Indian Key

From Islamorada, we sailed further south to duck behind Indian Key Historic State Park, which we used as a wave shelter and as a tourist stop.  Indian Key, which is now run by the U.S. Park Service, has an interesting and sad history.

Key West was the big island for shipwreck salvaging until Indian Key became fairly well known for the operation that Jacob Houseman moved there in 1830.  Prehistoric Indians had been in the Keys forever, but turtlers and wreckers had been in the area afterward, but Houseman created a community that grew into homes, cisterns, stores, and warehouses for the wrecking operations.  Unfortunately, their glory was short-lived as the Seminole War escalated to include Indian Key; thirteen people were murdered on a fateful day in 1840.  Of course, U.S. military retaliation followed and Indian leaders were hanged and the war came to an end. 

A notable person who was killed was Dr. Henry Perrine (a former U.S. consul in Mexico), who was waiting there until he was awarded a parcel of land from Congress.  His interest in botany led him to planting gardens, which today have grown over much of the island.  Some of the people of the island waded out into neck-deep water to escape but their dogs followed and barked and whimpered.  The townpeople drowned the dogs to save their lives.

Today, there is still the town square area and streets laid out and kept up with signage.  Cisterns, warehouse footings, and other building ruins are still in existence.  Most houses were made mostly of wood, and those burned in the attacks.

Besides the sketchy and bloody history, the island is a beautiful, semi-wild place to visit.  Fish dot the coral edges of the island, while egrets feast on the tasty swimming snacks.  Lizards abound, all sizes.  The water is very clear at the island and is a short kayak ride away from some of the main islands of the Keys.

We met two very nice couples at the entrance; I offered to take a group photo for them.  Found out that one of the couples had just gotten married and were on their honeymoon.  That was cool.  The other couple hailed from Charleston, SC.  "Ah," I told them, "I go there to eat."  They totally understood.

The guys wanted to do more snorkeling not far from there where a shipwreck was located.  We sailed out there and moored up to the ball.  They dove and dove, but could find nothing.  It was a cloudy day, too, and the water was not as clear, so it was disappointing, but me, I was doing a Nervous Nellie happy dance.