A comprehensive history of Key West, from early maps and land grants to the city’s growth as a vibrant hub of culture, industry, and military activity.
This edition presents Jefferson B. Browne’s meticulous chronicle, drawing on government records, archives, and local sources to illuminate the people, institutions, and events that shaped the town’s Old–New era.
Readers will encounter a detailed narrative of Key West’s development, including its educational, religious, commercial, and political life; the rise and impact of cigar manufacturing; Cuban connections and migration; and the town’s role as a naval base and wartime site. The work blends narrative history with appendices and portraits of notable residents, offering a clear window into a community forged by resilience, trade, and change.
- Extensive coverage of Key West’s founding, governance, and civic evolution.
- Insights into major industries, such as cigar making, and how they shaped the economy.
- Profiles of prominent citizens and the social fabric of the era.
- Context for the city’s interaction with Cuba, immigration, and national events.
Ideal for readers who enjoy local history, Florida’s maritime past, and the gradual transformation of a once-isolated island into a key cultural and economic center.