March 5

An aerial view of Fort Taylor and part of Truman Annex in 1987.

1855 – The Northwest Channel Lighthouse was first lighted.

1948 – President Harry Truman left for a flight back to Washington after a 10-day visit to Key West. When he left, he said, “I’ll be back here if I can make it.”

1964 – The Army Corps of Engineers awarded a contract of $1,987,209 to Bauer Dredging Company to deepen and enlarge Key West Harbor. The Corps also awarded a $1,431,685 contract to Acme Missiles and Construction Corporation to build a missile assembly building at the Nike-Hercules facility on Key Largo.

1985 – Outraged Key Westers fumed at city commissioners, who were considering plans for a sewage treatment plant to be built on the beachfront property adjacent to Fort Taylor. No one denied the need for such a facility, but they argued Fort Taylor’s grounds were best used for cultural and recreational purposes.  

2010 – New sightseeing trolleys operated by the City View company arrived in Stock Island to be prepared for business. City View had undertaken a long legal contest for the right to give tours on the streets of Key West.

Information compiled by Dr. Corey Malcom, Lead Historian, Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.

Image: An aerial view of Fort Taylor and part of Truman Annex. Photo taken by the Federal Government on October 7, 1987. From the Wright Langley Collection. Monroe County Public Library, Florida Keys History Center.