Key West: More than Margaritas and Sunsets

Key West is one of the most popular destinations in Florida for visitors attracting an estimated 2.3 million visitors annually. Part of the island's reputation is based on the unique location of the community at the southernmost point of the United States. Although Key West can be easily reached by local flights or cruise ships, many people enjoy taking the 90-mile drive on US1 across the Florida Keys causeway which offers beautiful ocean views and runs between small islands and along miles of elevated bridges.

Interesting History

The distinctive character and history of Key West has stood the test of time. Originally settled centuries ago by the Spanish, Key West was used as a strategically located fort throughout the 19th century after being claimed by the U.S. at the end of the Spanish-American war. Renowned industrialist Walter Flagler was a frequent visitor and conceived of establishing a shipping port there. He understood that the combination of a port close to the Panama Canal reachable from the east coast of the United States by rail would be extremely valuable. While called "Flagler's Folly" by some, Flagler spent the modern equivalent of $1.3 billion building a railroad line across the keys that allowed goods to be shipped to Key West from throughout the Eastern United States. His tail Depot received rave reviews and was celebrated by more than 10,000 well-wishers including President Taft when it opened to commercial traffic and travelers in 1913. 

Hurricane

For the next several decades, the wealthy and privileged along with celebrities and writers flocked to Key West for vacations and built fashionable homes there. But the devastating category 5 hurricane of 1935 virtually destroyed the railroad line and roadways. It also killed an estimated 500.people and damaged numerous properties. Key West remained a significant Navy and Air Force Base in succeeding decades, but it was more known for being the laid-back summer residence of President Harry Truman then as a fashionable hotspot. 

The next renaissance of Key West came in the 1960's and 1970's when people looking for their own Margaritaville began to settle in the area. Some of these residents brought with them a laid-back lifestyle that focused on the arts, outdoor activities, food, and culture. Not only the town's population increased, the physical size of the island grew by several square miles by reclamation of inlets and the filling of the seabed. The independent reputation of Key West residents was further enhanced when a dispute with the federal government in the 1980s over immigration and drug checkpoints on US1 led the mayor to declare the town seceded from the United States and briefly declared it to be an independent nation known as the conch republic. 

Fashionable Haven

Today, Key West has many aspects of a fashionable tourist destination. It combines elements of Mystic, Connecticut with those of places like Cape May, New Jersey and Catalina Island, California into one small and dynamic package. There are very few traditional hotel resorts and condo complexes, so people in town seem quite content with finding ways to enjoy the lifestyle of their own community while play making money from day-trippers and other visitors. 

There are many interesting things to do in Key West. People have always been transfixed by the unique color of the sunset over the water, and many eating and drinking establishments become crowded at dusk when people relax to enjoy the view. The town's historic district also has a special charm since it includes numerous colorful wooden cottages and the homes of famous residents such as Ernest Hemingway and tropical gardens.

Interesting Cuisine 

There are also some unique food options. Every conceivable manner of preparing dishes involving conch meat or conch shells is available in town, and there are several bakeries which claim to be the home of the original key lime pie. Finally, the maritime and adventurous spirit of the keys is also on display. Local attractions include the Key West shipwreck treasures museum with items on display from the discoveries of well-known treasure hunter and maritime conservationist Mel Fisher. 

There are numerous places in the Caribbean or Florida’s Gulf Coast where one can enjoy beautiful beaches and a relaxing resort for a few days. But the spirit of Key West makes it a special place to visit even for a day trip from the mainland or an excursion from a cruise ship.