Florida keys vacation condo hotel resort at ocean pointe key largo pirates rent owner direct vacation rental at ocean pointe suite key largo. A pirates road to key west road to key west, book 9 by michael. Please hold on to library materials and book donations. Black caesar died 1718 was a legendary 18thcentury african pirate. But countless books, plays and moviesfrom treasure island to pirates of the caribbeanwould later bring a romanticized version of that era. All books set in florida keys on the global book map. The famed florida keys overseas highway opened in 1938, but the outbreak of world war ii dashed prospects of tourist gold. Eventually, the pirates were chased away by a fledgling u.
Pirates history in the keys is up for debate fl keys news. From the southern gulf coast to the keys and beyond. From pirate gold to giant apes, the mystery of what might be found on a spec of land peeking up through a vast sea has captivated our imaginations for millennia. As someone who enjoys learning about pirates and florida history, this novel was a joyous read. The book includes early cattle drives, the growth of citrus, the development of the railroad and the plight of the seminole indians and the everglades. Over the past few years, popular pirate films from peter pan to pirates of the caribbean have amassed a huge fan base.
From the southern gulf coast to the keys and beyond kaserman, james, kaserman, sarah on. Kevin mccarthy twenty of the most notorious florida pirates from the 1500s to the present. Caesars era, located on one of the keys of biscayne bay. We get our ideas about what pirates were like from sources such as the robert louis stevenson novel treasure island, the gilbert and sullivan operetta pirates of penzance, and the fairytale peter. The exhibits and other experiences are designed to encourage a look behind the legends and that unique era when several factors. And a significant part of keys regional lore is the many tales of the exploits of the pirates of the florida keys and the caribbean waters beyond. By poking around in old book stores, libraries, reading old newspapers. Today, florida is rich in the history of piracy and shipwrecks but the threat form piracy has practically disappeared. At vacation rentals of the florida keys, you will find private vacation rentals, vacation homes and vacation apartment rentals close to key west and marathon, fl. The state received its name from him conquistador, who called. Pirates of the florida keys the spanish treasure fleets.
Florida keys vacation florida keys travel information. This treasure story is given to us through the efforts of floridas pirate gasparillia. Black caesar was beast of a man with incredible strength. Throughout history, adventurers, castaways, smugglers, runaways, and renegades have been attracted by the florida keys a significant part of keys legendary lore is that long ago pirates inhabited the islands. Key west quickly became an economic center, was settled rapidly and became floridas largest populated city. First written account of the florida keys in the memoir of d descalente fontaneda. It contains an inimitable history of early beginnings of coconut grove and miami. This memorable story spans 110 years of florida history and is told through three generations of the macivey pioneers. Its what allows us to walk with cocktails in plastic cups and savor the islands history of pirates and rumrunners. The legends say that for nearly a decade, he raided shipping from the florida keys and later served as one of captain blackbeard s, a. One of the most famous black pirates was black caesar, who raided ships in the florida keys for almost a decade before joining blackbeard aboard the queen annes revenge.
Wreckers were thought of as the pirates of the day, said mr. Holm, bad monkey by carl hiaasen, loves rescue by christine johnson, summertime by vane. Almost one hundred years later, in 1678, esquemelings classic bucaniers of america was printed in dutch. Edward teachs, crewmen aboard the queen annes revenge. They left behind artifacts and archeological evidence. Pirateology the pirate hunters companion history of diving. I grew up in southwest florida, and graduated from cypress lake. Meet sir francis drake, black caesar, blackbeard, jean lafitte, jose gaspar. While all the keys have their own personality, specialities and pleasures, key west is a bit of an oxymoron. Well, it turns out that florida is full of legends of pirates and hidden loot, and you dont have to be a kid to check them out. Florida history department the florida history department houses a vast array of local history archival materials, including newspapers, images, and genealogy resources. They have unraveled the islands colorful history from indian mounds to the remains of offshore shipwrecks. We offer a variety of options located throughout the keys so you can find the perfect spot, whether youre traveling alone, with your significant other or with the whole family. He was able to submerge his own boat underwater to avoid pursuers and would later.
Efforts to find historical evidence of his existence have been unsuccessful. Most of what we know about pirates comes from navy records. Pirates history in the florida keys is up for debate pirate tales and the florida keys go together like ice and rum. Museum, event space florida keys history discovery center. Sunset celebrations, pirate history, harry truman, and drag queens. While pirates and smugglers still try to make the waters around florida their home, they are no match for the diligence of the u. The diverse and extremely colorful history of the florida keys is full of adventure. The history of this region and florida as a whole is influenced largely by the illegal activities of piracy. The early history of key west, florida is that of a long and illustrious variety. Pirates history in the florida keys is up for debate. Floridas written history begins with the arrival of europeans.
