Pembroke

Built 1916, for Joseph Raphael De Lamar (1843-1918) and his wife Nellie Virginia Sands (1876-1946). It was designed by Charles P. H. Gilbert and occupying 60,000 square feet of living space, this Gold Coast mansion was one of the Largest Historic Houses in the United States before its demolition in 1968. Attached to the house was the vast "Tropical House" filled with wildlife and rare birds that flew "freely" around the interior. It also housed what was said to be one of the most impressive swimming pools on the East Coast. The De Lamar's only daughter, Alice, sold the estate in 1920 to Marcus Loew of Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. Loew added a private movie theater and had murals painted of scenes from the hit silent movie, The Sheik (1921). Today, the site is occupied by a luxury gated community, the Legend Yacht & Beach Club. Remnants include the gates, carriage house and 70-foot water tower that had an elevator up to a tea house.