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July 13
1956 – Key Wester Clint Giese was filming an underwater movie of a skin-diving party at the reef for the United Services Organization to highlight recreational activities for Keys service members. Giese, an early U.S. Navy color-movie photographer, had first come to Key West in 1946 to work on underwater sequences for the Navy submarine film “The Silent Service.”

Florida Keys History Center
9 hours ago2 min read


July 9
1924 – The Barnes Sound Bridge at Key Largo was completed. As soon as a small stretch of road was finished near Florida City, this would allow motorists to travel between Dade and Monroe counties.

Florida Keys History Center
4 days ago1 min read


July 8
1926 – The Key West trolleys and tracks, along with their accompanying electric lines, began to be removed from city streets. The cars, because they were not of a standard gauge and were of an obsolete “open” style, would be sold for scrap.

Florida Keys History Center
5 days ago2 min read


July 7
1966 – The Key West Yacht Club opened its new marina with 48 berths for vessels up to 70 feet, a fuel dock, 110- and 220-volt electricity, and a blacktop road leading to the docks from North Roosevelt Boulevard.

Florida Keys History Center
6 days ago1 min read


July 2
1976 – The Key West Comparsa dancers and musicians left for St. Augustine to participate in the “Florida on Parade” Bicentennial celebration. They also planned to perform in the island’s Bicentennial parade on July 5, after their return.

Florida Keys History Center
Jul 12 min read


June 23
2011 – After much discussion over a development agreement, the Spottswood Cos. announced they would be redeveloping the Faro Blanco property in Marathon as a resort and marina. The resort would have 106 units, including 14 for workforce housing, and the marina would have 100 slips bayside and 100 slips oceanside.

Florida Keys History Center
Jun 221 min read


June 19
2001 – The City of Key West banned commercial kayaking tours in the island’s Salt Ponds.

Florida Keys History Center
Jun 182 min read


June 15
1887 – As yellow fever raged across Key West, local health officers and officials of the Marine Hospital Service discussed a plan to remove people who were not “acclimated” to the disease from the island city to another key.

Florida Keys History Center
Jun 142 min read


June 10
1954 – Famed dancer Sally Rand was in trouble with the Bureau of Internal Revenue, which ordered her two Key West properties to be sold to pay back taxes.

Florida Keys History Center
Jun 92 min read


May 14
1980 – A task force of Key West business leaders was formed to combat the perception that Cuban refugees from the Mariel boatlift had overwhelmed the island. Merchants reported that business was down between 25 and 50 per cent compared to the previous year.

Florida Keys History Center
May 132 min read


May 8
1854 – A letter from Key West stated that since the beginning of the year there had been 28 vessels wrecked upon the Florida Reef. Salvaged property brought before the court was valued at $256,189.74, with wreckers awarded $46,989.92 – an average of 18 cents paid to the wreckers for every dollar of property they saved.

Florida Keys History Center
May 72 min read


April 26
1942 – The USS Sturtevant (DD 240) strayed into the U.S. Navy’s anti-submarine minefield while leaving Key West via the Northwest Channel and was sunk with a loss of 17 men.

Florida Keys History Center
Apr 252 min read


April 24
1942 – Four city blocks were condemned for expansion of the Key West Naval Station: One bounded by Whitehead, Fleming, Thomas and Eaton streets; others from Eaton to Angela between Thomas and Emma. The owners of the many homes in those blocks were paid a total of $165,702 for their properties.

Florida Keys History Center
Apr 232 min read


April 23
1946 – The Navy announced a delay in returning the Key West Aquarium to the city, as they wanted to make sure it was in the same condition as when received. The concern was in finding photographs of the WPA murals, so the artwork could be properly restored. The aquarium had been used as a rifle range during the war.

Florida Keys History Center
Apr 222 min read


April 18
1926 – Monroe County Sheriff Roland Curry arrested the promoter of a Stock Island cockfighting arena while a fight was underway. Fala Rodriguez was charged with cruelty to animals and placed under $100 bond.

Florida Keys History Center
Apr 172 min read


April 9
1935 – A film crew from Pathé News was in Key West to film interesting aspects of the island. On this date, they documented Raul’s Aquarium on Roosevelt Boulevard.

Florida Keys History Center
Apr 82 min read


April 8
1988 – The Key West City Commission, sitting as the Board of Adjustment, approved plans to rebuild the Cuban Club at 1102 and 1108 Duval Street. The original building had been destroyed by fire in 1983.

Florida Keys History Center
Apr 72 min read


April 6
1943 – The USO Club at 303 Duval Street in Key West was dedicated. The Club, located in the old Caroline Lowe House, was operated by the Women’s Division of the National Catholic Community.

Florida Keys History Center
Apr 52 min read


April 3
1926 – Police Chief Cleveland Niles began a policy of ringing the fire bell at nine o’clock in the evening to remind Key West juveniles 16 years and younger that there was a curfew and it was time for them to go home.

Florida Keys History Center
Apr 22 min read


March 5
1961 – The Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Key West officially organized as a congregation of the United Lutheran Church. The congregation had 70 adults and 46 children.

Florida Keys History Center
Mar 52 min read
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