This beautiful National Park is 70 miles west of Key West. The only way to it is by boat, about a 2-1/4-hour ride. We departed in the boat shown in the picture at 8 a.m. and arrived back about 5:30 p.m. While on the boat a nice continental breakfast and delicious sandwiches for lunch were served.
The Park encompasses 7 islands, composed of coral reefs and sand. Historic Fort Jefferson occupies one island, Garden Key. Construction of the fort began in 1846 and continued for 30 years but was never finished. During the Civil War the fort was a Union military prison for captured deserters. The Army abandoned Fort Jefferson in 1874 and in 1908 the area became a wildlife refuge. It was proclaimed Fort Jefferson National Monument in 1935 and redesignated in 1992 as Dry Tortugas National Park to protect both the historical and natural features.
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