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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Internet, computer use, printing and photocopying is free to residents and visitors on a first-come, first-served basis.

Meeting rooms in our libraries are different at each location. Here is more information and our general policy.

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

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

We offer services for visitors to the Florida Keys, including mobile printing.

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

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

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

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

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

On January 21, 1880, Ulysses S. Grant became the first U.S. President to visit Key West.

1953 – The Navy dedicated the baseball field at Naval Station Key West in honor of Key Wester and Marine Sgt. Norris A. Walker.