U.S. Tropical Oasis

Think tropical. Think history. Think the United States. Where are we?? Key West, Florida. Key West is filled with a lavish setting, but is filled with fascinating history and culture. The area is one of my favorite places to go. This entry will be about the history and fascinating facts about Key West. The next entry will included things to do, places to see, where to shop and where to eat.

Key West is located within the Florida Keys area consisting of about 1700 islands in southeast. They begin about 15 miles south of Miami and end at Key West. The westernmost Keys are inhabited islands and the Dry Tortugas. The islands lie along the Florida Straits, dividing the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The Keys consist of primarily of 5 major areas: Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key, and Key West.

In the Pre-Columbian times Key West was occupied by the Calusa people. Juan Ponce de Leon was the first European to visit in 1521. As Florida became a Spanish colony, a fishing and salvage village was establish on the land. Now many Key West residents are immigrants from the Bahamas, known as Conchs (‘conks’). In the 20^thKey West. century residents of the area started to refer to themselves as “conchs,” now the term is generally applied to all residents in If a person was born and raised in Key West they would be a “Conch.” If a resident resides in Key West but was not born there, they would be “Freshwater Conch.”

Key West is also the Southernmost Point in the Continental US. Because of that, it is in fact closer to Cuba than it is to Miami. Because Cuba is only 90 miles away, there is a strong Cuban influence around the area. One of the biggest attractions is the concrete replica of a buoy.

Fact: Many writers and artists have lived in Key West, including Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams. Hemingway’s house has now become a very popular tourist attraction.

Fact: Multiple U.S. presidents have called Key West their vacation spot. Harry Truman visited for 175 days during his presidency. The Harry S. Truman Little White House was his winter White House for the President.

Fact: Key West has also been an important military post. The Navy added a small base in Key West, where the Navy trains its pilots.

Fact: Sponging was also part of the Key West economy because many of the surrounding waters help sponge beds.

Fact: Key West is one of the most popular cruise ports. Many cruise lines make Key West part of their itinerary for the history, sun, and experience. I have been one two cruises, both of which stopped in Key West!

For more information regarding Key West’s history, please visit: http://www.floridakeys.com/keywest/key-west-history.htm or http://www.keyshistory.org/keywest.html .