1887 – The Spanish language newspaper El Yara began publication in Key West. 1897 – Extremely high tides in the Upper Keys destroyed...

1849 – The Belgian brig Antionette arrived at Key West under the charge of wreckers. The vessel was sailing from Antwerp to Havana when...

1894 – The Wagner Canning Company of Key West closed its plant for the season after packing 50,000 cases of canned pineapples. The...

1888 – Benjamin B. Baker, master wrecker and pioneer pineapple planter on the Keys, died at his home on Key Largo. 1918 – France’s...

1888 – An unknown culprit poisoned the drinking water barrel used by the family of Gideon Sawyer of Key West. The entire family was...

1895 – Between two and three hundred men, commanded by Cuban patriot leader Serafin Sanchez, secretly left Key West for Cuba to aid the...

1865 – Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Salmon P. Chase visited Key West, accompanied by his wife and daughter. A military salute...

1830 – The Key West Register reported that 1,074 vessels had put in at the Key West Custom House between January 1, 1826, and January 1,...

1829 – The New York Enquirer reported that over 10,000 bushels of salt had been produced at the Key West salt ponds over the previous...

1826 – The first Key West lighthouse, located at the southwestern end of the island, was lit for the first time. Keeper Michael Mabrity,...

1883 – E.G. Chesley wrote from Key West that pineapple farming was “rapidly extending throughout Monroe County.” He noted that 300 acres...

1897 – Extremely high tides on Key Largo destroyed thousands of tomato plants and other winter vegetables on the upper Keys. 1920 – The...

1822 – Captains Joshua Appleby and John Fiveash advertised their schooners Polly and Comet as available to carry freight and...

1862 – The “Union ladies” of Key West presented the Army chaplain with a U.S. flag to raise over the regimental church. As it was...

1909 – Dutchy Melbourne, who was serving a 13-year sentence in the state penitentiary, escaped. He had been convicted of the murder of...

1830 – The brig Halcyon struck at the southwest end of Carysfort Reef, but eventually beat into deeper water with the loss of the false...

1805 – Owing to calm winds and a strong current, the schooner Francis Lewis grounded on the Florida Reef. Nassau wreckers got the...

1858 – At 3 a.m. the residence of Capt. Charles Johnson was found to be on fire. No assistance was given for 15 minutes, but because it...

1850 – A report on maritime traffic for the month of July from the Sand Key lightship said that 15 ships, 12 barques, 11 brigs, and 1...

Rest Beach in Key West, 1930s 1819 – A boat with five men from the brig Ann arrived in Charleston. The brig had wrecked on a reef in...