Table of Contents
For generations, visitors and longtime residents have been drawn to the Florida Keys by the stunning blue vistas on both sides of the Overseas Highway and their intriguing Dry Tortugas mysteries and history.
As the number of islands reaches 200, we wanted to commemorate the history of a special place by looking back at the major events in the area.
The First Inhabitants
Established in 1823, Monroe County includes the Everglades and the Florida Keys. Obviously, there were inhabitants here long ago.
“When you say, first inhabitants, that’s a tricky question,” says historian Brad Bertelli. Bertelli has lived on Plantation Key near Islamorada for twenty years. He is a local columnist, author of four books on the area, and a true expert on the history of the Keys.
According to him, there were three main cultures in the area: the Matecumbe, after whom the Matecumbe Key is called, the Calusa on Florida’s west coast, and the Tequesta tribes in the eastern part of the state. They would have traveled all the way through the islands to Cuba. There are about 200 ancient sites in the Keys, although two of the largest were settlements on Matecumbe Key and Stock Island, near Key West.”As Spanish sailors arrived by the 1500s, we see the first major milestone of Key West for outside influence.
The Modern Marvels
According to Bertelli, “The United States Navy ordered the West Indies squadron to establish a naval depot in 1823, a second turning point.” You now have a military presence and a deep water port, which is security implied. Here, the modern American era began. By 1870 there were perhaps 130 residents in the Upper Keys and 5,000 in Key West. To change islands at this time, a boat is still required. These were once farming towns and at one time, 90 percent of the world’s pineapples were grown here.
Henry Flagler, a businessman, provided the last major breakthrough. He built the first section of the Flagler Railroad from Miami in 1905. It evolved into the present Overseas Highway.
According to Bertelli, “He’s the one who really changed the history of the Florida Keys.” “These villages, dependent on weather and tides, were no longer shipping villages when the bridges were built. Families were welcome to stay and mail was on the way. People began to concentrate on the center of the islands rather than on their periphery.
By 1912, the first train carriage carrying Henry Flagler arrived in Key West. By the 1940s, water pipelines and a steady power supply arrived.
A Better Tomorrow
The Florida Keys are a true wonder of a place made of deep harbors, small fishing communities, industrial dreams and pirates. There are also new projects such as 11 private beach villas at Chica Lodge and an airport expansion in Key West, slated to open in 2025.
The island chain is particularly vulnerable due to concerns about water pressure, rising rents and catastrophic reef loss.
The hope for Bertelli and everyone who lives on the chain is that visitors will join the effort to keep the Florida Keys alive for another 200 years.
“If I could contribute anything to these islands, it would be to visit the Turtle Hospital in Marathon and pick up trash,” says Bertelli. Our birds and turtles are getting tangled up trash, and at this incredible operation, the tour highlights how fragile these islands are. It’s not a playground down here. It’s an important and vital place, and we are worried but hopeful for our future.”
A Local’s Guide To The Florida Keys
Bertelli has authored four books on the region, which make great reading before a trip to the Florida Keys, and he also shares his Keys favorites.
Where to Eat
“You’ve got to go to Robbie’s on Islamorada for breakfast. It’s a very worn, vintage part of Florida. You’re likely to find him. He puts on a bar two days a week.
“I love Santiago’s Bodega in Key West. It’s a tapas bar with delicious food. Don’t miss Geiger Key Fish Camp at Mile Marker 11. It’s a vintage tiki bar with breathtaking views.
Where to Stay
For a staycation, Bertelli adores Ambrosia, a quaint B&B in Key West, with an inviting swimming pool and Victorian style.
1 thought on “The Florida 2 Keys reach a milestone”