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Indian Key Historic State Park in The Florida Keys, SUP, Kayak, Snorkeling with kids. Launched at Robbies Kayak Rental in Islamorada, shot with GoPro.
In 1829 the island's population was around 50 people, mostly transient fishermen, turtlers and wreckers. Jacob Housman of Key West bought Indian Key in 1831 and set out to build his own wrecking empire to compete with the monopoly in Key West. At this time, wrecking or salvaging cargo from shipwrecks was both legal and extremely lucrative. Housman's empire included a store, hotel, dwellings, cisterns, warehouses and wharves. Known for his shady business practices, he constantly feuded with other salvagers. In 1836, in an effort to become independent from Key West, Housman had the Legislative Council establish Indian Key as the first county seat for Dade County.
Unfortunately, Housman's fortunes began to decline and he lost numerous court battles and finally his wrecker's license. Early in the morning of August 7, 1840, Indian Key was attacked by a large party of Indians. Chief Chekika and his group of warriors landed on the west coast of the Key and were shortly discovered. Most of the 50 to 70 people living on the island were able to escape, but 13 were killed. Except for one building, all the structures on Indian Key were destroyed. Housman managed to escape, however his wrecking empire was gone.
The island continued to be used sparsely throughout the next decades by the US Navy, and new owners who built a store and dwellings which were used in 1856 by military garrisons during the Third Seminole War. In the 1870s three 10+ ton schooners were constructed and launched from the island. Indian Key served as a depot to store and pre-assemble the Alligator Reef Lighthouse from late 1870 to 1873. Henry Flagler used Indian Key to support his dredging operations during the early construction of the Indian Key Fill causeway. After the historic hurricane of 1935, the island ceased being used or inhabited. In 1971, the State of Florida bought the Key and designated it a historic site.
Негізгі бет Indian Key Historic State Park SUP & Kayak Paddle to this ghost town in Islamorada, Covid Safe Fun
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