Key West: History of an Island of Dreams

by Maureen Ogle

Parrotheads, Hemingway aficionados, and sun worshipers view Key West as a tropical paradise, and scores of writers have set tales of mystery and romance on the island. The city’s real story—told by Maureen Ogle in this lively and engaging illustrated account—is as fabulous as fiction. In the two centuries since the city’s pioneer founders battled Indians, pirates, and deadly disease, Key West has stood at the crossroads of American history. In 1861, Union troops seized control of strategically located Key West. In the early 1890s, Key West Cubans helped José Martí launch the Cuban revolution, and a few years later the battleship Maine steamed out of Key West harbor on its last, tragic voyage. At the turn of the century, a technological marvel—the overseas railroad—was built to connect mainland Florida to Key West, and in the 1920s and 1930s, painters, rumrunners, and writers (including Ernest Hemingway and Robert Frost) discovered Key West. During World War II, the federal government and the military war machine permanently altered the island’s landscape, and in the second half of the 20th century, bohemians, hippies, gays, and jet-setters began writing a new chapter in Key West’s social history.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Travel

288 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2006

About the author

Historian, author. World-class ranter (at least in my own mind). (And who else's mind should count??)

More info at maureenogle.com; lots of info; probably more than you want.

Voracious reader for over a half century (yeah, I'm old). I say, with no fear of exaggeration, that reading made my nightmarish childhood tolerable. Don't ask me to imagine a world without books; the idea is too terrifying, too painful.

Other stuff (not so serious) you may want to know: Check your ego at the door, and if you're lacking a sense of humor, don't bother to knock. 'Nuff said.

Now go read something!

Reviews

[Jennifer Weingardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book at Books & Books @ the Studios of Key West while on vacation. I enjoyed Ms. Ogle's well-researched, colorful history of Key West. I recently found a photo of my parents on a Key West beach in March of 1957. Ms. Ogle's narrative helped me understand the island's atmosphere during their visit.

[Stuart Endick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fast paced, breezy, and rambling account of the colorful history of Key West. Unfortunately the book tends to mirror rather than critique the various prejudices that accompanied the frequent difficult periods in the island’s history. (The place seems to have lurched from one crisis to another over two hundred years.) While a decent history should not be a travelogue or promotional brochure, the book leans in the opposite direction and leaves a sour taste for those considering a visit, which is not likely the author’s intent. The book could have also benefitted from a better index, as the index is of little help in checking up to recall a person or detail read about a few days before.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice overview of the island's history. Was published in 2003 but only goes until mid-1980s. It's an easy read but hampered by lengthy chapters - chapter subheadings would have made a difference.

[Michael Alligood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book and well researched. This is a “jumping off” book to explore more specific items of the Florida Keys and Key West itself. Easy, quick read. I recommend this book.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fairly decent account of the rich though short history of this very interesting little Island. My biggest problem with the book is that, in my view, the author is not sufficiently diverse in her treatment and gives short shrift to the contributions blacks, Cubans and Jews made to the Island's development. She glosses over the prejudice and bigotry towards Jews and Blacks as though it was trivial--never mentioning, for example, that Porter, one of Key West's leaders as it emerged from the depression, was a member of the Klan. That said, I found it informative, well written and easily consumed, especially if one is reading it while sitting on the porch enjoying the sunshine.

[Rogue Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dastardly villains, charmers and those who seek the ends of the earth, that's how Key West came to be, and what it seems to be even today. Repeatly devastated by hurricanes, infrastructure and military abandonment, Key West survives the worst that it experiences and thrives. Wonder what its like to be in such a rare environment, so little land, so vulnerable to the elements, to the ruin that tourism brings.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

We travel to Key West each January for a break from the Minnesota winter and I picked this book up at a bookstore last time we visited. A fast read with a interesting character the author does a good job outlining the historic and cultural milestones in this magical place. Looking forward to our visit this winter - I will be revisiting some of the local landmarks with a better understanding of their significance.

[Brian Bundesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The history of Key West is fascinating, and the structure and writing style of this book paints a great picture and makes the book hard to put down. I really enjoyed the stories, characters throughout history as well as the very interesting photos. I'm looking forward to reading other books by this author. Anyone who enjoys Key West should read this book. 5 stars!

[TheOtherMap · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes us through the history of Florida’s famous island community in an episodic format, and it’s pretty thorough. If you’re looking for a book about Hemingway’s time on the island, I’d look elsewhere as he’s only in a chapter or two here, but if you want a general look at Key West’s past, this is a pretty solid read.

[Nick Armes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

Incredibly informative history on Key West. Thoroughly enjoyed all the details and focus during the Civil War in depression era. Would highly recommend it to anyone visiting or who has visited key west before.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only because I have as on vacation in Key West. But I found it to be a more detailed version of what I learned on the tour of the island.

[amandamonkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice history of the island and the socioeconomic factors that shaped it.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The history was interesting—written well.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this provided an entertaining glimpse into the history of Key West.

[Dennis Stillwagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very in depth history of early Key West thru the 50's. After the 50's to mid 60's time frame, it just seemed like this later history was an afterthought. All in all, a good read.

[Mary Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful history that reads like a novel. If you love Key West, or dream of visiting, this book provides a fascinating look at the origins of this colorful island.

[Jen Parenti · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.8/5⭐️

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book exploring the history of Key West from pre-statehood days to the mid 1960s. Tales of pirates, wreckers, spongers, hurricanes, corrupt politics, yellow fever, military occupation...a little bit of everything and just enough detail to keep it engaging but fast paced.

Loved the bits surrounding the Civil War and Key West's refusal to secede from the union when the rest of Florida had done just that...interesting and scandalous tales of wreckers in the early days purposely diverting ships in order to steal the ship's loot and salvage everything else. Fascinating because Key West has built itself again and again and is full of people who are used to rebuilding, to scraping by, to just making do.

Of course, interesting stories about Hemingway, Elizabeth Bishop, Tennessee Williams, Harry S Truman, and others who made Key West their home at some point- those being the last "good years" of Key West (or so the author claims) before WWII naval occupation and Bay of Pigs/Cuba relations changed the landscape and population of the island for good. This book also points out how tourism has been both the saving grace and downfall of Key West; all forms of industry there (wrecking, sponging, fishing) being non-sustainable.

Good read.

[Mike Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just got back from Autotrain ride to Orlando, then drive down the Keys to visit to Key West and finished up this great little book. Oddly enough, on an island known for its writers (Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner, Robert Frost, etc) there is currently one one bookstore, I think. It has both new and used books and I hesitated making the pricey $25 purchase of this fairly small paperback but it was worth it! It gives you a great feel what it would have been like to actually live there during different decades and let's you see how dramatic the changes were over short time periods. Well written book to keep on your bookshelf.

[Sue Merrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

As histories go, Ogle has written a readable, and well-researched tale of one of the country's most colorful communities. She includes lots of quotes and first hand accounts, so it's not just dates and population figures, though those facts are there. The book was a Christmas gift and since we're spending the winter 30 miles from Key West, it was fun to read about a place we visit regularly and understand the background behind the people whose names are now street signs.

[Susan Tryforos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very nice exploration of Key West, with good info on the early wrecker days of mayhem and the literary days of the Roaring Twenties and Thirties (Ernest Hemingway et al.). Not a comprehensive history but an easy to digest overview of the Conch Republic mindset.

[Darlene]

very interesting if you like history and going to Key West.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Interesting in most parts, but rather choppy, and not nearly as page-turny as Ambitious Brew.