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Today In Keys History
Daily column recounting events in Keys history on a specific date.


March 31
1935 – The Federal Emergency Relief Administration’s strategy of reshaping Key West into a tourist destination was working.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 302 min read


March 30
1886 – At 10 o’clock in the morning, a fire started near the San Carlos Theater in Key West.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 292 min read


March 29
1975 - The new East and West Wings of the Monroe County Public Library at 700 Fleming Street in Key West were dedicated.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 282 min read


March 28
1966 – The Lighthouse Military Museum opened in the former Key West lighthouse keeper’s quarters on Whitehead Street.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 271 min read


March 27
1955 – After just two months of operation, the P & O Steamship Company halted its Key West-to-Tampa.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 261 min read


March 26
1961 – President John F. Kennedy and British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan met in Key West to discuss the situation in Southeast Asia.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 252 min read


March 25
1935 – A resolution by aFlorida Congressman to designate Key West Naval base a winter station for submarines met opposition from the Navy.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 241 min read


March 24
1993 – Key West resident and Pulitzer Prize-winning author John Hersey died at age 78.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 231 min read


March 23
1986 – The last “Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet” took place, with Father Tony Mullane performing the service.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 222 min read


March 22
1952 – Dr. Remington Kellogg, director of the U.S. National Museum, issued a statement outlining the distinctiveness of the Key deer.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 211 min read


March 21
2010 – The Friends of Higgs Beach, an ad hoc citizens’ group, was working with Monroe County to improve the Key West beachfront park.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 201 min read


March 20
1935 – A group of 10 Key West women went to Pirate’s Cove on Sugarloaf Key for lunch and an afternoon of playing bridge.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 192 min read


March 19
1937 – The turtling schooner A.M. Adams arrived in Key West on its first voyage, delivering a cargo of 380 green sea turtles.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 181 min read


March 18
1939 – Construction of the cable schooner Western Union was progressing rapidly.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 171 min read


March 17
1858 - Sombrero Key Lighthouse was first lighted under the charge of lightkeeper Joseph Bethel.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 161 min read


March 16
1953 – The Arthur Sawyer Post 28, American Legion, asked the City of Key West for permission to buy the land where their clubhouse sat.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 152 min read


March 15
1963 - Filming began on “Man In The Water,” a movie starring Mark Stevens.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 142 min read


March 14
1939 – A Works Progress Administration sewer line project employing 442 Key West men had, to date, laid 20 miles of sewer pipe in the city.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 131 min read


March 13
956 – The Cuban ferry, the City of Havana, sailed for the first time from the new terminal on Stock Island.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 121 min read


March 12
1947 – President Harry Truman’s arrival in Key West was a windfall for many residents.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 112 min read
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