Key West first came to light in the European awareness by the Spanish. They called it "Cayo Hueso" (kai-yo who-A-so), or "island of bones" for all the human bones the found lying about. No one knows who those bones belonged to, it is thought that perhaps the island was used as a burial ground for the original peoples. Even today when you visit Key West, you will see the words "Bone Island" about.

Eventually the word "Cayo" was anglicized into the English word "Key", and
"Hueso" was anglicized into "West". Welcome to Key West!

Periods and peaks
Key West is the perennial survivor. Having no other natural resources other than isolation and climate, it has seen several booms and busts, has been abandoned or left to squalor, been through bankruptcy, burned to the ground, and always bounced back.

The periods of prosperity were during the eras of piracy, wrecking, sponging, turtle meat, tobacco, smuggling, and tourism. These periods overlap, some have died out altogether, some have been temporarily stopped, and some are ongoing.

Yar!
Much romanticized, the era of piracy was brutal and sordid. It has been estimated that the actual working life of a career pirate was 4 years.

Ships from South America, Mexico, and Central America would have to pass by Key West before turning a northerly course on their way to Spain. These galleons were usually loaded with something worth being loaded, and made for fat, slow, and rich targets. Key West's location made her a natural jumping-off point for attack.

The method of choice was by using shallow draft boats, attack and plunder quickly, and then disappear into the iron limbed mangroves with the booty. Ships, even standard lifeboats, could not navigate some of these channels. Those that did often floated right into a trap and never returned.

In 1822, the U.S. Navy established a presence here for the specific purpose of eliminating the pirate threat. What was done was to have a steamer cruise the coast pulling a small fleet of shallow draft boats of its own that could pursue the pirates to their lairs. Highly trained seamen armed to the teeth outmanned and outgunned the pirates, who stood little chance against them. In 8 years, pirates had been driven from the area.

Abandon Ship!
With the pirates gone, shipping traffic increased many fold, and with increased ships came increased shipwrecks. If you find a shipwreck, you can file with the government and legally claim it and its contents as your own. This practice is called 'wrecking'.

There were many fortunes made by people claiming wrecked ships and their cargos. During an actual shipwreck or sinking, wreckers would rush out and after rescuing the crew and passengers, could legally assume possession of the derelict ship. There are tales of men placing lights to deceive ships into coming upon the reefs.

Today you will find an entire museum on Key West devoted to this period, the "Wreckers Museum" located in the Oldest House at 322 Duval St.

The wrecking period came to an end with the construction of the first lighthouse in 1858.

MORE >