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January 4
1992 – After a six-year renovation, Key West’s San Carlos Institute was reopened. Institute President Rafael Peñalver, who spearheaded the overhaul, introduced U.S. Senator Bob Graham as keynote speaker.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 42 min read


December 18
1974 – Keys shrimpers were experiencing a significant economic downturn as shrimp prices had dropped 39 percent over the previous year, while the cost of fuel was up 50 percent.

Florida Keys History Center
Dec 18, 20252 min read


December 7
1940 – Author Thelma Strabel moved into her new Key West home at 400 South Street by the Southernmost Point. Strabel wrote the novel “Reap The Wild Wind,” a story about island wreckers that was later made into a movie.

Florida Keys History Center
Dec 7, 20252 min read


November 23
1985 – The widening of U.S. 1 to four lanes through Marathon began with the stretch between 105th to 122nd Streets. The entirety of the road, from 41st Street to Coco Plum Drive, would eventually be done across multiple phases.

Florida Keys History Center
Nov 23, 20252 min read


November 11
2015 – After a year of construction, the new Vietnam Living Memorial in Key West’s Bayview Park was unveiled. Hundreds attended the event, many of them veterans, along with their families and supporters.

Florida Keys History Center
Nov 11, 20252 min read


November 7
1955 – New Jersey industrialist Stanly Switlik presented the Monroe County School Board with 30 acres of land along Marathon Beach Road for the site of a new Marathon High School. Much of the ground was wetlands that would require filling before construction of the school could begin.

Florida Keys History Center
Nov 7, 20252 min read


October 22
2010 – After multiple chicken poisonings in Key West and Stock Island over previous days, Lower Keys wildlife organizations were worried about not only the brazenly illegal acts, but also the effects that poisoned feed and tainted carcasses would have on other animals.

Florida Keys History Center
Oct 21, 20252 min read


October 17
1975 – City of Key West officials met with members of the Old Island Restoration Commission, and all agreed to an ordinance that would give the OIRC jurisdiction over the construction, repair, or alteration of structures in the city’s historic district.

Keys History Center
Oct 16, 20252 min read


August 17
2010 – The Key West City Commission voted 5-2 to include a referendum on the November ballot asking voters whether the city should acquire the Glynn Archer school building for use as a City Hall.

Florida Keys History Center
Aug 16, 20252 min read


August 13
1958 – The Civil Aeronautics Administration agreed to relinquish any federal claim to the ownership of the Marathon Airport if title was obtained by Monroe County. County commissioners ordered the process to begin.

Florida Keys History Center
Aug 12, 20252 min read


August 5
1941 – The old Consumers’ Ice Plant at James and Grinnell streets in Key West burned. Firefighters had an especially difficult time with the idle structure’s cork insulation, which smoldered for hours after the main blaze was extinguished.

Florida Keys History Center
Aug 4, 20251 min read


August 1
2011 – Islamorada’s Cheeca Lodge was purchased for $100 million by a subsidiary of New York-based Northwood Investors. In 2003, the property had sold for $33 million.

Florida Keys History Center
Jul 31, 20252 min read


July 21
1957 – Someone stole $7,311.89 from the Food Fair supermarket in Key West. The money was taken from the store’s safe, which was not broken into and had instead been opened by a combination known only to a few. “We have a very limited number of suspects,” said Key West Police.

Florida Keys History Center
Jul 20, 20252 min read


July 10
2008 – The dilapidated, Depression-era bandstand at Bayview Park in Key West was torn down. The bandstand had once been a community hub and the site of concerts, political rallies, and high school graduations.

Florida Keys History Center
Jul 9, 20252 min read


May 28
1962 – Florida State Road Department surveyors were in Key West to examine the site for a proposed causeway to cross Garrison Bight. The span, to be built on fill from deepening the bight, would start between First and Fifth Streets on one end and join Palm Avenue at the intersection of Eisenhower Drive on the other.

Florida Keys History Center
May 27, 20252 min read


May 16
1976 – The Singleton Corporation announced they had bought Sea Farms, Inc. and the Thompson & O’Neal Shrimp Company. The purchase included most of the waterfront of Key West Bight.

Florida Keys History Center
May 15, 20252 min read


May 10
1954 – Taxi drivers from two cab companies petitioned the Key West City Commission for exclusive rights to their traditional stand on Duval Street near Greene. They said outside drivers were moving in, which was creating crowding and a traffic hazard.

Florida Keys History Center
May 9, 20252 min read


May 2
1961 – ABC Television aired an episode of the series “Expedition” featuring Marathon and the Middle Keys, with a focus on the area’s recovery from Hurricane Donna.

Florida Keys History Center
May 1, 20252 min read


March 10
1852 – The Carysfort Reef Lighthouse was lighted and began operation.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 9, 20251 min read


February 27
1964 – The Navy awarded a $1,967,209 contract to Bauer Dredging Company to deepen Key West’s main ship’s channel to 34 feet.

Florida Keys History Center
Feb 27, 20251 min read
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