This is the wild and opulent history of Mar-a-Lago, long before Trump and the FBI

Mar-a-Lago sits on about 20 acres of land and is more than 37,000 square feet, with 58 bedrooms and 33 bathrooms. (Library Of Congress)

Mar-a-Lago has dominated the headlines in recent weeks, courtesy of the now famous FBI search on former President Donald Trump’s Florida residence.

But long before it housed government documents, the opulent mansion had a rich and lively history. And it all begins with a wealthy heiress.

Mar-a-Lago’s early party years