1915 – Fire destroyed the large cigar factory of E.H. Gato at the corner of Simonton and Virginia streets.

1860 – Capt. James M. Brannan, commanding officer of the U.S. Army at Key West, requested advice from Washington as to whether he should...

1908 – The Key West Journal, a weekly newspaper, made its first appearance. Fred H. Mathews was the editor. 1934 – Under the auspices...

A New York Times reporter wrote a vivid description of the Key West in 1873.

1851 – The bark Franklin arrived at Key West from Philadelphia with iron framing for the new screw-pile lighthouse to be built at Sand...

1893 – Author Edwin L. Sabin wrote of a visit to Key West, “It is a misnomer to call Key West an American city. It is not. It has all...

1901 – The population of Monroe County by the 1900 census was 18,066, with 17,114 in the city of Key West, and the remainder of 364 in...

1909 – The Bell Telephone Company at Key West, which had been destroyed in the October 11 hurricane, had restored service to 200 lines...

1822 – The brig Samson , sailing from Mobile to Maine, was boarded by pirates off the Dry Tortugas. The passengers and crew were robbed...

1889 – Key West’s cigarmakers were on strike and the work stoppage was affecting other businesses on the island. After determining his...

1823 – The brig Phoebe Ann , sailing to New Orleans, wrecked on the Western Dry Rocks near Sand Key. The crew got the vessel off by...

1853 – The brig Nancy Place , sailing from Cuba, ran ashore at Loggerhead Key in the Dry Tortugas. A letter was sent to Key West on a...

People dressed up as plants on a parade float. 1852 – Key Wester James C. Clapp opened a hotel called The Ocean House at the corner of...

1770 – The HMS Carysford wrecked on a reef off Key Largo and gave its name to the reef, which was later changed to Carysfort. 1908 –...

1924 – Boys with slingshots were becoming a menace in Key West. The boys were carelessly shooting at birds and were frequently...

1893 – Jefferson B. Browne took over the office as Collector of Customs. He appointed P.T. Knight as deputy collector, P.E. Thompson as...

1876 – A hurricane of minor intensity hit Key West with winds of 75 mph and slight damage to roofs and trees. 1901 – Key West city...

1905 – The Key West Fire Police met and adopted new rules, including the holding back of crowds with ropes at fires, with only firemen...

1910 – The Ruy Lopez Company opened its new cigar factory near the County Road (Flagler Avenue) in Key West. Manager John Wardlow led...

1910 – After having laid in state for 24 hours at Key West’s San Carlos Institute, the remains of Cuban revolutionary leader Francisco...