1886 – Still reeling from the devastating March 30 fire, the Relief Committee of Key West issued a plea to the nation, saying, “A large...

1855 – The Northwest Channel Lighthouse was lighted for the first time. 1901 – Monroe County Sheriff Richard Hicks was in Tampa to...

1734 – The ship Charles , sailing from Jamaica to Bristol, was approached at the Florida Keys by a Spanish vessel, whose crew offered to...

1821 – The United States Senate ratified the treaty with Spain and Florida became a U.S. Territory. 1895 – There were 119 Florida Keys...

1812 – The schooner Orion of Philadelphia, sailing from Jamaica with a cargo of coffee, logwood and castor oil, was wrecked on the...

1887 – The population of Key West was reported to be 17,000. 1900 – The Florida sponge fishery reached a peak when 189,661 kg of sponges...

1902 – Nearly a dozen Key West-based sponging vessels were seized by British authorities for interloping and illegally gathering sponges...

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 with the sun. George Weaver is so sick with a cold that he has to take to his bed....

1830 – William R. Hackley recorded in his diary: Rose before the sun and read Hammond. After breakfast went to the wharf and remained...