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  History of Key West, Florida, USA

Journey back in time to Key West, Florida, USA

Visit Key West, Florida, USA. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and genealogy.

     

• 1828 - Key West, Florida founded
  
  wikipedia.org
  
  
• 1845 - Fort Zachary Taylor in Key West was built between 1845 and 1866.
  Controlled by the Union during the Civil War, the fort was the home base for a successful blockade of Confederate ships that some historians say shortened the conflict by a full year. The fort also was active during the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II.
  www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ florida.html
  
  
• 1846 - September hurricane creates inlets on the North Carolina Outer Banks
  Two major inlets on the Outer Banks of North Carolina were cut by a hurricane in September 1846. Later in the year, a severe hurricane struck the Florida Keys destroying or damaging all but eight of the 600 houses in Key West. Some experts say this hurricane was probably a Category 5 on the...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1854 - Key West City
  Key West City, a port of entry and capital of Monroe county, Florida, on a small island of its own name. It is the most populous town of the state, and occupies an import ant position as the key to the Florida Pass and the Gulf of Mexico. The island of Key West is 4 miles long by 1 mile wide, and...Read MORE...
  
  
  
• 1895 - Key West
  Key West, a city and port of entry, the capital of Monroe co, Fla., on Thompson's Island, or Bone Key (Sp: Cayo Hueso, ki’o wa'so, whence the name), a small island of coral formation in the Gulf of Mexico or Strait of Florida, about 55 miles S.W. of Cape Sable. Lat. 24°32' N.; lon. 81° 48' W. It...Read MORE...
  
  
  
•  1909 - KEY WEST IN RUINS. Hurricane Which Struck Coast Of Florida Causes Loss Of Millions.
  Great Damage Also Done at Havana and Over Island of Cuba by One of the Worst Storms Since the Disastrous Blow of 1906.
  
  Key West, Fla. - As a result of the hurricane which struck the southern coast of Florida on Monday, Key West is a mass of wreckage, and the damage to property is estimated at $2 ...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Turtle Catch, 1910
  Postcard
  
• 1912 - Railroads
  Railroads expanded to Key West in 1912, opening new land for development.
  
  www.e-referencedesk.com/ resources/state-history-timeline/ florida.html
  
  
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  Custom House and Harbor
  Postcard
  
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  Residence Section
  Postcard
  
• 1916
  Key West (officially, Keywest), a city, United States naval station, and port of entry, the capital of Monroe co., Fla., on Thompson's Island, or Bone Key, a small island of coral formation in the Gulf of Mexico or Strait of Florida, about 55 miles SW. of Cape Sable. Lat. 24° 32' N. ; Lon. 81° 48'...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Seven Mile Bridge Between Key West and Mainland, Fla.
  Postcard
  
•  1919 - September 10 - A hurricane struck the Florida Keys drowning more than 500 persons.
  
  WeatherForYou.com
  September 10, 1919
  
  
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  Key West Colonial Hotel
  Postcard
  
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  Duval Street, Looking North
  Postcard
  
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  Custom House and Post Office
  Postcard
  
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  Birdseye view Cactus Terrace, Key West, Fla.
  Postcard
  
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  Interior of Martello Tower No. 2
  Postcard
  
•  1928 - Explosion Kills One Lighthouse Tender Off Key West Catches Fire When Cook Strikes Matches.
  (By United Press.)
  Key West, Fla., Dec. 27. - The lighthouse tender, Poinsettia, caught fire and exploded at her berth in the navy yard Thursday, killing one and injuring three others.
  
  Kris Knutsen, 32, a seaman, a native of Norway, was killed and Leon Carey and Y. Lesia, seamen, and J.C....Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  Benny's Cafeteria, 909 Simonton St.
  Postcard
  
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  Duval Street, Looking East
  Postcard
  
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  The Old Caroline Lowe Home
  Postcard
  
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  Overseas Highway over Pigeon Key, between the Mainland and Key West, Florida
  Postcard
  
• 1935 - 'Labor Day' hurricane hits Florida Keys
  This storm slammed into the keys on Sept. 2, then turned north in the southeastern United States. The wind and tides were responsible for 408 deaths in the Florida Keys, primarily among World War I veterans working in the area. This was the most intense hurricane ever to strike the United...Read MORE...
  
  
  
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  North Beach Inn
  Postcard
  
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  Overseas Highway Bridge, between the Mainland and Key West, Fla. as Seen from Pigeon Key
  Postcard
  
• 1952 - July 17 - Thunderstorms helped the temperature at Key West, FL, to dip to 69 degrees, to equal their July record established on the first of July in 1923.
  
  The Weather Channel
  
  
• 1960 - September 10 - Hurricane Donna struck the Florida Keys, with winds gusting to 180 mph and a thirteen foot storm surge.
  
  The Weather Channel
  
  
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  Key West 7 Mile Bridge
  Advertisement
  
• 1983 - 38 Bridges
  Thirty-eight overseas highway bridges from Key Largo to Key West are completed under the Florida Keys Bridge Replacement Program.
  
  www.e-referencedesk.com/ resources/state-history-timeline/ florida.html
  
  
• 2003 - Hijacked
  Plane hijacked in Cuba landed in Key West
  
  www.e-referencedesk.com/ resources/state-history-timeline/ florida.html