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Key West, Florida { 47 images } Created 18 Apr 2016

The Conch Republic, better known as Key West, is the southernmost part of the Florida Keys and the Continental U.S. Its charming Old Town is filled with history and surrounded by beaches along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.
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  • Mile Marker Zero in Key West, Florida<br />
When you see this sign at the intersections of Whitehead and Fleming streets near the Monroe County Courthouse, you have reached the “end of the road” of the longest north-south interstate in the United States: U.S. Route 1. It begins in northern Maine and travels 2,369 miles along the eastern seaboard until arriving in Key West. Hopefully this iconic sign is there when you arrive. It is one of the most popular road markers in the U.S. to steal.  A local t-shirt shop even trademarked the image.
    Florida-Key_West-Mile_Marker_Zero.jpg
  • Monroe County Courthouse Clock Tower in Key West, Florida<br />
Monroe County was named in honor of President James Monroe when it was formed in 1823. It jurisdiction extends over 220 miles of the Florida Keys, making it the southernmost county seat in the United States. Most of its government offices are in Key West such as this County Courthouse.  It was built in 1890 and significantly renovated in 2000.
    Florida-Key_West-Monroe_County_Court...jpg
  • Mallory Square Signage in Key West, Florida<br />
Above the list of stores and attractions on this sign for Mallory Square is the slogan: “Where the Sun Sets and the Fun Begins.” By day, tourists shop in this Old Town square.  As dusk approaches, people line up along the waterfront to watch the sun set over the Atlantic. The daily event is aptly called the “Sunset Celebration.”  This party tradition, which began in the late 1960s, is surrounded by musicians, street entertainers and of course food and drink.  The square is named after Stephen Russell Mallory. He was the son of Ellen, the first white woman to settle in Key West in 1823.  He became a U.S. Senator and Secretary for the Confederate Navy.
    Florida-Key_West-Mallory_Square_Sign...jpg
  • Key West Shipwreck Museum in Key West, Florida<br />
This wooden, 65 foot observation tower near Mallory Square is a reproduction of the salvaging warehouse owned by Asa F. Tift.  He was the most famous and successful wrecker in Key West until he died in 1889. The Key West Shipwreck Museum has exhibits, artifacts, a film and actors telling the story of this fascinating and lucrative industry during its peak in the second half of the 19th century.
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  • Asa F. Tift Bronze Bust in Key West, Florida<br />
Florida’s coral reef destroyed countless ships; bad news for sailors, great news for 19th century salvagers called wreckers.  The best in the industry was Asa F. Tift.  He and his crew recovered cargo and, if possible, repaired the vessels.  His warehouse was at today’s Mallory Square. Some of his wealth went towards building a mansion on Whitehead Street in 1851.  80 years later it was purchased by Ernest Hemingway. This statue is located in the Memorial Sculpture Garden. The outdoor exhibit includes the likeness of 36 people who shaped Key West’s history.
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  • Ernest Hemingway House in Key West, Florida<br />
Ernest Hemingway and his recently married second wife Pauline arrived in Key West in 1928.  A few months later, their first child was born while he was finishing A Farewell to Arms. After spending two winters in Florida, they became permeant residents in this 1851 Spanish colonial mansion until their divorce in 1940. He periodically returned until his death. The house is filled with Papa’s antiques collected during his travels to Europe, Africa and Cuba. The National Historic Landmark is now a museum.
    Florida-Key_West-Ernest_Hemingway_Ho...jpg
  • Sloppy Joe’s Bar in Key West, Florida<br />
Sloppy Joe’s Bar, on the corner of Duval and Greene Streets, looks like another Florida tavern until you learn the history.  It was named after a Cuban drinking hole frequented by Ernest Hemingway. Joe Russel opened this version in 1933. He was part of the drinking and fishing crowd called “The Mob.”  This is when Hemingway’s nickname became Papa and Joe’s was Habana Joe.  Lore has it that Hemingway would stumble home at night using the lighthouse across from his house as his beacon. The original bar is actually a few doors down.
    Florida-Key_West-Sloppy_Joe’s_Bar.jpg
  • Key West Lighthouse in Key West, Florida<br />
The first lighthouse at Key West was erected in 1825 but destroyed during a hurricane in 1846. Two years later, it was replaced by the current light and then extended to a height of 73 feet in 1894.  The widow of the first keeper, Barbara Mabrity, maintained the light for 38 years until she was fired at the age of 82 for her outspoken opinions about the Civil War.  Members of the Mabrity family worked here for over 85 years! The Key West Lighthouse was decommissioned in 1969 and is now a museum.  Walking up its 88 stairs provides a wonderful view of the historic district.
