1898 – The Court of Inquiry investigating the loss of the Battleship Maine met in the Key West Custom House. 1923 – United Daughters...

1830 – A report on deaths at Key West since April 1, 1829 revealed multiple causes: yellow fever, 18; worm fever, 1; visceral...

1861 – Supplies and a detachment of 62 troops from the First U.S. Artillery were landed at Fort Taylor from the steamer Daniel Webster ...

1891 – William Tuttar of Key Largo was bitten by a “monster rattle-snake, with seventeen rattles and a button.” He killed the reptile,...

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

1848 – The Irish ship Mertoun , sailing from New Orleans to Liverpool, wrecked at Delta Shoal off Key Vaca with 1,400 bales of cotton,...

1850 – The ship Abalino , carrying ice from Boston to New Orleans, ran onto American Shoal. Wreckers took out 150 tons of the cargo, and...

1825 – The U.S. schooner Shark arrived at Key West with Captain Lewis Warrington, who was relieving Commodore David Porter as commander...

1824 – An unlit beacon, 49 feet high, was erected on “Porpoise Island” (Sand Key) to warn mariners of the reef. 1892 – The Electric...

1855 – Florida Governor J.E. Broome signed a law passed by the Legislature that made it illegal for any Free Black person who arrived at...

1832 – An election was held to select the Town Council of Key West, and the following men were chosen: L.M. Stone, B.B. Stroebel, G.E....

1822 – Commodore David Porter arrived at New York City with other Navy officials to purchase a steamboat for his expedition against West...

1870 – The Sears School, Key West’s first public school, was established on Free School Lane. 1890 – The Key West Investment Company...

1826 – The ship Gov. Strong , sailing from Alexandria to New Orleans, ran aground at Sand Key with a cargo of enslaved people in a state...

1863 – Two prisoners at Fort Jefferson attempted to escape from the Dry Tortugas on a floating plank. The water was rough, and they did...

1828 – The French ship Mercure wrecked on Carysfort Reef and was a total loss. Part of the cargo, sails, rigging, and crew were saved...

1863 – U.S. Navy vessels in the port of Key West were the steamers San Jacinto , Huntsville , Clyde, Port Hudson , De Soto , Honduras ;...

1825 – The brig Hercules from Mobile was floated off the reef at Key Largo and taken to Key West. The wreckers were awarded a salvage...

1746 – The English privateer Fame was at the Florida Keys to procure wood and water when it was struck by a hurricane. To save the...

1851 – The brig Yucatan , wrecked while sailing from Trinidad de Cuba to New York, was condemned and sold at auction in Key West for...