This is a sourced history of downtown Boca Raton, Florida, from the railway years to the Brightline station. Most of it comes from the Boca Raton Historical Society, which runs the history museum in the old Town Hall; where its pages and other sources disagree, we say so. Dates were checked on Oct. 20, 2026.
What does Boca Raton mean, and how do you say it?
The Historical Society says the name is often wrongly read as “Rat’s Mouth”. Boca de Ratones was a navigational term for a rocky or jagged inlet. The Society gives the pronunciation as Rah-tone.
- The Boca Raton Historical Society says the name is often wrongly read as Rat's Mouth. Boca de Ratones was a navigational term for a rocky or jagged inlet, and the Society gives the correct pronunciation as Rah-tone. Boca Raton Historical Society: A Brief History
The 1890s: the canal and the railway
The Historical Society says the Florida East Coast Canal, today’s Intracoastal Waterway, and the Florida East Coast Railway, both built in the 1890s, opened the area to pioneers.
- The Historical Society says the Florida East Coast Canal (today's Intracoastal) and the Florida East Coast Railway, both built in the 1890s, opened the area to pioneers. Boca Raton Historical Society: A Brief History
When was Boca Raton incorporated?
The Historical Society’s brief history says the Town of Boca Raton was incorporated in May 1925, at the height of the Florida land boom. Its timeline adds that the town was first incorporated as “Boca Ratone” in 1924, and then as the Town of Boca Raton in 1925. We found no exact day on a primary page, so 1925 is the year to use, with the 1924 first attempt as the footnote.
- The Historical Society says the Town of Boca Raton was incorporated in May 1925, at the height of the Florida land boom. Its timeline adds that the town was first incorporated as Boca Ratone in 1924. Boca Raton Historical Society: A Brief History and Boca's Timeline
- The Historical Society's brief history says the Town of Boca Raton was incorporated in May 1925; its timeline also says Boca Raton was first incorporated as 'Boca Ratone' in 1924 and the Town of Boca Raton was incorporated in 1925. No exact day was found on a primary page. Boca Raton Historical Society: Boca's Timeline and A Brief History
Addison Mizner and the land boom
The town council commissioned the society architect Addison Mizner to plan a world-class resort community. The Historical Society says the end of the land boom in 1926 stopped many of his plans. One that did open was the Cloister Inn, on Feb. 6, 1926. The Society says it remains a city landmark, known today as The Boca Raton. Downtown Boca says Mizner’s Spanish-Mediterranean style still shapes downtown buildings, old and new.
- The town council commissioned society architect Addison Mizner to plan a world-class resort community. The Historical Society says the end of the land boom in 1926 stopped many of his plans, but his style still shapes the city. Boca Raton Historical Society: A Brief History
- Mizner's Cloister Inn opened on February 6, 1926. The Historical Society says it remains a city landmark, today known as The Boca Raton. Boca Raton Historical Society: Boca's Timeline (with A Brief History)
- Downtown Boca says 1920s architect Addison Mizner established his Spanish-Mediterranean style downtown, and that it still shapes buildings old and new. Downtown Boca (Boca Raton CRA): About Us
Old Town Hall: completed in 1927
Boca Raton’s Town Hall at 71 N Federal Hwy was completed in 1927 by architect William Alsmeyer from Addison Mizner’s design, using ironwork, tile and woodwork from Mizner Industries, per the Historical Society. A Wikipedia snippet gives 1926 as the build year; we follow the Society, which also lists the building as ca. 1927 among the city’s National Register properties. We did not confirm the National Register listing year on a primary page, so we do not give one.
- Boca Raton's Town Hall at 71 North Federal Highway was completed in 1927 by Delray architect William Alsmeyer from Addison Mizner's design, using ironwork, tile and woodwork from Mizner Industries. Boca Raton Historical Society: A Brief History
- A search snippet from Wikipedia gives 1926 as Old Town Hall's build year; the Historical Society says it was completed in 1927 and lists it ca. 1927 on the National Register list. Use 1927. The National Register listing year (1980 in a snippet) was not confirmed on a primary page. Wikipedia (search snippet only; not cited)
The City leased Town Hall to the Historical Society in 1982, and the Society finished restoring it in 1984. It now houses The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum, open Wednesday to Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM.
