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


February 6
1907 – The City of Key West was striving to make Fleming Street on either side of Duval the “Broadway” of the city.

Florida Keys History Center
Feb 4, 20252 min read


February 5
1953 – The Key West City Commission approved a resolution that changed the name of Salt Pond Road to Jose Marti Drive.

Florida Keys History Center
Feb 4, 20252 min read


February 4
1999 – A group called “Citizens Coalition for the Preservation of Keys Character” was working to dissolve the new Village of Islamorada.

Florida Keys History Center
Feb 3, 20252 min read


February 3
1975 – Key West Police arrested the owner of Uncle Sam’s Pawn Shop and Howie’s Lounge.

Florida Keys History Center
Feb 2, 20252 min read


February 2
1975 – Key West-based air Sunshine announced that despite rising fuel costs, they would not raise fares.

Florida Keys History Center
Feb 1, 20252 min read


February 1
1917 – The first long-distance telephone connection from Key West was made to Miami at 1:47 p.m.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 31, 20251 min read


January 31
1925 – At midnight, the U.S. Weather Bureau station at Sand Key was closed.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 30, 20251 min read


Today in Keys History – January 30
1911 – Curtiss Aircraft test pilot J.A.W. McCurdy attempted to fly from Key West to Havana but crashed just short of the goal.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 29, 20252 min read


January 29
1930 – The Key West Chamber of Commerce had requested use of a U.S. government airplane to help eradicate mosquitoes.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 28, 20252 min read


January 28
1911 – The French line steamer Louisiane, which had gone ashore at Sombrero Key in the hurricane of October 2010, was refloated.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 27, 20252 min read


January 27
1925 – In the first week of mullet season, 250,000 pounds, caught primarily off southwestern Florida, had been landed at Key West.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 26, 20251 min read


January 26
2003 – The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory opened for business at 1316 Duval Street.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 25, 20251 min read


January 25
1935 – The cabanas at Rest Beach were fully booked by winter visitors for the season.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 24, 20252 min read


January 24
1935 – An excursion to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas was offered to up to 16 passengers on the Commodore seaplane.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 24, 20251 min read


January 23
1912 – Key West continued to celebrate the completion of the railroad. At 11 a.m. a parade marched down Duval Street.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 22, 20252 min read


January 22
2004 – The City of Key West hired Armando Parra as official chicken catcher to try to control the island’s free-ranging chicken population.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 21, 20252 min read


January 21
1880 – Former U.S. President and Army General Ulysses S. Grant visited Key West.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 20, 20252 min read


January 20
1912 – “Opening the Over Sea Railway to Key West” was the cover story of Collier’s National Weekly Magazine.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 19, 20251 min read


January 19
1925 – A report from Key West said, “Bathing conditions have been ideal for the past several days.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 18, 20251 min read


January 18
1940 – The East Martello Tower was opened to tourists. Boys employed by the National Youth Administration served as guides.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 17, 20251 min read
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