Yesterday's Florida Keys

Seemann's Historic Cities #12

by Stan Windhorn, Wright Langley

Nowhere on this planet has nature duplicated a geographical phenomenon comparable to those palm-fringed islands nestling behind coral reefs, bathed in tropical sunshine - the Florida Keys. The history of the Keys and the lives of those who settled them were molded by a nature that has been alternately harsh and gentle. In the course of time, the people in these islands have undergone changes, as have the islands themselves. Farming has come and gone, the excitement and wealth of the wreckers is but a dim memory; a "railroad that went to sea" was swept away by the elements - but the Keys still are a fascinating archipelago that has shown an amazing growth in the last few decades. Included are 225 photos, telling of the lives of the powerful and meek, of joys and sorrows and of the beauty and power of nature.

128 pages, Hardcover

First published October 28, 1974

Reviews

[Krystle Meyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

More photos than text. An interesting look at the history of the Florida Keys before the 1970s. I found the photos and stories about the railroad and highway development the most interesting.

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published in the 70's, this book gives a nice overview of the history of the Florida Keys through 1950. The first section is a summarized history, which calls out important names and dates and historical events. It describes life in the Keys and really drives home the point that many of the Keys were very sparsely inhabited. The book also shows the attempts to build a railroad across the islands and the subsequent move to building a highway instead. The second section is made up of pictures with detailed captions that show a pictorial history of the same events. The captioned pictures allow the authors to go into greater detail while putting the events into context. It's a really nice way to get to know the history of the Keys. It's also interesting to see so many familiar names in the building of this part of Florida.