- The City leased Town Hall to the Boca Raton Historical Society in 1982, and the Society finished restoring it in 1984. It now houses The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum. Boca Raton Historical Society: Boca's Timeline
- The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum, in Historic Town Hall at 71 North Federal Highway, is open Wednesday to Saturday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and closed Sunday to Tuesday and major holidays. Boca Raton Historical Society: Plan Your Visit
Mid-century downtown: Sanborn Square, fireworks and the first shopping center
- 1955: Eleanor Sanborn donated Sanborn Square Park to the city in honor of her late husband, Dr. W.E. Sanborn. It sits across Federal Highway from Town Hall at 72 N Federal Hwy.
- 1958: the City held its first Fourth of July fireworks at Memorial Park, next to City Hall.
- 1963: the Historical Society’s timeline says the FEC Railway ended passenger service that year, the same year Royal Palm Plaza opened as the town’s first real shopping center.
- Sanborn Square Park was donated to the city in 1955 by Eleanor Sanborn in honor of her late husband, Dr. W.E. Sanborn. Boca Raton Historical Society: Boca's Timeline
- The City held its first Fourth of July fireworks display at Memorial Park in 1958. Its Fabulous Fourth now takes place at Countess de Hoernle Park. City of Boca Raton: Fabulous Fourth
- The Historical Society's timeline says the FEC Railway ended passenger service in 1963, the same year Royal Palm Plaza opened as the town's first real shopping center. Boca Raton Historical Society: Boca's Timeline
1980s: redevelopment and preservation
In 1980 the City Council designated 344 acres of downtown as a community redevelopment area under the Florida Statutes, which also created the Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The CRA is generally known as Downtown Boca. The same decade saved two landmarks: the Town Hall restoration finished in 1984, and the Historical Society bought the old FEC Railway Station in 1985 and completed its restoration in 1988.
- In 1980 the Boca Raton City Council designated 344 acres in downtown as a community redevelopment area under the Florida Statutes, which also created the Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). City of Boca Raton: CRA/Downtown Boca
- The Historical Society bought the FEC Railway Station in 1985 and completed its restoration in 1988. Boca Raton Historical Society: Boca's Timeline
The Society lists the FEC Railway Passenger Station at 747 S Dixie Hwy (ca. 1930) as a designated Boca Raton site and a National Register property. Its Boca Express Train Museum, two restored 1947 streamliner rail cars at the station, opened to the public in 2004. We did not find current public hours or admission for the train museum, so check with the Historical Society before you go.
- The Historical Society lists the FEC Railway Passenger Station at 747 South Dixie Highway as a designated Boca Raton site, and lists it (ca. 1930) and Town Hall (ca. 1927) among the city's National Register properties. Boca Raton Historical Society: Designated Historic Sites
- The Historical Society says its Boca Express Train Museum, two restored 1947 streamliner rail cars at the FEC Railway Station, opened to the public in 2004. Boca Raton Historical Society: Milestones
- Current public hours or admission for the Boca Express Train Museum at the FEC Railway Station (747 S. Dixie Hwy) were not found. Only its 2004 opening (Historical Society Milestones) is confirmed. Boca Raton Historical Society: Milestones
Mizner Park and the arts district
Mizner Park’s opening year depends on the source: the Historical Society’s timeline says 1991, and the Boca Raton Museum of Art’s history page says 1989. The City set aside the north end of Mizner Park as a center for the arts. The Museum’s building there had its grand opening on Jan. 22, 2001, and Mizner Park Amphitheater opened in 2002. See our Mizner Park page.
- The Historical Society's timeline lists 1991 as the year Mizner Park opened. (The Museum of Art's history page gives 1989; see facts_gap.json.) Boca Raton Historical Society: Boca's Timeline
- Mizner Park opening year conflicts: the Boca Raton Historical Society timeline says 1991; the Boca Raton Museum of Art history page says Mizner Park opened as an al-fresco lifestyle center in 1989. Use 'around 1990' or attribute the year to a named source. Boca Raton Museum of Art: Museum History (vs. Boca Raton Historical Society: Boca's Timeline, https://bocahistory.org/timeline/)
- The Boca Raton Museum of Art is at 501 Plaza Real in Mizner Park. Its Mizner Park building had its grand opening on January 22, 2001. Boca Raton Museum of Art: Museum History
- The Museum of Art's history says the City set aside the north end of Mizner Park as a center for the arts, and the amphitheater opened in 2002, a year after the Museum. Boca Raton Museum of Art: Museum History
The 2020s: Brightline and BocaConnect
Passenger trains came back to downtown in December 2022. Brightline held a ribbon cutting on Dec. 20, 2022 and began serving Boca Raton the next day, Dec. 21, at a station at 101 NW 4th St. In 2024 the City started BocaConnect, its on-demand electric shuttle, on June 17. The Census Bureau’s Vintage 2024 estimate puts Boca Raton at 102,238 people on July 1, 2024.
