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July 17
1935 – A study by Key West’s federal administrators showed many roofs throughout the city were in poor condition, and islanders were urged to make repairs before the rainy season went into full effect.

Florida Keys History Center
Jul 161 min read


June 1
1957 – The Key West Citizen’s “newsboys,” or newspaper delivery carriers, were competing for a series of prizes. The awards would be determined by carriers’ prompt payment of bills, their acquisition of new customers, and existing customer evaluations.

Florida Keys History Center
May 312 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 12 min read


April 30
1860 – The U.S. Navy steamer Mohawk brought the captured slave ship Wildfire into Key West Harbor. The Wildfire had 510 Africans on board – people taken from the Congo River region and intended to be sold into slavery in Cuba. The Wildfire was in violation of U.S. and international law, and the Navy had been searching for such lawbreakers.

Florida Keys History Center
Apr 292 min read


April 21
1980 – The Key West fishing boats Dos Hermanos and Blanche III arrived in Key West with 48 Cuban refugees, which began the Mariel Boatlift.

Florida Keys History Center
Apr 202 min read


March 29
1975 - The new East and West Wings of the Monroe County Public Library at 700 Fleming Street in Key West were dedicated.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 282 min read


March 4
1955 – The Key West Garden Club’s annual Flower Show opened at the East Martello Tower.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 41 min read


February 13
1899 – The Key West Electric Street Railway company opened with a streetcar that ran up and down Duval and to La Brisa.

Florida Keys History Center
Feb 132 min read


January 28
1911 – The French line steamer Louisiane, which had gone ashore at Sombrero Key in the hurricane of October 2010, was refloated.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 282 min read


January 24
1935 – An excursion to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas was offered to up to 16 passengers on the Commodore seaplane.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 241 min read


January 19
1925 – A report from Key West said, “Bathing conditions have been ideal for the past several days.

Florida Keys History Center
Jan 191 min read
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