Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 31st

Today in 1883 the British schooner Dolcouth was stranded North Key Spit in the Tortugas. The schooner was en route from New Orleans to Antwerp with a cargo of cotton and grain.

On This Day in Key West - March 30th

Today Florida became a US territory. On this date in 1822, the United States merged East and West Florida to become the Territory of Florida. The first territorial govenor was William Pope Duval. Duval Street here in Key West is named after him. Earlier in the year, on January 19, 1822, Key West had been purchased from Juan Pablo Salas, a Spaniard, by John Simonton, an American.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 30th

Ninety-nine years ago today, in 1913, the schooner Samuel T. Beacham collided with the British steamer Teodoro De Larrinaga in the Straits of Florida.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 28th

Today in 1866, the steamer Tonawanda, formerly the USS Arkansas, is stranded on Grecian Shoals. The steamer was on its way from Boston to Havana. Even though the vessel was lost, the wreckers were awarded $5,166.

Happy Birthday 200th Birthday Mr. Tift!

Today in 1812 Mr. Asa Forsythe Tift was born. As you folks may know, Mr. Tift is the propreiter of the warehouse here at the Key West Shipwreck Treasures Museum. Stop by today and wish him a Happy Birthday.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 27th

Today in 1836, the ship James wrecked in a storm 50 miles northwest of Cape Florida. The ship was en route from Mobile to England with 1,081 bales of cotton as cargo. 519 bales were saved and brought to Key West. Also happening today, but in 1859, the schooner Tortugas informed the wreckers about the ship Mulhouse, which had wrecked the previous day. The passengers, coins, and 1,200 bales of cotton were saved and the wreckers were awarded $27,849. In 1877 on this date, the schooner Veto ran aground on Conch Reef. The next day the schooner had managed to get free of the reef.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 26th

Today their were two shipwrecks. One was in 1859. The ship Mulhouse was en route from New Orleans to Havre when it went aground on the quicksands near the Tortugas. The ship was carrying 2,700 bales of cotton and $25,000 in coins. The other shipwreck happened in 1863. The schooner Adelayda wrecked on Elbow Reef. The schooner was headed for Mantanzas from New York with a cargo of dry goods. The vessel was lost, but the wreckers were awarded $7,713.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 25th

Today in 1926 the steamer Island Belle was stranded at Key West.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 24th

Today is a busy day for shipwreck history here in the Florida Keys. The earliest shipwreck happened today in 1618. A Spanish ship was carrying hides and indigo from Campeche when it wrecked here in the Florida Keys. The crew made it to St. Augustine. The next shipwreck that was reported to have happened on this date was in 1831. The schooner Waverly was en route from New Iberia to New York with a cargo of sugar. The schooner wrecked near the Cape Florida Light and the cargo was saved. Reported on March 24, 1857, an unknown vessel went ashore on Sand Key. It was reported by the brig Princess Royal. The crew were taken to the Turks Islands. Today in 1858 the crew of Dutch ship Admiral Saultzemann were rescued by the steamer Daniel Webster. The ship had been lost off of Hillsboro Inlet eight days earlier. The crew were taken to Havana and the cargo was brought to Key West to be sold by the wreckers. Today at the beginning of the 20th century, in 1909, the sidewheel steamer Wanderer foundered at Money Key. Also today, but in 1944, an unknown wreck was destroyed. The wreck had been charted in 1943 nearly seven miles from American Shoal Light.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 23rd

Today in 1841, the brigantine Claudine was lost on Florida Reef.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 22nd

Today in 1831 the ship Amulet was wrecked on Pickles Reef. The ship was on its way from Boston for New Orleans. Though the ship was lost, some its cargo, which consisted in part of furniture, dry goods, shoes, and fish, was saved. Also today, though in 1913, it was reported that the Dutch schooner Venture had been abandoned during a March storm, probably in the Upper Keys. The crew had been rescued by the British steamer Reliance.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 21st

On this date there were two shipwrecks in the Florida Keys. The first one was today in 1862. The bark Director was wrecked on Carysfort Reef while on its way Jamaica to London. The cargo aboard consisted of sugar, ginger, beeswax, and honey. Though the vessel was lost, the wreckers received $3,128 as their award. The second shipwreck happened in 1909. The four-masted schooner Joseph B. Thomas was stranded on Fowey Rocks and was bilged. The schooner was carrying 2,500 tons of gravel to be used for the Key West Extension of the Florida East Coast Railway. The Oversea Railroad was completed 100 years ago and on January 22, 1912 the first train arrived in Key West.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 20th

Today in 1870 the bark Star wrecked at Conch Key.  The bark was carrying a cargo of sugar. It is listed to have gone aground on Conch Reef as well. The vessel was lost.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 18th

Today in 1867, the brigantine Scandinavia wrecked on Conch Reef, southeast of Plantation Key. The Scandinavia was carrying a cargo of timber while en route from Pensacola to Queenstown. Even though the vessel was lost, the wreckers received an award of $1,281.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 17th

Today in 1853, the brigantine Cimbrus wrecked on Western Dry Rocks. The Cimbrus was carrying a locomotive engine as well as other assorted cargo while it made its way from Philadelphia to New Orleans. Thirteen years later, in 1866, the steamer Rebecca Barton foundered off of Key West. It had been built just two years before. Ninety-nine years ago today, in 1913, the four-masted schooner Pendleton Brothers was stranded on the Tortugas.