- Brightline's first day of service at Boca Raton was December 21, 2022, the day after a ribbon cutting on December 20, 2022. Brightline Press Room: Brightline Opens New Stations in Boca Raton and Aventura (Dec 20, 2022)
- BocaConnect is the City's on-demand, all-electric shuttle run by Circuit; riders book in the Circuit app. The City says service started June 17, 2024 and that wait times are 10 minutes or less. City of Boca Raton: BocaConnect – Circuit Shuttle
- The U.S. Census Bureau's Vintage 2024 estimate puts Boca Raton city at 102,238 people on July 1, 2024, up from an April 1, 2020 estimates base of 97,436. U.S. Census Bureau: Vintage 2024 city and town population estimates, Florida (sub-est2024_12.csv)
Boca Raton timeline at a glance
| Year | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | Florida East Coast Canal and Railway built | Historical Society |
| 1924 | First incorporated as “Boca Ratone” | Historical Society timeline |
| May 1925 | Town of Boca Raton incorporated | Historical Society |
| Feb. 6, 1926 | Mizner’s Cloister Inn opens (today The Boca Raton) | Historical Society timeline |
| 1927 | Town Hall completed at 71 N Federal Hwy | Historical Society |
| 1955 | Sanborn Square donated to the city | Historical Society timeline |
| 1958 | First Fourth of July fireworks, Memorial Park | City of Boca Raton |
| 1963 | FEC passenger service ends; Royal Palm Plaza opens | Historical Society timeline |
| 1980 | 344-acre redevelopment area and the CRA created | City of Boca Raton |
| 1984 | Town Hall restoration finished | Historical Society timeline |
| 1988 | FEC Railway Station restoration finished | Historical Society timeline |
| 1989 or 1991 | Mizner Park opens (sources differ) | Museum of Art, Historical Society |
| 2001 | Museum of Art opens in Mizner Park | Museum of Art |
| 2002 | Mizner Park Amphitheater opens | Museum of Art |
| 2004 | Boca Express Train Museum opens | Historical Society |
| Dec. 21, 2022 | Brightline service begins | Brightline |
| June 17, 2024 | BocaConnect shuttle starts | City of Boca Raton |
See the history today
Start at Historic Town Hall, 71 N Federal Hwy, where the History Museum charges $12 for adults and $8 for seniors and students, with free parking behind the museum. It is free on the first Saturday of each month. Cross Federal Highway to Sanborn Square, then walk north to Mizner Park and its arts end. The FEC station and train cars are farther south on Dixie Highway. Our Royal Palm Place, Sanborn Square and Town Hall page covers the old downtown blocks in detail.
- History Museum admission is $12 for adults and $8 for seniors (65+) and youth (students 5+); Historical Society members are free. Free parking is behind the museum. Boca Raton Historical Society: Plan Your Visit
- The History Museum is free on the first Saturday of each month (Free Fun Saturdays), 10 AM to 4 PM. Listed upcoming dates include November 7 and December 5. Boca Raton Historical Society: Free Fun Saturdays
Boca Raton history FAQ
When did Brightline start stopping in Boca Raton?
Brightline's first day of service at Boca Raton was December 21, 2022, the day after the station's ribbon cutting.
Source: Brightline Press Room: Brightline Opens New Stations in Boca Raton and Aventura
When was Old Town Hall built?
The Historical Society says Town Hall at 71 North Federal Highway was completed in 1927 by architect William Alsmeyer from Addison Mizner's design. The Society restored it in 1984.
What did Addison Mizner have to do with Boca Raton?
The town council hired the society architect in the 1920s to plan a world-class resort; his Cloister Inn opened in February 1926 and is now The Boca Raton. The land-boom bust ended many of his plans, but his Spanish-Mediterranean style still shapes downtown.
When was Boca Raton incorporated?
The Historical Society says the Town of Boca Raton was incorporated in May 1925, at the height of the Florida land boom. Its timeline notes an earlier 1924 incorporation as 'Boca Ratone'.
How do you pronounce Boca Raton?
The Historical Society says the correct pronunciation is 'Rah-tone'. It adds that the name came from a navigational term for a rocky or jagged inlet, not literally 'rat's mouth'.
Is there an old train depot downtown?
Yes. The Historical Society restored the FEC Railway Station at 747 South Dixie Highway in 1988, and its Boca Express Train Museum of two 1947 rail cars opened there in 2004. Check the Society for current visiting hours.
Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Boca Raton (official site)