Key West Info

•          Cayo Hueso is the original Spanish name for the island of Key West. Spanish-speaking people today also use the term Cayo Hueso when referring to Key West. It literally means "bone key". It is said that the island was littered with the remains (bones) of prior native inhabitants, who used the isle as a communal graveyard or that the island was the westernmost Key with a reliable supply of water.

•          Mayors of Key West have reflected the city's cultural and ethnic heritage. Among its mayors are the first Cuban mayor and one of the first openly gay mayors.

•          In the 20th century many residents of Key West started referring to themselves as "Conchs" (Conks), and the term is now generally applied to all residents of Key West. Some residents use the term "Conch" (or, alternatively, "Saltwater Conch") to refer to a person born in Key West, while the term "Freshwater Conch" refers to a resident not born in Key West but who has lived in Key West for seven years or more. However, the true original meaning of Conch applies only to someone with European ancestry who immigrated from the Bahamas. It is said that when a baby was born, the family would put a conch shell on a pole in front of their home.

•          During Cuba's unsuccessful war for independence in the 1860s and 1870s, many Cubans sought refuge in Key West.

•          The U.S. government rebuilt the old rail route (that had been partially destroyed by Hurricane Wilma) as an automobile highway. Completed in 1938, it became an extension of United States Highway 1. The portion of U.S. 1 through the Keys is called the Overseas Highway. (We fished off of a portion of the old railroad bridge that had been renovated)

•          Hurricanes rarely hit Key West, and the island has been relatively lucky. Locals say that Hurricane Wilma on October 24, 2005, was the worst storm in memory. The entire island was told to evacuate. Business owners were forced to close their businesses. After the hurricane had passed, a storm surge sent eight feet of water inland, completely inundating a large portion of the lower Keys. Low-lying areas of Key West and the lower Keys, including major tourist destinations, were under as much as three feet of water. Sixty percent of the homes in Key West were flooded.

•          One of the biggest attractions on the island is a concrete replica of a buoy at the corner of South and Whitehead Streets that claims to be the southernmost point in the contiguous 48 states. The point was originally just marked with a sign, which was often stolen. In response to this, the city of Key West erected the now famous monument in 1983. It is one of the most visited and photographed attractions in Key West. (When we were there, there was a line to get a picture in front of it) However, the marker is not located at the southernmost point in the continental United States. Land on the Truman Annex property just west of the buoy is the true southernmost point, but it has no marker since it is U.S. Navy land and cannot be entered by civilian tourists.

•          For no apparent reason, chickens and roosters roam free all over town.

•         Every night there is a Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square Dock where people can view the beautiful sun set, watch talented street performers, and have a good time.