1867 – Former President of the Southern Confederacy Jefferson Davis stopped in Key West on his way to Havana, where he was going for his...

1865 – George Davis, Attorney General of the Confederate States, was arrested at Key West by U.S. Deputy Marshal Benjamin Kerr and...

1870 – A report from Key West noted: “A hurricane from the north-east has been raging here during the past five days. All the lower...

1871 – John Bartlum died at age 57. He was born in the Bahamas and was working in Key West by 1835. He was the leading shipbuilder of...

1897 – Outgoing Mayor James A. Waddell gave the oath of office to Mayor-elect Dr. John B. Maloney, who then administered oaths to the...

1908 – Key West resident Antonio Navaretta, a native of Africa and “undoubtedly the oldest resident on the island,” died at his Watson...

1853 – The bark Robert Morris , sailing from Cienfuegos to Philadelphia, wrecked at Pelican Shoal after everyone on board was stricken...

1886 – Fifteen turtles and 11 cattle were being butchered every day in Key West to supply local markets. 1896 – A boat with 60 or 70...

1828 – The U.S. mail packet schooner Stranger was advertising to carry freight and passengers from Charleston to Indian Key and Key West...

1850 – The ship Abalino , carrying ice from Boston to New Orleans, ran onto American Shoal. Wreckers took out 150 tons of the cargo, and...

1884 – William M. Artrell of Key West, and the first principal of the island’s Douglass School, was elected Grand Worthy Chief Templar...

1857 – The wrecking schooner Florida , while loading cotton from a ship ashore at Caesar’s Creek, was burned to the waterline. While the...

1823 – The first and second mates and two crew of the brig Antelope of Providence, RI, deserted at the Florida Reef. They took the...

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

1886 – Former lightkeeper at Loggerhead Key in the Dry Tortugas and Inspector of Customs at Key West Benjamin H. Kerr killed himself...

1861 – Charles Tift of Key West was arrested by the U.S. marshal for providing money to the master of the steamer Salvor (aka M.S....

Peacon grocery store on Fleming Street, Key West 1767 – The brig Apollo , sailing from Honduras, was wrecked at Key Largo, the vessel...

Johnson Sea-Link submarine, circa 1973 1909 – A large fire in Key West destroyed several businesses, and the Jefferson Hotel and Elks...

The Submarine R-12, which sank off Key West in 1943 1823 – Commodore David Porter, on board the U.S. Steamer Sea Gull at Key West,...

1818 – The brig Sally , sailing from Rhode Island to Havana via Savannah, was wrecked on the Florida Reef. The crew and cargo were saved...