2020, it was revealed that Bolsonaro's press secretary, Fábio Wajngarten, who attended the dinner on March 7th, had tested positive for COVID-19 after returning to Brazil.

December 2020: Neighbors Demand Trump Not Use Estate as Residence

In December 2020, Mar-a-Lago neighbors demanded that Palm Beach notify Trump he cannot use the estate as his residence, citing the 1993 Use Agreement.

2020: "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm" Appearance

In 2020, footage of Donald Trump talking to Jeffrey Epstein in Mar-a-Lago appeared in the mockumentary black comedy film "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm".

2020: Details of Epstein's Expulsion Revealed in 'The Grifter's Club'

In 2020, the book 'The Grifter's Club' revealed that Jeffrey Epstein was expelled from Mar-a-Lago in 2007 for harassing a member's daughter and confirms he is listed in club membership records as 'Account closed 10/07'.

January 2021: Transfer of Presidential Records

In January 2021, upon leaving the White House, Trump moved a large number of presidential records to Mar-a-Lago, potentially violating the Presidential Records Act.

2021: Palm Beach Attorney Concludes Trump Can Reside at Mar-a-Lago

In 2021, Palm Beach's attorney concluded that zoning codes allowed employees to reside at private clubs, and paperwork confirmed Trump's duties as an employee of Mar-a-Lago.

2021: Mar-a-Lago Property Value Discrepancy

In 2021, as part of the New York civil investigation of the Trump Organization, it was found that Palm Beach County assessed Mar-a-Lago's value between $18 million and $27.6 million, while Trump's financial statements valued it between $427 million and $627 million.

January 2022: Retrieval of Classified Documents

In January 2022, the National Archives retrieved 15 boxes of materials from Mar-a-Lago, including classified documents, leading to Department of Justice restrictions on information disclosure.

May 11, 2022: Grand Jury Subpoena

On May 11, 2022, the Justice Department issued a grand jury subpoena to Trump, seeking additional classified documents.

August 8, 2022: FBI Search of Mar-a-Lago

On August 8, 2022, FBI agents, with a search warrant, searched Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence as part of an investigation into mishandling classified documents.

August 2022: Rothschild Heiress Impersonator

In August 2022, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that a Ukrainian-born Russian speaker, posing as a Rothschild family heiress, frequented Mar-a-Lago over a year, taking photos with Trump and Senator Lindsey Graham.

November 8, 2022: Watch Party for 2022 United States Elections

On November 8, 2022, Mar-a-Lago hosted a watch party for Trump and his close allies during the 2022 United States elections.

2022: Valuation Estimates and Lawsuit

In 2022, Forbes estimated the value of Mar-a-Lago at around $350 million. A lawsuit by New York Attorney General Letitia James alleged that Trump inflated the value of Mar-a-Lago to $739 million, while its actual value was $75 million.

March 5, 2024: Watch Party for Super Tuesday

On March 5, 2024, Mar-a-Lago hosted a watch party for Trump and his close allies during Super Tuesday.

2024: 2024 United States Presidential Election Night Events

During the night of the 2024 United States presidential election, Trump hosted an exclusive watch party and private dinners at Mar-a-Lago for his extended family, close friends, and members of the Mar-a-Lago club. Attendees included Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Dana White, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nigel Farage, and Eduardo Bolsonaro.