Entrance to Naval Station

Published by Frank Johnson

  Cuban Home

Published by W.A.Johnson

Published 1910-1920

Cottage with Palms   

W.A.Johnson

The Overseas Highway

"In 1937 the Overseas Road and Bridge Commission acquired 40 miles of abandoned railroad viaducts and roadbed.  These have been converted into highway bridges and a magnificent roadway which stretches for miles over the open sea to Key West, the southernmost city in the U.S."

Bahia Honda Bridge

"The Overseas Highway to Key West, Fla. the southernmost city in the U.S. is one of the greatest engineering wonders in the world.  Crossing Bahia Honda bridge is the most spectacular part on this great highway, where the road rises 70 ft. above the meeting of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico."

"The Highway at Bahia Honda is over 70 feet above the open sea.  From this point you are presented with a panoramic view of the Keys, the Atlantic ocean and Gulf of Mexico, which is of unparalleled beauty."

Turtles

"The only cannery of green turtle soup in the United States is in Key West, and its products are exported all over the world wherever epicures congregate. The turtles, weighing 300 to 400 pounds are caught in South American waters and penned in 'crawls' and they gaze with stoic calm at the strange people who come to look at them."

Moon Over the Bridge

"Stretching its silver length across the blue waters of the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, the New Overseas Highway passes completely over Pigeon Key on its way from the mainland to Key West, the Southernmost City in the united States."

The Old Fish Market Dock

"This dock is typical of the fish market docks in Key West where people can purchase their fish alive and then have them dressed to suit them.  They pick out the fish they desire from the crates and then the old man shown in the picture cleans and dresses them."

Sunset over Bahia Honda Bridge

Two versions of the same photo

(This one by the Dade County Newsdealers Supply Co.)

 "The Bahia Honda Bridge is the highest span of the Overseas Highway between Miami and Key West, Florida."

                      

G.W. Romer is given credit on the above postcard for the photo

(This one also by the Dade County Newsdealers Supply Co.)

 "The Bahia Honda Bridge is the highest span of the Overseas Highway between Miami and Key West, Florida."

Weather Bureau

"Blessed with a fine climate, excellent fishing waters and lush tropic beauty, Key West is attracting more and more tourists to her hospitable shores.  The United States Weather Bureau maintains an excellent plant on this Southernmost City of the United States."

The Southernmost House

 "Long the residence of the late Judge Vining Harris, this house has the distinction of being the southernmost residence in the United States."

Martello Towers

 "Construction on these was begun by the U.S.Government in 1856.  When built they were considered impregnable.  Today they are crumbling massive brick ruins."

Moonlight Train

This is the oldest postcard in the collection.  Dated 1912.

First Train Arrives

Division Street

Sponge Market

The Walking Dairy

Typical Lane

The Jefferson Hotel

This wonderful building burned down in 1957.

Peaceful Spot

The Aquarium

Air View of Key West

"Key West is a tiny tropical key on the coast of Florida lying between the Atlantic ocean on the one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other--it is the southernmost part of the United States."

The Bahama House

"The 'Bahama House', built in the Bahamas many years ago, it has been a landmark in Key West.  The fact that its morticed and pinioned timbers were taken apart in the place of its origin, transported in schooners and erected here, has given rise to the weird legend that it was floated here ala Noah's Ark."

Fishing Boats

"Sun and shadow, fishing boats and the sea make picturesque reflections along the Key West Waterfront.  Key West is one of the most beautiful tropical keys off the coast of Florida and is joined to the mainland by the new Overseas Highway."

Pigeon Key

The Caroline Lowe House

"No home in Key West is more highly valued both as an example of our distinctive architecture and because of the vivid personality of its former owner than the Caroline Lowe home at the corner of  Duval and Caroline Streets.  During the unbroken possession of Key West by Federal troops during the War between the States, a be-deviled Provost Marshal never could locate the Confederate flag that Mrs. Caroline Lowe flung to the breeze from the top of this house whenever she deemed the time auspicious."

Cabanas on Rest Beach

"Rest Beach presents to Young America, the Atlantic Ocean domesticated into a wading pool.  Tamed by outlying reefs, there is seldom any surf and although there is nothing to obstruct the vision between here and Africa, the sandy shore is what the name implies, 'Rest Beach'."

The Maine Monument

The Maine Monument in the Key West City Cemetery

"Here, and in Arlington, are buried the victims of the sinking of the U.S.Battleship 'Maine' in Havana Harbor, on March 15, 1898.  The flag pole is part of the mast taken from the 'Maine'.  Here repose the bodies recovered from the sunken wreck."

Garden Spot

"There are many tropical keys just off the coast of Florida.  Here the sun rises and sets in the sea, for they have the great Atlantic Ocean on the one side, and the majestic Gulf of Mexico on the other."

Garrison Bight

"Key West is a tiny tropical key on the coast of Florida lying between the Atlantic Ocean on the one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other-it is the southernmost part of the United States."

The Oldest House

"Built by Captain Coussins in 1825 on Whitehead Street, the oldest house in Key West was moved to its present location by Captain Waddington in 1832.  It escaped the "Great Fire" in 1886 that wiped out all its contemporaries."

Post Office

" This is the beautiful new building of the United States Post Office on Key West, which daily handles more and more mailing matter as the city gradually becomes a resort center of the first rank."

The Lighthouse

 "The only lighthouse in the U.S. operating within city limits is this one in Key West, which is 130 feet high: a splendid view of the island and surrounding waters is to be had from it top.  The grounds, open to the public, contain an aviary, operated by the Superintendent, William W. Demerritt, for the purpose of ascertaining the routes of migratory birds by banding and releasing them."

William Demerritt and family were at the lighthouse from 1917 until 1939 when the Coast Guard took control of the lighthouse.  William Demerritt became Mayor of Key West from 1945-1947.

"Key West is an island domain of quaint charm, with beautiful beaches, fine climate and excellent fishing waters.  It is joined to the mainland of Florida by the new Overseas Highway.  It also has the unique distinction of having the only lighthouse in the United States that is within city limits."

Hemingway House

"Across Whitehead Street from the lighthouse is the home of the author, war correspondent and big fish angler, Ernest Hemingway."

South Beach

" South Beach, one of Key West's lovely tropical beaches for which this island paradise is noted.  Joined to the mainland of Florida by the new overseas Highway, it is fast becoming one of the most popular resort centers."

Boat Landing