FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY: SPONGE OPERATIONS ON SUGARLOAF KEY, PART 2
Dr. J. Vining Harris of Key West began experimenting with the cultivation of sponges at his Sugarloaf Key property in 1897. Circa 1901, Harris abandoned his sponges...
KEYS HISTORY: SURVEYOR THE FIRST TO PEN BLACK CAESAR’S NAME
Cartographer Bernard Romans named the water feature flowing between Old Rhodes and Elliott Key Black Caesars Creek. The choice was made after the Spanish territory of La...
FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY: REEF RAVAGED COVETED NAVY SHIPS
At about 5 a.m. on Nov. 18, 1822, the U.S. schooner Alligator hoisted its sails and began the slow move away from Matanzas, Cuba. It would be...
KEYS HISTORY: SOUTHERNMOST NAVY SQUADRON HAD PLENTY OF PIRATE RUN-INS
Editor's Note: This is part one in a series on run-ins with pirates off the Florida Keys.
Pirate attacks on American ships sailing in foreign waters were nothing...
KEYS HISTORY: SHIP CAPTAIN CAPTURED BY PIRATES SEEKS HELP FROM ALLIGATOR SCHOONER
Editor's Note: This is the second part in a series on pirate encounters off the Florida Keys.
Pirate attacks on American ships sailing in foreign waters were...
KEYS HISTORY: SHIP CAPTAIN CAPTURED BY PIRATE SEEKS HELP FROM ALLIGATOR SCHOONER
Pirate attacks on American ships sailing in foreign waters were nothing unusual in 1822. The Ann Maria, from New York, was victimized by pirates operating in Cuban...
KEYS HISTORY: PIRATE BATTLE LEADS TO BLOODSHED
A land-based highway mile, known as a statute mile, measures 5,280 feet. Water-based miles, called nautical miles, are a little bit longer and measure 6,076 feet, making...
KEYS HISTORY: ‘EVERYONE’S TALKIN’ ABOUT SUMMERLAND KEY
Weird things happen in the Florida Keys. Some of these odd occurrences can occasionally appear to have a paranormal connection, which makes sense considering that Key West...
KEYS HISTORY: 1825 LETTER REVEALS A PIRATE SKIRMISH AND PRISONERS IN KEY WEST
Like a joint passed around an island party, pirate stories in the Florida Keys are shared with a rapt audience. As a matter of fact, breaking out...
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE HORRORS
By the end of the 17th century, the capture of men and women for colonial distribution in European markets was in full swing. The Atlantic slave trade...
