1878 – A hurricane that claimed hundreds of lives in Cuban and Haiti passed over the Middle Keys on a due north course that took it over...

1927 – A spectacular chase through the streets of Key West resulted in the arrest of Willard Hopkins, who was carrying 85 gallons of...

1829 – Yellow fever was rampant at Key West. One resident wrote, “This place still continues sickly. Although every person who could get...

1894 – The Wagner Canning Company of Key West closed its plant for the season after packing 50,000 cases of canned pineapples. The...

1861 – Orders were issued that no vessels were to be allowed to leave Key West unless the owners and crews first took the oath of...

1864 – Yellow fever continued to rage at Key West and the Dry Tortugas, particularly amongst the military men. “We now have some...

1888 – Benjamin B. Baker, master wrecker and pioneer pineapple planter on the Keys, died at his home on Key Largo. 1918 – France’s...

1890 – The first brick of the new Monroe County Courthouse was laid. Beverly B. Whalton, chairman of the county commission, spoke for...

1914 – Meat prices were so high that Key West labor organizers had called on their members to stop buying beef. As a result, the cattle...

1831 – The 230 Irish canal workers rescued from the wreck of the ship Maria at Carysfort Reef, and who had caused much unwanted...

1830 – William A. Whitehead was named Collector of Customs and Inspector of the Revenue for the Port of Key West, replacing Algernon S....

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

1862 – A correspondent for the New York Herald wrote, “Business at Key West is brisk, and money seems to be plenty. Since our arrival...

1862 – The “Union ladies” of Key West presented the Army chaplain with a U.S. flag to raise over the regimental church. As it was...

1909 – Dutchy Melbourne, who was serving a 13-year sentence in the state penitentiary, escaped. He had been convicted of the murder of...

1863 – Private William Paxson of the 47th Regiment of Pennsylvania died of illness at the Dry Tortugas and was buried on East Key. 1876 ...

1841 – The schooner Columbia , sailing from Boston to Mobile, wrecked at Mangrove Key, 9 miles from Key West. The passengers and cargo...

1861 – Charles Tift of Key West was arrested by the U.S. marshal for providing money to the master of the steamer Salvor (aka M.S....

1841 – A cargo of tobacco taken from the wrecked barque Theodore Corner could not be libeled for salvage because of the absence of the...

1797 – The brig Commerce of Baltimore sank in a hurricane near Key Largo. The crew spent three days on the island before being rescued...