1940 – Company E, 265th Field Artillery of the Florida National Guard was called into active federal service. The 90 Key Westers under...

1904 – Fred Ewert was hanged for the murder of Frank Whitaker. The gallows was erected behind the Monroe County Jail at the corner of...

1908 – Two six-pounder saluting guns were placed at Naval Station Key West, and they were ready to salute incoming vessels, in return...

1862 – To combat a growing yellow fever outbreak, orders were issued that all streets and public grounds were to be kept clean and free...

1859 – A fire began in the warehouse of L.M. Shaefer near the corner of Front and Duval streets. Apart from two houses, the fire...

1513 – Ponce de Leon sighted the Florida Keys and becomes the first European to land in Florida. 1861 – Maj. William H. French arrived...

1822 – Mr. “Hemming” (Fleming) arrived from Mobile with workers and material to erect the first house on the island. 1831 – The French...

1906 – John D. Rockefeller was staying on board a private yacht at Key West. He was spotted dining at a local hotel. 1941 – In a...

1825 – Commodore David Porter sailed from Key West to the north coast of Cuba on the steamer Sea Gull on a cruise in search of pirates....

1856 – The clipper ship Stephen R. Mallory was launched at Key West for the firm of Bowne and Curry. Shipbuilder John Bartlum used only...

1823 – Commodore David Porter ordered the USS Hornet to sail from Key West, rendezvous with the U.S. schooner Fox at Havana, and from...

Mario Sanchez 1823 – Lt. Charles Skinner of USS Wild Cat left a contingent of Marines and artillery at Key Vaca (Marathon) on the...

Key West Mayor Kermit Lewin cuts the ribbon at the premiere of the film “Escape from Hell Island.” 1890 – George Hudson was named Key...

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

1841 – Rigging and other equipment salvaged from the ship Manchester , sailing from Havre to Mobile in ballast, were auctioned at Key...

1928 – Adjutant General Vivien B. Collins authorized National Guard units from Miami and Key West to Matecumbe Key to quell disturbances...

1848 – The new Key West Lighthouse on Whitehead Street was lighted for the first time. 1902 – Some of Key West’s leading Black citizens...

1861 – At Fort Independence in Boston Harbor, Major Lewis G. Arnold of the 2nd United States Artillery was ordered to “embark your...