Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - April 16th

Today in 1865 the bark Annie Baldwin was en route to Liverpool from the Florida Keys when it wrecked on Conch Reef. The bark was carrying guano. Though the vessel was lost, the wreckers were awarded $734.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - April 15th

The RMS Titanic wasn't the only shipwreck that happened today. Thirty-five years before the RMS Titanic went down, in 1877, the brig Memphis was stranded on Conch Reef. The brig was carrying a cargo of sugar, which was saved.

USS Fort McHenry Is In Port

For three days Key West will once again host the crew of a Navy vessel. The USS Fort McHenry is in port for three days of liberty before it is deployed to the Baltic Sea. The USS Fort McHenry, an amphibious landing craft, is 100 feet longer than the last Navy vessel to visit Key West, the USS Spruance, which was commissioned here in October. To get a good view of the ship, stop by the museum and climb the lookout tower.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - April 13th

This year April the 13th falls on a Friday. In 1895 though, Saturday the 13th was an unlucky day. Two ships wrecked that day here in the Florida Keys. One was the schooner R. Bowers which was stranded on Southwest Reef in the Dry Tortugas. The schooner was carrying a cargo of yellow pine from Apalachicola to Boston. It is unknown if it was salvaged. The other vessel was the British ship Walter D. Walleth which also carried lumber, though the ship was en route from Mobile to Belfast. The ship was stranded off of Loggerhead Light, in the Dry Tortugas. The ship and cargo were valued at $22,000.

April 12th - The Civil War Begins and FDR Dies!

Today in 1861 the Civil War began. Key West, though located in a state that joined the Confederacy, remained a Union city the entire Civil War. Locals who supported the Confederates had to go North to join the South, and some did, including wrecking merchant Asa Tift. He, along with his brother Nelson, worked on designing and building an ironclad warship for the Confederacy.

Also on this day, but eighty-four years later in 1945, Harry S. Truman became President of the United States of America when his predecessor, Franklin Deleno Roosevelt, died. Both Presidents have visited Key West and they stayed at what is now known as the Harry S. Truman Little White House. President Truman spent the most time at the Little White House of any President, there have been seven total.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - April 11th

Today's shipwreck happened in 1831. The brig William Tell was grounded on Bird Key in the Dry Tortugas. The William Tell was making its way from New York to New Orleans carrying dry goods, cutlery, and other cargo. Some of the cargo was saved.

Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys - April 10th

Today in 1928 the dredge Massachusetts foundered near Fowey Rock Light.