1867 – The recovered cargo of the steamer George Cromwell , wrecked off Indian Key, was appraised at $40,000 and the vessel at $50,000,...

1816 – The Ship Rebecca , carrying wine from Cadiz to Savannah, was caught in a hurricane and wrecked on the Florida Reef. The crew...

1853 – W.C. Dennis, proprietor of the Key West salt works, reported that because of an exceptionally dry summer, a bounteous crop of...

1902 – A shark measuring 15 feet was caught from Curry’s Wharf near the harbor end of Simonton Street. 1917 – C.W. Saunderson resigned...

1863 – The USS San Jacinto of Key West’s East Gulf Blockading Squadron captured the steamer Lizzie Davis while it was sailing from...

1805 – Owing to calm winds and a strong current, the schooner Francis Lewis grounded on the Florida Reef. Nassau wreckers got the...

1863 – A correspondent from Key West wrote that because of a fear of yellow fever, “Steamers pass by us both ways with no more of...

1910 – Florida State Health Officer Dr. J.Y. Porter notified Key West Mayor Fogarty that the dumping of trash at the foot of White...

1858 – At 3 a.m. the residence of Capt. Charles Johnson was found to be on fire. No assistance was given for 15 minutes, but because it...

1830 – The sloop Sarah Isabella , owned by Capt. Jacob Housman, was struck twice by lightning at Indian Key; the topmast and mainmast...

1853 – Charles Bowman, assistant light keeper at Sand Key, was nearly killed when he fell from the first tier of pilings to the ground....

1898 – News arrived from the small community of Planter on Key Largo that the schooner Belle sailing from Indian River was caught in a...

1860 – The Key of the Gulf newspaper noted that, though Key West had long been dependent on wrecking for sustenance, things were...

1825 – Solomon Snyder, a New York native, resident of Key Vaca, and Spanish Vice Consul for Florida, died at Indian Key. 1878 – A...

1827 – The schooner Packet was lost on the southwest end of Carysfort Reef, while the crew was attempting to reach Key Largo to find...

Caribbean monk seals were part of the Keys eco-system for thousands of years - but were driven to extinction about 100 years ago.

1835 – The crew of the wrecking schooner Thistle , owned by Jacob Housman of Indian Key, absconded with the vessel, and it was thought...

1835 – Lt. Gabriel O’Brine of the Revenue Cutter Washington , after pigeon hunting at Key Vaca, went for a sail in a small boat and was...

1857 – Key West was struck in multiple places during an intense lightning storm. The hospital at Fort Taylor was hit, and the north end...

1859 – For the second time in a week, the Aurora Borealis was visible at Key West “as bright and vivid as in the northern states.” 1899 ...