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Today in Keys History – July 19, 2024
1909 – The Florida East Coast Railway chartered the schooner Helen Thomas to bring 1,600 to 1,700 tons of iron rails from Baltimore to...

Keys History Center
Jul 18, 20241 min read


Today in Keys History – July 18, 2024
1909 – O.O. Poppleton, “the bee king of the East Coast,” reported that he had harvested 14 tons of honey from his 200-hive apiary on Key...

Keys History Center
Jul 17, 20242 min read


Today in Keys History – July 17, 2024
1861 – Movements between Key West and the mainland were restricted to only those persons under orders of the government. 1954 – Paul...

Keys History Center
Jul 16, 20242 min read


Today in Keys History – July 16, 2024
1880 – The American Shoals Lighthouse was first lighted. 1924 – The Florida State Board of Health notified the City of Key West that...

Keys History Center
Jul 15, 20241 min read


Today in Keys History – July 15, 2024
1887 – The Marine Hospital reported a yellow fever epidemic in Key West had caused 110 cases with 30 deaths. By the time the fever ended...

Keys History Center
Jul 14, 20242 min read


Today in Keys History – July 14, 2024
1888 – Benjamin B. Baker, master wrecker and pioneer pineapple planter on the Keys, died at his home on Key Largo. 1918 – France’s...

Keys History Center
Jul 13, 20242 min read


Today in Keys History – July 13, 2024
1832 – The owners of the British bark Glasgow that had gone aground at “Collins’ Point” on the Florida Reef with 1,099 bales of cotton...

Keys History Center
Jul 12, 20242 min read


Today in Keys History – July 12, 2024
1906 – Miss Elaine Cassidy was voted the most popular young lady at a dance given at La Brisa in Key West, and she was presented with a...

Keys History Center
Jul 11, 20242 min read


Today in Keys History – July 11, 2024
1900 – The Key West Library in the Masonic Temple building at 315 Simonton Street had 1,600 volumes under Librarian Sallie E. Roberts....

Keys History Center
Jul 10, 20242 min read


Today in Keys History – July 10, 2024
1910 – Two Key West children were burned after their mother placed a can of flaming insect powder on the nightstand and it ignited the...

Keys History Center
Jul 9, 20241 min read


Today in Keys History – July 9, 2024
1825 – The new lightship Caesar , destined for duty at Carysfort Reef, was wrecked and abandoned on Florida’s east coast while being...

Keys History Center
Jul 8, 20242 min read


Today in Keys History – July 8, 2024
1851 – Key West had slowed with the summer season: The Coast Survey vessels charting the reef had left for Washington, D.C., work on the...

Keys History Center
Jul 7, 20242 min read


Today in Keys History – July 7, 2024
1892 – José Martí arrived in Key West for his second visit to the Cuban community of the island. 1911 – Chapman Grant, grandson of...

Keys History Center
Jul 6, 20242 min read


Today in Keys History – July 6, 2024
1882 – Nelson English was named Postmaster of Key West, the first African American to hold that position. 1897 – George W. Allen was...

Keys History Center
Jul 5, 20242 min read


Today in Keys History – July 5, 2024
1844 – The brig Alwilda , sailing from Cuba to New York with a cargo of mahogany and palm leaves, had wrecked on Alligator Reef near...

Keys History Center
Jul 4, 20242 min read


Today in Keys History – July 4, 2024
1825 – The brig Lima , sailing from Havana to Philadelphia, wrecked on the reef off “the Saddle Hills.” It carried a cargo of silks,...

Keys History Center
Jul 3, 20242 min read


Today in Keys History – July 3, 2024
1823 – Monroe County, the sixth county in Florida, was established by an act of the territorial legislature and signed by Governor...

Keys History Center
Jul 2, 20242 min read


Vol. 14: Stranded at Sand Key: The Banishment of the Passengers of the Steamship Philadelphia in 1852
Passengers on a ship struck with cholera in 1852 were refused refuge in Key West and instead banished to desolate Sand Key.

Florida Keys History Center
Jul 2, 20248 min read


Today in Keys History – July 2, 2024
1884 – The plant on Emma Street for manufacturing gas from coal for home and street lighting was completed. 1924 – Jailor Joe Kemp...

Keys History Center
Jul 1, 20242 min read


Your Library Card Is Now A Giant, Always-Open Magazine Stand
Your Monroe County Public Library card gives you access to more than 5,000 titles, including backlists, with no waiting.

Monroe County Public Library
Jul 1, 20241 min read
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