1513 |
Ponce de Leon sails past Florida Keys, naming them Los Martires. |
1815 |
Key West, known as Cayo Hueso (Bone Island), is granted to |
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Juan Pablo Salas, by Don Juan de Estrada, for meritorious service |
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to the Crown of Spain. |
1822 |
Key West is bought from Salas by John W. Simonton of Mobile, |
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Alabama, for $2,000. |
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"Brethren of the Coast" are driven from Key West and vicinity |
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and destroyed by Commodore David Porter. |
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Lieutenant M. C. Perry takes possession of the island as part of |
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the territory ceded to the United States by Spain. |
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Naval depot is established. |
1824 |
United States Marines arrive in Key West. |
1828 |
Congress passes bill establishing at Key West the "Superior |
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Court of the Southern Judicial District of the Territory of |
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Florida." |
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Key West is incorporated as a city; later as a town. |
1829 |
Post office is established. |
1831 |
Army Barracks are constructed. |
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First cigar factory in United States is established by William
H. Wall. |
1832 |
Saint Paul's Church is founded. |
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Territorial Council replaces town charter with incorporated
city charter. |
1845 |
Construction of Fort Taylor is begun. |
1846 |
Destructive hurricane strikes city. |
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Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas, is established and construction
begins. |
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Marine Hospital is established. |
1861 |
East and West Martello Towers are constructed as additional
fortifications. |
1861-66 |
Key West is the only Southern City to remain in hands of |
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Union throughout duration of War between the States. |
1868 |
Sisters of Holy Names of Jesus and Mary arrive from Canada. |
1869 |
Cuban migration to Key West begins. |
1871 |
First Hall of San Carlos Instituto Patriotico y Docente
is dedicated. |
1876 |
First City Hall constructed. |
1886 |
Fire destroys a large part of the city. |
1898 |
Survivors and injured of the U. S. S. Maine are brought from |
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Havana to Key West by U. S. Lighthouse Tender Mangrove. |
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First Spanish-American prize of war is brought into port. |
1912 |
Overseas Railway is completed. |
1926 |
Overseas Highway and Ferry System completed. |
1930 |
Present United States Customhouse, Post Office, and Courthouse
are completed. |
1934 |
Rehabilitation of Key West, impoverished by severe depression, |
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is begun by Florida Emergency Relief Administration. |
1935 |
Florida East Coast Railway service to Key West is terminated |
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after disastrous Labor Day hurricane strikes the keys to the |
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north of Key West. |
1938 |
Overseas Highway is completed. |
1939 |
Government re-establishes Naval and Submarine Bases. |
1940 |
Naval Air Base is opened at Trumbo Island. |
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Key West Yacht Club is organized. |
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More tourists visit Key West than during any previous year in |
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the city's history, and bring about a partial business revival,
but large reductions in the WPA work relief rolls halt economic
recovery. |
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