1888 – An unknown culprit poisoned the drinking water barrel used by the family of Gideon Sawyer of Key West. The entire family was...

1898 – A large English steamship ran aground at Coffins Patch 10 miles from Sombrero Key Lighthouse with a cargo of cotton. The crew was...

1909 – In hope of finding a source of fresh water, S.O. Johnson contracted to have a well dug to 1,000 feet. No fresh water was found....

1845 – Construction began on Fort Taylor off the western end of Key West. 1924 – Melvin E. Russell, who had been elected Superintendent...

1862 – A Key West man bragged to soldiers of the 47th Pennsylvania regiment about his secessionist principles and swore that he could...

1898 – A U.S. Marine Battalion that had been camped at Key West left for Cuba on the USS Panther . 1923 – The local Key West Regulars...

1893 – Key West had no ice. “The ice famine is raging, and if the vessel laden with ice does not arrive soon, the inhabitants of this...

1895 – Between two and three hundred men, commanded by Cuban patriot leader Serafin Sanchez, secretly left Key West for Cuba to aid the...

1894 – Key West’s General Abe Sawyer, 41 inches tall and billed as the smallest man in America, spoke in Jacksonville on “The...

Before key lime pie was Key West's signature dessert, Miss Etta Patterson's coconut cake was a favorite, served to Presidents.

1923 – The newly issued report for May showed that 1,952,107 cigars were manufactured in the city of Key West during the month. 1933 –...

1863 – Wood was being pilfered from the Engineering Department at Fort Jefferson: “All wood, whether in blocks, sticks, boards, barrel...

The Key West Library Book Club meets at noon AND 5 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the Key West Library branch – we’ll be...

1861 – The Army issued General Order #49 directing that no solider, sailor, or marine was allowed to visit Key West between tattoo and...

1889 – The Florida Legislature granted a new charter to the city of Key West that included the entire island within the city limits. 1890...

1902 – Movie star Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry, popularly known as “Stepin Fetchit,” was born in Key West. 1924 – Great...

1865 – Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Salmon P. Chase visited Key West, accompanied by his wife and daughter. A military salute...

1839 – It was reported that Key West “and its neighborhood” were strongly supportive of Charles Downing of St. Augustine for Delegate to...

1905 – Sheriff Frank Knight took Simon Reyes to the State Prison. Reyes had been found guilty of the murder of his girlfriend and was...

1888 – A carrier pigeon message service was established by the signal office at Key West. The purpose of the new service was to bring...