Keys History & Discovery Center Explores History of Dry Tortugas

Shared Images Detail National Park

Keys History & Discovery Center Presents…History in Images: Dry Tortugas National Park, a live virtual lecture on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 6-7 p.m., presented by James A. Kushlan and Kirsten Hines

Isolated 70 miles west of Key West, the islands of Dry Tortugas National Park appear to arise as if by magic, floating atop the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Juan Ponce de León named the islands, making “Tortugas,” the second oldest persistent place name in North America. Join Kushlan and Hines as they share some of the diverse stories of Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas that they have uncovered in their book Dry Tortugas National Park.

You’ll hear about the lighthouse built in 1826, the nation’s most ambitious masonry fortification Fort Jefferson and its role in the Civil War, and Dr. Samuel Mudd and the other Lincoln conspirators imprisoned there. You’ll see images of its waters, coral reefs and aquatic life, which remain among the most biologically intact in the American tropics.

The lecture is free for members and $5 for non-members. Register in advance by visiting www.keysdiscovery.com/lectures. This virtual program utilizes GoToWebinar. For more information on this platform, go to www.keysdiscovery.com/virtual-platforms.

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