    Florida-Key_West-Key_West_Lighthouse.jpg
  • Holding Out Sculpture by Seward Johnson in Key West, Florida<br />
This matronly woman carrying shopping bags is so realistic I apologized when bumping into her.  This life-like sculpture by J. Seward Johnson Jr. is called Holding Out or Waiting to Cross.  It is one of several surrounding the Museum of Art and History. Interestingly, the artist dresses his statues of everyday people in real clothes before encasing them in bronze.  If you enjoy his work, then plan a visit to the Grounds for Sculpture, his 42-acre sculpture park in Hamilton Township, New Jersey.
    Florida-Key_West-Holding_Out_Sculptu...jpg
  • Museum of Art & History in Key West, Florida<br />
This red brick building along Front Street was the Custom House when it was built in 1891. It also served as a post office and district courthouse. The U.S. Navy acquired the property in 1932 but later abandoned it for almost two decades. After a $9 million restoration of this Richardsonian Romanesque landmark, it reopened as the Key West Museum of Art & History.
    Florida-Key_West-Museum_of_Art_Histo...jpg
  • Time for Fun Sculpture by Seward Johnson in Key West, Florida<br />
In front of the Museum of Art and History in Key West is this enormous sculpture by Seward Johnson titled, “Time for Fun.”  The outdoor art features a couple in Victorian clothes during a romantic slow dance.  It was inspired by an 1883 painting by Frenchmen Pierre-Auguste Renoir called “Dance in the Country.”  The original models were Paul Lhôte and Aline Charigot.  The oil painting hangs in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.
    Florida-Key_West-Time_for_Fun_Sculpt...jpg
  • Old Coast Guard Headquarters Building in Key West, Florida<br />
Key West remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War. This 1856 building was the barracks for the East Gulf Blockading Squadron. The sailors were responsible for protecting the port from a Confederate invasion that never came. The structure was then used by the Navy until 1932 when it became the headquarters for the Coast Guard.  It has now a collection of boutique shops called the Clinton Square Market.
    Florida-Key_West-Old_Coast_Guard_Bui...jpg
  • Harbor House in Key West, Florida<br />
In 1886, at the height of Key West’s Cuban cigar manufacturing, a devastating fire roared through the factories and warehouses plus leveled the surrounding buildings. Soon strict ordinances were put in place for new construction. So The Bank of Key West built their new headquarters using red brick and fashioned a balcony similar to those in New Orleans’ French Quarter.  Now called the Harbor House, this retail space on Front Street was ravage by another fire 98 years later.
    Florida-Key_West-Harbor_House.jpg
  • Pier House Resort in Key West, Florida<br />
The western shore of Key West is where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Atlantic Ocean. There are many restaurants and hotels positioned to take full advantage of this spectacular view. They are only steps away from Old Town’s attractions.  They also provide front row seating to spectacular sunsets. At night, you fall asleep to the lullaby of waves.
    Florida-Key_West-Pier_House_Resort.jpg
  • Western Union Schooner in Key West, Florida<br />
Starting in 1939, the Western Union schooner was used to lay, inspect and repair underwater telegraph cables from Florida to the Caribbean Islands. The vessel’s hull held 20 miles of cable per voyage and is credited with laying more than 30,000 miles of cable until her first retirement in 1974. She then served several purposes, including starring in movies, until finding her home at the Lands End Marina. The boat was listed as a U.S. National Register of Historic Places, was fully restored in 2011 and is considered the flagship of both Key West and Florida. This grand wooden ship is available for tours and short sightseeing cruises.
    Florida-Key_West-Western_Union_Schoo...jpg
  • Historic Seaport Harbor Walk in Key West, Florida<br />
Back in the late 18th century when this island was called Cayo Hueso, ships used this inner harbor when traveling between the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.  After John Whitehead was shipwrecked here in 1819, he called it the “Gibraltar of the West.” The harbor was named Port Rodgers once the U.S. took procession of the Keys in 1822. Soon fisheries emerged around the shore of the shallow Key West Bight.  This history can be felt along the Historic Seaport Harbor Walk.  In addition to a 150 slip marina, it features plenty of restaurants, taverns and shops. If you are looking for water sports, this is also the place to go.