Pendleton Brothers



Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 16th

March 16th was a popular day for shipwrecks here in the Florida Keys. There have been three wrecks over the years along the Florida Reef. The first happened in 1848. The ship Brewster wrecked on Fowey Rocks. The ship was on its way from New Orleans to Boston carrying cotton, hemp, lard, and sugar. For their services, the wreckers were awarded $4,098. The next shipwreck was ten years later in 1858. The Dutch ship Admiral Saultzemann was lost off Hillsboro Inlet at the northernmost part of the Florida Reef. The ship was bound for Havana from Holland. Thirteen years later, in 1871, the brig Aquillo was wrecked at French Reef. The Aquillo was carrying a cargo of sugar and was sailing from Havana. Though the vessel was lost, the wreckers received an award of $4,197. Also wrecking on French Reef, but doing so sixteen years later in 1887, was the ship Slabdova. The ship was coming from New Orleans and carried a cargo of cotton. Once again the vessel was lost, but the reward issued to the wreckers was $52,882.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 15th

Today there were two shipwrecks in the Florida Keys. One was in 1845. The brig Hayne was bound from Charleston for Havana. The Hayne wrecked five miles south-southeast of Cape Florida with a cargo of rice. The wreckers were awarded $1,000 even though the vessle was lost. Thirty-one years later, in 1876, the ship Athenais was on the Quicksands.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 14th

Today in 1872 the Norwegian bark Amazon was lost on Dry Rocks. The Amazon carried a cargo of cotton, which was saved. For their efforts the wreckers were awarded $10,673.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 13th

Today in 1993 at approximately 9:00 PM, the steel-hulled freighter Miss Beholden ran aground on the reef five miles from Key West. The freighter tried, unsuccessfully, to free herself from the reef. You can learn more about the wreck of the Miss Beholden at the Key West Shipwreck Treasures Museum.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 12th

Today in 1856, the same year the Isaac Allerton sank, the ship Mariner was wrecked on French Reef, almost seven miles from Key Largo. The ship was en route from Liverpool, England to New Orleans with a cargo of salt aboard.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 11th

Today in 1866, the bark Isabel wrecked on Triumph Reef near Biscayne Bay with a cargo of rum, sugar, ginger, hides, and other goods aboard. The vessel was lost, but the wreckers received an award of $7,561. Twenty-six years later, in 1892, the brig Shannon bound for Mantanzas from Mobile was stranded on Polaski Shoal in the Dry Tortugas.The Shannon was a total loss and the wreckers were only awarded $199.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 10th



Key West 1838

 Today in 1838, the brigantine Hebrus wrecked on Pickles Reef. The Hebrus was bound for the Isle of Guernsey from Havana, Cuba with a cargo of coffee and sugar. The vessel was lost, but, for their services, the wreckers were awarded $1,404.

The Flagship of Key West

Thanks to the the Florida State Legislature, the Schooner Western Union is now just one step away from being not only the Flaghip of Key West, but also the Flagship of the State of Florida. Wednesday, March 7, 2012, the Florida House of Representatives passed SB 326 unanimously (115-0). The Florida Senate has already passed the bill, and now all that is left is for Florida Govenor Rick Scott to sign the bill into law. Those of you who care to read the bill, can find it here: http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/0395/Analyses/H8TPkAPipqgEzRyk1jNJm4r6C5g=%7C11/Public/Bills/0300-0399/0395/Analysis/h0395c.SAC.PDF

The Schooner Western Union was built here in Key West. It was the last tall ship built on the island and was launched on April 7, 1939. The 130 ft. schooner was constructed of mahogany and yellow pine and is an example of a traditional American coasting schooner. The schooner's name comes from the Western Union Telegraph Company. For 35 years the Schooner Western Union served as a cable tender for the company, repairing and maintaining undersea telegraph cable from Key West to Cuba, and throughout the Caribbean. Today locals and visitors alike can enjoy sunset sails each evening on the Flagship of Key West, soon to be the Flagship of the State of Florida.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 9th

Today in 1853, the schooner E.G. Willard wrecked at Long Key while en route from New Orleans to Charleston. The schooner was carrying bacon, pork, hams, beef, lard and other cargo. The vessel was lost, but for their services, the wreckers were awarded $5,530. Also today, but sixty years later in 1913, the British steamer Lugano wrecked on Long Reef in a storm. The steamer was bound for Havana with a cargo of silks, wine, and other high-grade items. The tug Rescue saved 116 passengers and crew. More than 75 vessels worked the wreck for over a month and most of the cargo was saved. That same day the British steamer Howth Head also ran aground on Long Reef, but was freed.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 3rd

Back in 1841, exactly four years before Florida became a state, the bark Claudine wrecked on the Florida Reef. The vessel was lost, but the wreckers were awarded $351.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - March 2nd

Today in 1859 the ship Nathan Hannau is lost on Brewster Reef while en route from Boston to New Orleans. The ship was carrying ice, furniture, and shoes. Some of the furniture, boots, and shoes were saved and the wreckers were awarded $1,801. Twenty-two years later, the bark Folomer wrecked on the Southwest Reef in the Dry Tortugas. The Folomer was carrying a cargo of cotton and, though the vessel was lost, the wreckers were awarded $6,384.

Florida History

On this date in 1845, the territory of Florida was admitted to the Union by an act of congress and became a state.