PBS Documentary and Podcast Airing to Mark Florida Keys’ July 3 Bicentennial

FLORIDA KEYS — An encore broadcast of a South Florida PBS television documentary and the final episode of the Florida Keys Traveler 2023 podcast — both commemorating the Keys’ 200th “birthday” — are to air and be posted respectively on the bicentennial date Monday, July 3.

The Florida Territorial Legislature established Monroe County, encompassing the entire 125-mile-long Florida Keys island chain, on July 3, 1823.

“The Florida Keys: 200 Years of Paradise,” a television program exploring the history of the continental United States’ southernmost island chain, is to air at 10 p.m. EDT Monday on South Florida PBS WPBT, Channel 2.

In addition, the final podcast in the Florida Keys Traveler 30-episode series, titled “Happy 200th Birthday, Florida Keys!”, is to drop earlier that day.

During both programs, viewers and listeners journey through the island chain’s dramatic history as told through the eyes and voices of Keys residents who are immersed in that history during their daily lives.

Topics include the Keys’ booms and busts, shipwreck salvage, maritime heritage, cultural and artistic expression, sport fishing, diversity and acceptance, Black and Cuban history, and environmental wonders and conservation.

Commentary and perspectives are provided by Florida Keys historians, local personalities and leaders who offer knowledgeable insights about the island chain’s two centuries of history.

PBS viewers outside South Florida should check local listings for scheduled air times of the documentary. It debuted March 1 on PBS stations across the United States and is supported by Badia Spices Inc. and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.

The Florida Keys Traveler podcast, produced and distributed globally by Armchair Productions in conjunction with the TDC, is available on more than 25 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and others. The documentary-style podcast was recorded on-site at more than 25 locations