Keys History

One thing I love about my Facebook group “Florida Keys History with Brad Bertelli” is the comments. The group has attracted thousands of members, many of whom...

Carl Fisher was synonymous with land development in South Florida during Florida’s land boom in the 1920s. He also knew a thing or two about promotion.  When he...

Adams Key is one of nearly 50 islands within the Florida Keys archipelago located north of Key Largo. The island is tucked behind Elliott Key; Caesars Creek...

Coccoloba diversifolia is a native tree that produces a small reddish-purple fruit that my dog, Beau, likes to eat on our morning walks. Birds and other small...

What was the most dangerous thing facing the fighting men of the anti-piracy unit called the West Indies Squadron? It was not the pirates, but a wee...

Last week I wrote about the Middle Keys, or how Key West and the Upper Keys often overshadow the Middle Keys. There is absolutely amazing history in...

When stories are told about the Florida Keys, Key West gets most of the attention. Given the tremendous history spawned by that little island, it is no...

In the old days, fishing skiffs slowly paddled across the clear Atlantic waters with two fishermen on board. One man slowly paddled while the other dipped a...

History can be complicated, and historians can be complicated, too. However, the more you invest in history and historians, the more you understand how the past shapes...

The year 2023 marks Monroe County’s 200th anniversary, and the celebrations are underway.  Unsurprisingly, the Southernmost City has absorbed much of the attention. It stands to reason, as...