    Florida-Key_West-Historic_Seaport_Ha...jpg
  • Florida’s Living Reef Mural by Robert Wyland in Key West, Florida<br />
I have always been a huge fan of Robert Wyland’s series of marine murals around the world.  So I was excited to experience the “Florida’s Living Reef” in Key West.  Number 52 out of 100, this enormous image featuring a stingray, hammerhead shark and coral was created at 201 William Street in 1993 and then repainted in 2012. His partner on this project was Guy Harvey. All of his outdoor art is donated by the Wyland Foundation.
    Florida-Key_West-Florida’s_Living_Re...jpg
  • Old Town Trolley Tours Bus in Key West, Florida<br />
Key West is small – only one mile wide and four miles long – and most Old Town attractions are within a compact area. So it is best explored and enjoyed on foot.  Other options include guided tours, a hop-on hop off bus such as the Old Town Trolley Tours or renting a bike. There are also plenty of cabs to get you back to your hotel when your shoes begin to pinch.
    Florida-Key_West-Old_Town_Trolley_To...jpg
  • President Truman’s Little White House in Key West, Florida<br />
This humble, two-story building was constructed in 1890 on the U.S. Navy base. It served as the home for the commander and briefly housed President William Taft and Thomas Edison early in the 20th century. President Harry S Truman spent his winter vacation here in 1946.  He enjoyed it so much he returned ten more times.  During those 175 days, it was called the Little White House. Eisenhower and Kennedy also used these accommodations during their presidencies. Plus Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton stayed here after leaving office. You can feel the history as you walk through the museum on a guided tour.
    Florida-Key_West-Truman’s_Little_Whi...jpg
  • Home in Truman Annex Neighborhood in Key West, Florida<br />
While flocking to see the Little White House, most visitors to Key West fail to appreciate the beauty of the nearby homes like this one on Front Street.  This gated island community is called the Truman Annex. They were previously residences of officers who served at the 100 acre Naval Station Key West.  During the 1990s, they were restored into mansions complete with white picket fences.
    Florida-Key_West-Home_Truman_Annex_N...jpg
  • Bishop Albert Kee Statue in Key West, Florida<br />
This bronze statue by Tom Joris is a tribute to Bishop Albert Kee.  For decades, he stood along the waterfront selling fish and blowing a conch shell at passing tourists. This tradition dates back to 1830 when arriving Bahamians were called Conchs.  In 1982, Key West declared itself the Conch Republic when they claimed to secede from the U.S.  If you are born in Key West, you can call yourself a Saltwater Conch. If you are a new resident, it takes seven years before you have the honor of becoming a Freshwater Conch.
    Florida-Key_West-Bishop_Albert_Kee_S...jpg
  • Southernmost Point Continental U.S.A in Key West, Florida<br />
The most photographed spot in Key West since 1983 is this red, black and yellow striped buoy.  It reads, “Southernmost Point in the Continental U.S.A.” Technically, there are a few other locations nearby further south but they are all on private land.  So this is close enough to warrant standing in line for your turn at snapping a selfie. The monument also declares Cuba is 90 miles away.  It is actually a bit further but that is only important if you are planning to swim there.
    Florida-Key_West-Southernmost_Point_...jpg
  • Southernmost House in Key West, Florida <br />
This gorgeous Queen Anne Victorian mansion at the end of Duval Street was built in 1897 as the residence for Judge Harris and his wife. Thomas Edison designed the home’s electricity.  It has also been a speakeasy and a nightclub. Today, the Southernmost House is an inn and museum on the waterfront.  It has hosted five presidents and countless famous people. The hotel’s name is derived from being the most southern house in the Continental United States.
    Florida-Key_West-Southernmost_House.jpg
  • Woman Wading at South Beach in Key West, Florida<br />
Key West’s South Beach will never be mistaken for the famous one in Miami Beach.  This cube of sand measures only 200 feet and practically disappears at high tide. But it is popular among tourists and locals, just as it was for playwright Tennessee Williams when he visited his Key West home between 1949 and 1983.  It is located at the end of Duvall Street next to the South Beach Pier.
    Florida-Key_West-Woman_Wading_South_...jpg
  • Old City Hall in Key West, Florida<br />
The first city hall opened on July 4, 1876.  After it burned during the fire of 1886, this red brick replacement was finished in 1892 along Greene Street. The clock tower, which matches the County Courthouse, was finished on the bicentennial in 1976. The property was restored by the Historic Florida Keys Preservation Board.
    Florida-Key_West-Old_City_Hall.jpg
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