The Dry Tortugas, the outlaying Florida Keys
by Wolfgang Schippke, DC3MF
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The Dry Tortuga abandoned lighthouse, inside the fortification walls
Fort Jefferson National Memorial, located on
Garden Key (24N38, 82W52), is a marine park centered around
an unfinished fort (Fort Jefferson) on the extremely saline island of Dry
Tortugas. Dating from 1846, this 50 ft high (15 m) fort with walls measuring
8 ft deep (2.4 m) was one of a series of coastal defenses built in the
mid 19th century. A hurricane and several outbreaks of yellow fever contributed
to its abandonment in 1874. During the Civil War, the fort was used to
confine Union deserts and Lincoln conspirators, including Dr.Samuel Mudd,
who unknowingly gave medical help to the president's assassin. The Dry
Tortugas consists of the two major islands Garden Key, with Fort Jefferson
and Loggerhead Key, west of Garden, with a lighttower and
an abandoned radiobase, used during the Cuba problem, on it.
The Dry Tortugas were discovered in 1513 by the Spain Ponce de Leon.
On Loggerhead Key is a Coast Guard station and since 1914 a 151 ft high
lighthouse. Dry Tortugas Lighthouse: Funds were appropriated by Congress
in 1822 and by 1825, a 65-foot tall white lighthosue was built on Bush
Key (now called Garden Key and the site of Fort Jefferson). The light was
produced from 23 lamps in 14-inch reflectors. Garden Key is located in
the center of the circular group of islands.
Being miles fro the edge of the reef, the low tower soon generated complaints
from mariners. Making matters worse, the first keeper (retired Major John
Flaherty) failed to do his job properly and the windows of the cupola and
the lantern glasses were often black with soot. In his defense, Flaherty's
wife rebecca wrote a letter to the President's wife complaining about their
provisions, lack of social life, travel opportunities and mosquitoes.
The condition of the lighthosue improved when Flaherty was transferred
to Sand Key Light in 1826. Work began on a massive brick
fort named Fort Jefferson in 1847. The fort occupied the entire island,
surrounding the lighthouse. By 1852, it was determined that another taller
lighthouse was needed, this one to be built on Loggerhead Key. The old
tower on Garden Key was reduced to a harbor light and renamed "Tortugas
Harbor Light", with a 4th order lens. An 1873 hurricane severely damaged
the lighthouse, causing a new tower to be built of boiler plate iron on
top of the walls of the fort. A fire in the keeper's outhouse destroyed
many of the buildings of the fort in 1912. The keepers dwelling and the
three story barracks were destroyed. After the fire, the lighthouse was
automated until, in 1921, it was finally discontinued.
Mariners Infos: The only permanent open laning
is on Bird Island, were a tourist resort, a coast-guard service station
and a national-park station is available. Garden Key is not open for public,
except for special touris-boats.