1843 – The Key West wrecking schooner Rome found floating barrels of pork and lard near Key Vaca, and between there and Bahia Honda it...

1869 – One hundred and thirty-seven Cuban refugees fleeing Spanish oppression arrived at Key West. 1885 – The 1885 Florida State Census...

1898 – The U.S. Battleship Maine was destroyed by an explosion in Havana Harbor. 1925 – John Phillip Sousa, the famous march king,...

1828 – David H. Porter, Commanding Officer of the Mexican Navy Ship Guerrero , while sailing to Key West to join his uncle Commodore...

1848 – The new Key West Lighthouse on Whitehead Street was lighted for the first time. The lighthouse was built to replace the one...

1858 – During the night, 12 enslaved Key Westers escaped from the island by stealing the Sand Key lighthouse boat. It was thought they...

1916 – Wealthy U.S. industrialist Andrew Carnegie, accompanied by his wife and friends, was on the houseboat Everglades out of Marathon...

1827 – Former U.S. Navy Commodore David Porter, now commander-in-chief of the Mexican Navy, brought the frigate Liberator, the brig...

1871 – The Cuban refugee community dedicated the San Carlos Hall. The hall was a meeting place to discuss political matters, for...

1832 – In the previous year 290 ships entered the port of Key West. Of this 172 arrived from foreign ports and 118 from American ports....

1827 – Construction began on the first lighthouse on Sand Key. It was completed in 70 days. 1854 – During the year 1853, 28 ships...

1899 – Juan D. Poyo announced he was moving the Spanish language newspaper “El Yara” to Havana. The “El Yara” had been published in Key...

1861 – At Fort Independence in Boston Harbor, Major Lewis G. Arnold of the 2nd United States Artillery was ordered to “embark your...

1861 – In answer to his request, US Army Headquarters in Washington ordered Captain Brannan to move his company from the Barracks to...

1861 – The Army reported that Fort Taylor had the following armament: 60 coastal and garrison cannons, 50 8-inch Columbians and 10...

1861 – A rumor came that the owner of the Steamer Isabel had offered her to Carolina for a man-of war. The Isabel provided mail service...

1830 – William R. Hackley recorded in his diary: Rose before the sun. Last night it was quite cool. After breakfast I was at the store...

1830 – William R. Hackley recorded in his diary: Rose a little after the sun. The Sloop-of-war Natchez went out this morning. I took a...

1830 – William R. Hackley recorded in his diary: Rose before the sun and put my dry specimens in a paper book. After breakfast read...

1830 – William Hackley recorded his in diary: Rose before the sun. Read the “Acts.” Marshal Lackland M. Stone arrived this morning. The...