Augustine and pensacola, so almost all of the florida keys wrecking property was taken to key west. Black caesar, the story goes, used the island and other hiding places along. Navy, which had driven off the pirates a century earlier, came to the rescue again by turning key west into a submarine base. A pirates road to key west road to key west, book 9 by michael reisig book cover, description, publication history. Its certainly got the laidback keysy feeling, but with so much to do and experience, its hard to take the time to be laidback. He is the curator of the keys history and discovery center, located at the islander resort. Florida keys black caesar died 1718 was a legendary 18thcentury african pirate. Most people dont know these 9 treasures are hiding in florida. Pirates and treasure trove of south florida david o. For many, the epitome of a dreamy florida keys vacation is relaxing waterside in the sun with an umbrella drink and nothing on the agenda. With more than 1,700 islands, it is not surprising that todays keys have ample abandoned history to explore. Being in the rare book and antique paper field has allowed him to amass a large selection of key west memorabilia, ephemera, books and photographs. The history of florida can be traced to when the first native americans began to inhabit the peninsula as early as 14,000 years ago.
Key largo pirates and information on the florida keys. When visitors step into the key west pirate museum, they can join in the adventure of the high seas and step back 300 years in history. Pirates have been romanticized in popular culture for more than a century. Its natural deep water port was the deepest port between new orleans and norfolk, virginia. The legend of black caesar still haunts the florida keys. Brad bertelli is a published author of four books on florida and florida keys history. Legend has it that elliott key was once home to a notorious pirate who preyed on passing ships. On a few of the florida keys, some of these tales are actually true. Florida frontiers pirates in florida, real and imagined. Highway 1 from key largo to key west, combining the best of local. The personalities, both famous and infamous, who shaped the island include explorers and entrepreneurs, artists and privateers and smugglers and military leaders. It is a part of the united states that has very few written records.
A history, tales, and legends of the upper florida keys by nikki beare out of printlimited availability. Pirates history in the keys is up for debate keynoter publishing. It has first hand account of stories of people who live there after the devastating hurricane of 1935. One more book, the commodores story, by munroe and gilpin, should be read by every resident of south florida. Like many pirates, his life is shrouded in legend, but he was apparently a very large and very cunning man.
The discovery center, on the property of the islander resort, is open wednesdays through sundays, 10 a. If you should do a search on the internet for jose gaspar youll find several websites devoted to his pirate legend and about the parades and celebrations each year around tampa florida. He made his first visit to key west in 1996 and quickly became interested in the history of the island. Its the sense of escape that comes from an afternoon rain and a good book. We found 27 books set in florida keys and 3 others set nearby. A model of indian key at the florida keys history and discovery center in. Acclaimed novelist and florida resident joy williams traces u.
Back in the days of sail, the florida keys and the atlantic coast of florida held a natural attraction to those seafarers engaged in the maritime industry of piracy. Then in 1900 some government census takers discovered johnny gomez on panther key down on the west florida coast, and a lot of accepted theories blew up. Black pirates and the tale of black caesar britannica. It was interesting reading on the history of the florida keys. Key west florida vacation planning monroe county tdc. The discovery centers first floor focuses on a series of permanent exhibits exploring the vast history. The coast of southwest florida, with its shallow waters, inlets, and mangrove islands provides the setting and backdrop for a variety of pirates, privateers, and independents. In his book black florida, mccarthy continues his study. Settlers followed while the native indian population, the calusa and mainland tribes, died out.
Pirates invade monroe county public library, florida keys. The keys have been an ongoing project for archaeologists. Black caesar, the story goes, used the island and other hiding places along the southeast florida coast to conduct raids on villages or attack unsuspected ships. Unfortunately, in the same way a glass of rum starts to water down when exposed to the still, sweltering subtropical heat, the details surrounding piratical tales have a way of becoming diluted, too. Search key west hotels, fishing trips, marina information, bars and restaurants, attractions and more at the official tourism site of the florida keys. From indians, spanish and pirates to hurricanes and numerous shipwrecks, these islands have always been a place to explore. Prepare for a mesmerizing tale of the golden age of piracy from stormtossed. Did you ever dream of searching for buried treasure as a kid. A history of the most notorious sea robbers by angus konstam isbn. Legend has it that elliott key was once home to a notorious pirate who. True the history of piracy in america had its roots in hakluyts compilation of the principall navigations, voiages and discoveries of the english nation in 1589. Key west and the florida keys is more than warm weather. The history of key west is much like the rest of the keys until 1821.