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

1906 – El Centro Asturiano established a branch in Key West. The society had one of the finest hospitals in Havana. 1906 – Wm. Curry &...

1914 – J.G. Grossenbacher of the U.S. Department of Agriculture was in Key West to check on the status of “lady beetles” that had been...

1864 – Yellow fever continued to rage at Key West and the Dry Tortugas, particularly amongst the military men. “We now have some...

1898 – A large English steamship ran aground at Coffins Patch 10 miles from Sombrero Key Lighthouse with a cargo of cotton. The crew was...

1861 – Key Wester and Confederate sympathizer Henry Mulrennan flew the flag of the Republic of Florida over his store, which he had...

1826 – The ship Ellen , sailing from Havana to Philadelphia, went ashore on Carysfort Reef. Wreckers saved the dismasted vessel and...

1827 – Construction began on the first lighthouse on Sand Key. The 60-foot brick structure would be completed in 70 days. 1913 – The...

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

American Shoal Lighthouse 1857 – The ship Carrack , sailing from New Orleans to Liverpool with 2,700 bales of cotton, was struck by...

Chuck’s Sandwich Shop, 537 Duval St., Key West 1898 – Private Robert Hunter, Company H 25th Infantry, died of typhoid in the Army...

Robert Spottswood (kneeling on left) with a fishing party. Photo appeared in the New York Journal on Dec. 15, 1934 1823 – The U.S. Navy...

1823 – The U.S. Navy schooners Weasel and Fox , accompanied by two barges, left Key West for a cruise against piracy around Cuba. 1860 ...

1854 – A letter from Key West stated that since the beginning of the year there had been 28 vessels wrecked upon the Florida Reef....

1822 – Congress established Key West as a Port of Entry and Joel Yancy was appointed the first Collector of Customs. 1832 – The U.S....

1832 – In the previous year 290 ships entered the port of Key West. Of this 172 arrived from foreign ports and 118 from American ports....

1827 – Construction began on the first lighthouse on Sand Key. It was completed in 70 days. 1854 – During the year 1853, 28 ships...